Volkswagen Polo GT TDI

Don’t you love it when everything goes right on your first date? For those who haven’t been on a date yet, it’s the same feeling you get when you drive a well-sorted car, a car that gives you the right vibes the moment you set your eyes on it. Not many cars, or even first dates give you that sort of feeling, but when you do experience it, rest assured it’s going to be special a lot like the Volkswagen Polo GT TDI.

Along with minor tweaks inside and out, VW has come up with a new diesel block, a 1.5-litre engine based on its existing 1.6-litre diesel unit. We drove the hatch with the new 1.5-litre oil-burner a few months ago and were impressed by its overall performance. It had all the power you would ever need for your daily use, but VW thought otherwise. It felt the GT version deserved something extra, and the result is a more purposeful hatchback. So, the GT TDI boasts 103bhp and 250 Nm of torque. The numbers are similar to the old 1.6-litre motor’s, but the new engine develops 14 horses and 20Nm more than the regular diesel Polo.

The extra power does make a difference, although marginal, when compared to the non-GT variant. Does it feel different from the older car? Yes. Is it any better? Oh, definitely.

Power delivery isn’t as jerky as before. Acceleration is noticeably linear, even after crossing the 2000rpm-mark which is when the turbo comes to life, and the engine pulls cleanly all the way till 4800 rpm. In urban conditions, driving at lower rpms doesn’t feel as dull as before, and part-throttle inputs are met with respectable increase in speeds. An automatic gearbox, like the one on the
TSI, would’ve been highly appreciated,but, sadly, the GT TDI sticks to the same 5-speed manual transmission.

 But, even then, the gearbox isn't all that bad. The throws are short and precise and, thanks to a lighter clutch, driving in city limits isn't as taxing as before.

The GT loves doing the highway rounds. Stability at high speeds is rock-solid. The German hatch is also an excellent handler. Show it a series of bends, and it’ll eagerly pounce on them. The steering wheel is communicative and offers positive feedback.