The little Polo GTI aimed high at the small-segment leader, the Renault Clio RS, with a turbocharged four-banger and an automatic DSG gearbox.
When the compact hot-hatches became too expensive for young people, the carmakers started offering small-segment cars with more powerful engines. The Volkswagen Polo GTI had to face stiff competition against the Clio RS, Peugeot 207 GTI, Ford Fiesta ST, and Opel Corsa OPC. But the inventor of the hot-hatch category didn’t give up and transformed the little Polo into a pocket rocket. Volkswagen introduced it in 2005 and has evolved ever since. By 2010 it was already on its second generation, and the carmaker knew what its customers asked from the Polo GTI.

Its three-door bodywork worked perfectly with the car’s performance. At the front, it featured LED headlights with daytime running lights. The bumper was wide and sported a large air-dam, while the two-slats main grille looked like it was just another box on wheels. At the back, Volkswagen installed a roof-spoiler at the top of the tailgate while a dual exhaust confirmed the car’‘ status.

Inside, the carmaker installed a Tartan upholstery, which resembled the original Golf GTI. Volkswagen installed a standard touch-screen infotainment display on the center stack, named “Composition Touch,” with Bluetooth connectivity and screen mirroring for mobile phones. In the back, it was the same 60/40 split-folding bench which increased the trunk size from 204 liters (7.2 cu-ft) to 992 liters (31.1 cu-ft).

Under the hood, Volkswagen installed an upgraded Scirocco, 1.8-liter engine. Its 192 hp was enough to drop the 0 to 62 mph (0-100 kph) time to 6.9 seconds. The standard gearbox was a six-speed manual, while the carmaker offered a seven-speed (dual-clutch) automatic as an option.