PoloDriver

The Polo has a double appearance in the UK weekly motoring magazines this week, as both Autocar and Auto Express test the £13,225 1.4 Match against notable rivals. J9 VWW, a Sea Blue 84bhp Match five door is pitted against the new Chrysler (née Lancia) Ypsilon SE, while Autocar sees the same car square up to 14 of its most notable rivals in a 14-page supermini mega-test. The competition includes the Audi A1, Citroën C3, Fiat Punto, Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Kia Rio, Mazda 2, Peugeot 207, Renault Clio, Seat Ibiza, Škoda Fabia, Suzuki Swift, Toyota Yaris and Vauxhall Corsa. We won’t spoil either result here, but we will say that the Polo makes the final top six in the Autocar test… Both magazines are on sale now, until next Wednesday 26 October.

[Image: Auto Express]

This caught our eye. We’re used to modified Polos gracing the pages of UK tuned Volkswagen magazine Performance VW, but maybe none like this. Richard Vale’s modified Polo is no tuning parts special. An early version of the blown coupé, Vale’s white G40 has been built with the sole purpose of taking on hill climbs. Harewood Hill Climb near Leeds being one of them. Competing in class 1B for modified production cars up to 2.0-litres, the 750kg, near-200bhp ex-Polo G40 Cup racer regularly takes on its larger rivals and emerges victorious. Find out what raft of modifications make Vale’s Polo a stripped-out special by grabbing a copy of the latest (July 2010) issue of Performance VW magazine, on sale now from all good stockists. UK readers who prefer to get their modded Volkswagen kicks digitally can read the magazine on their Apple i-devices by visiting the iTunes App Store and downloading the Performance VW app.

[Image: Performance VW]

At last, a positive verdict! Sorry, we had to give away the the result of this new Internet film, as for once, it was a thumbs up one. And what is said Internet film? UK motoring television show Fifth Gear tests the latest Polo GTI in its latest Web TV episode, and over a three-minute video, ‘Graham from the office’ takes the tiny tearaway to the roads of Wales to see if it has the legs on its in-house competition, the Škoda Fabia vRS and the SEAT Ibiza Cupra. Graham seems to genuinely like the performance Polo, and while he (and we) know it would lose a handling punch-up with a Renaultsport Clio 200, it’s pleasing to confirm that some of the new Polo GTI’s ‘softer’ qualities are, in the majority, benefits that the Clio doesn’t offer. Watch the film above to see Graham’s quick, but full verdict.

UK specialist VW title Volkswagen Driver puts the 2011 Polo GTI through its paces in its latest issue. The first time the performance Polo has been thoroughly tested by the VW press, Volkswagen Driver was more than a little impressed. Editor Neil Birkitt sent us a head-up email in January and said of the test, ‘The latest Polo GTI combines twincharged technology and 7-speed DSG gearbox to produce superb performance and excellent economy, combined with sharp handling, comfort and everyday practicality.’ Praising the 178bhp 1.4 TSI GTI, Birkitt continued, ‘We doubt that even the best of drivers could put much distance between the Polo GTi and the larger Golf GTI on a race track, let alone an open road… The Polo GTI is all the car you could want, and more.’ The March 2011 issue of Volkswagen Driver is on sale now and also includes a first driver of the new Series 6 Jetta for Europe, motorsport reports, and a model profile on the Series 5 Jetta.

[Images: Volkswagen Driver/Neil Birkitt]

Another day, another Polo GTI group test. The recently-introduced Volkswagen UK press fleet Polo GTIs really are seeing a lot of action at the moment. Following the recent evo magazine hot hatch group test, the new issue of the UK’s Auto Express pits the latest Polo GTI against rivals from Citroën and Škoda. In our opinion, the £19,410 178bhp Polo GTI certainly looks the part when compared to the £16,300 DS3 DSport and £16,260 Fabia vRS, but which car gives the best hot hatchback-like driving experience? While the DS3 DSport is down on power by 30bhp when compared to the Polo and its in-house rival Fabia – which use the same 1.4-litre TSI engine – does it put its typically French driving characteristics to good use? Buy a copy of Auto Express Issue 1151 to find out.

[Image: Auto Express/Otis Clay]