Volkswagen Polo GT TSI long term review first report

A high-tech new TSI engine and seven-speed automatic make the Polo GT both practical and loads of fun.

Published on Aug 29, 2013 05:34:00 PM

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Volkswagen Polo GT TSI long term review first report

Something sorely missed, however, is paddle shifters, and surprisingly you can’t opt for them either. Our long-term car, however, does get a fair bit of kit. It has a two-DIN, Bluetooth-enabled audio system, 15-inch wheels, rear parking sensors and steering-mounted audio controls. But is the new Polo GT sufficiently well built and equipped to justify the steep sticker price? Has it got enough performance to keep us entertained over an extended span of time, is the automatic gearbox both convenient and fun to use, and does all the technology actually make it efficient? Just some of the questions we’ll be asking of our Polo GT in the coming months.

The Polo GT turns out to be one of those cars about which you feel lukewarm to begin with. Driven in D, the daily commute to office and back isn’t really all that entertaining. While it’s perfectly well mannered, it feels quite ordinary to drive initially. In normal Mumbai city traffic, the seven-speed DSG flicks you up to a higher gear faster than you expect – this is done in the pursuit of efficiency. Cruising around in city traffic at somewhere between 50kph and 60kph, you could find yourself in sixth gear, the engine spinning at a mere 1,400rpm! So, initial responses to a tap on the throttle aren’t met with too much enthusiasm. Mashing the throttle, getting to a lower gear and waking up the engine takes time, and that sometimes means that an overtaking opportunity disappears. This is a bit disappointing, especially if you trying to get to a meeting in a hurry. ‘S’ mode is a bit better, but often you still want more.