Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022 Review

The 2022 Volkswagen Polo light hatch is the latest model from the German car-maker to move upmarket, away from what VW calls “the sticker-driven rat race”.

Volkswagen Australia laid its cards on the table late last year, making it clear that the days of price-driven product positioning were over for the brand and that it would now build on its premium position with better-equipped (and more profitable) models.

Prices are also on the rise at Volkswagen, and across the entire industry, as car-makers pass on the higher costs involved in production and shipping.

When the sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo arrived in early 2018, you could hop into a base-spec 70TSI Trendline for $17,990 plus on-road costs. And the flagship GTI hot hatch was priced from $30,990 plus ORCs.

Sadly, those days are long gone, with the MY22 Polo range now starting from $25,250 plus ORCs for the Polo Life manual. The automatic Polo Life adds another $3000, while the mid-spec Polo Style costs $31,250 plus ORCs.

And Polo GTI? How does $38,750 plus ORCs sound?

Not only does the hot hatch get a circa-$6000 price hike, taking it beyond $40,000 by the time it’s on the road, but the GTI is now way more expensive than direct rivals such as the Ford Fiesta ST (from $32,290) and Hyundai i20 N (from $32,990).

In the space of just five years, the GTI is also around $10,000 pricier than the final Mk5 version that was listed at $27,690 plus ORCs for the manual (which was dropped for Mk6) and $30,190 for the auto.

Unlike VW’s baby hot hatch, both the Ford and Hyundai bring manual gearbox offerings and quicker 0-100km/h sprint times.

The updated Polo GTI continues to be covered by the same five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, while three- and five-year service plans are available at a cost of $1400 and $2750 respectively.

One look at the equipment levels across the entire 2022 Volkswagen Polo range and it’s clear why prices have gone up.

New features across the updated Polo line-up include a front centre airbag, front and rear parking sensors, lane assist, LED headlights and the addition of cyclist detection to every Polo’s autonomous emergency braking (AEB) system.

Carryover driver assist systems include adaptive cruise control (except for manual variants), driver fatigue monitoring and a reversing camera.

Exterior revisions for the Polo range include refreshed bumpers at either end, those new LED headlights linked with an LED grille strip (Polo Style/GTI only) – as seen on the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf – and revised LED tail-lights.

The top-shelf Polo GTI adds larger 18-inch alloys (previously 17s) with a new design, IQ matrix LED headlights and rear dynamic indicators.

It also has the option of a larger 9.2-inch Discover Pro touch-screen if you opt for the $1500 Sound and Tech package, which brings a Beats audio system as well.

We reckon it’s well worth ticking that option box. While the standard 8.0-inch unit works fine, the larger display is super-clear and responsive, and the Beats system sounds a whole lot better than VW’s standard inclusion.

Wireless phone charging is also now standard across the entire Polo range, as is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Meanwhile, both the mid-spec Polo Style and top-shelf GTI come with a cool 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and touch-sensitive climate control buttons, but only the GTI gets touch-sensitive buttons on the sports steering wheel, as well as drive mode select and, of course, tartan upholstery.

Nothing has changed under the bonnet of the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI, where power continues from the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine.

Producing the same 147kW/320Nm outputs as before, Australian-delivered models miss out on the 5kW power bump seen overseas, along with the new seven-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Instead, our front-wheel drive Polo hot hatches continue to be mated exclusively to a six-speed DSG, which makes it good for a sprint to 100km/h from rest in 6.8 seconds, not 6.5sec like the more powerful versions sold in other markets.

For reference, it’s still slower than direct competition, with the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N both quicker to hit triple digits, at 6.5 and 6.2 seconds respectively.

Interestingly, Volkswagen also now quotes a higher average fuel consumption for the updated Polo GTI, which is up from 6.1 litres per 100km to 6.5L/100km on the combined cycle.

The company attributes this to a slightly heavier tare mass (up 20kg compared to the pre-facelift model).

Our spirited test of the baby hot hatch – both on-road and on the racetrack at Luddenham Raceway – saw us hitting closer to the 8.0L/100km mark.

What hasn’t changed, however, is the Polo GTI’s athleticism.

It’s still just as nimble and quick off the mark as before, with grippy Continental-wrapped 18-inch wheels and responsive brakes to keep confidence up when pushing it hard.

There were a few occasions on test when the auto gearbox seemed to hold gears a little too long, and the overly synthesised exhaust note in Sport mode feels a bit tacky.

But overall, the Polo GTI remains a fun-filled pocket rocket, bringing a much more composed and comfortable ride compared to its ever-rigid hot hatch competition.

That ride comfort is the key difference between the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI and its rivals.

It feels more liveable as a daily driver, with more compliant adaptive dampers and a cabin that seems better insulated.

It still crashes over large potholes and road imperfections, but softens the blows well, settling down quickly.

The fact it’s auto-only should also make it more appealing to those who often travel in peak-hour traffic.

Even the mid-spec Polo Style, with its smaller 85kW 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, is enjoyable to whip around in, even if it doesn’t sit as flat around corners or take off with as much mumbo as the GTI.

Smaller 16-inch alloys with chunkier tyres means it deals with rough roads slightly better and improves NVH (noise, vibration and harshness) levels inside the cabin, while its thrummy little turbocharged triple is surprisingly quiet under load, even though it’s not as nippy as the GTI’s 2.0-litre.

The 1.0-litre used in the Polo Life and Style also uses less fuel. We achieved 6.8L/100km on test, with VW claiming 5.4L/100km.

Elsewhere, the Polo has gained a little more length with its mid-life makeover, thanks to revised front and rear bumpers. Boot space remains the same at a quoted 351 litres with the rear seats upright, which is still more than larger cars like the Mazda3 and Toyota Corolla.

Space in the second row remains unchanged as well, with enough room for two adults. It includes a pair of USB-C ports, but no centre arm rest or air vents.

While Volkswagen seems to have accomplished its mission to make the cabin of every Polo feel more upmarket than before, even the flagship Polo GTI still only gets a manual handbrake and manual seat adjustments up front.

It was already an accomplished hot hatch, but the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI now feels like it’s trying to be more than that, with a shelf price that takes it into a higher bracket.

If you want outright performance, both the Ford Fiesta ST and Hyundai i20 N are much better value, with manual gearboxes that make them arguably more enjoyable.

Same goes for the slightly pricier Toyota GR Yaris, if budget allows.

But where safety, technology and cabin appointments are of a higher priority, the Polo GTI takes the cake every day of the week.

Only time will tell whether Aussies will be willing to pay the hefty premium for the privilege.

How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI cost?
Price: $38,750 (plus on-road costs)
Available: Now
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol
Output: 147kW/320Nm
Transmission: Six-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel: 6.5L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 150g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety rating: Five-star (ANCAP 2022)