Review: VW Polo TSI

To be fair to Volkswagen, the Polo was the company's first car in India which was affordable. It was finally that the German car manufacturer realised that the Indian market was growing and a premium hatchback would be the ideal way to kick-off matters. People were very happy when the VW Polo was launched and the company has made it even more popular by introducing the Polo R Cup in India.

There are many here who want to be circuit drivers and VW has given them that platform but what about those who can't afford to get into racing but still want to. We think VW has answered their prayers and the VW Polo GT TSI is the way to go.

There is no difference at all in terms of the exterior design - it looks like every other Polo. The only added features are the alloy wheels, a chrome front grille, halogen headlamps, and the GT and TSI badge at the rear and under the C Pillars.

The interior do get a few updates though. New lush upholstery is used on the seats, the steering wheel is wrapped and the audio system has been upgraded. The obvious change is the new automatic gearshifter. The clutch is also absent but the brake and accelerator pedal are made sporty.

The Polo GT TSI gets the 1.2 litre TSI petrol engine which is mated to a 7-speed DSG automatic gearbox, the first on any hatchback in the country. The 1.2 litre engine is turbocharged and hence the output is just as much as the 1.6 litre petrol and surprisingly it is even fuel efficient. There is 104bhp on offer which power the front wheels and 175Nm of torque to pull you forward.

Acceleration is seamless and there are three driving modes to select from on the gearshift - Drive, Manual Drive and Sport. In Drive, the gear shifts are automatic, and there is a slightest time lag between pressing the accelerator and feeling the car move forward. Because there are 7 gear ratios, when you are engaged in Drive, the car keeps the transmission in the highest possible gear to conserve gas, so in some instances, when you are on a steep hill, the car takes time to pick up power because it needs to downshift. In sport mode the revs are obviously much higher so you don't feel any lag at all, and the acceleration is sublime. We missed the paddle shifters on the Polo but then again that would have added to the overall cost of the car.

The suspension setup has also been adjusted to accommodate for the heavier weight and also so that it can handle the power put out by the Polo GT TSI. It is a tad stiffer though and on bumpy roads you do feel the kick-back of the suspension. On the highway at very high speeds the car is very well planted and there are no vibrations at all and hence is fun to drive. The electronic steering is light and the input needed is minimal so driving effort is conserved. Its brilliant on road and fast when the opportunity shows itself.

The entire point of discontinuing the Polo 1.6 and then coming out with the Polo 1.2 GT TSI is simple, why invest in another powerplant when one can do the job of two. The Polo GT TSI lives upto the expectations of what a fast car should be. You sit inside, turn on the music and all the world's a race circuit.