Polo GTI group test

[pologti18t]

Sports hatch track test: Ford Fiesta Metal v Suzuki Swift Sport v Volkswagen Polo GTI | CarAdvice

[Hail22]

Sports hatch track test: Ford Fiesta Metal v Suzuki Swift Sport v Volkswagen Polo GTI |Â*CarAdvice

Lol nice of them to use the track out at Marulan, nice track and really good for track runs!...little bit of a drive from Sydney

[JonP01]

I would have thought the 77TSi Sports Pack would have been a more meaningful competitor in this test (even Wheels describes it as a sub-GTI). The price would be closer to the other two and straight line performance versus the Swift Sport equates to around 0.2 seconds difference or so. Moreover, the brakes on the 77TSI would have held up better given the slower speeds and the overall chassis would have been a better match for the performance.

I am much more interested to see what a magazine like Wheels thinks of something like a Fiesta ST vs Polo GTI versus Citroen DS3 comparison. I suspect the Polo GTI will more than have it's work cut out against the upcoming Fiesta ST...and the Fiesta ST is certainly the car I would pick out of these if only because it will come with a manual transmission (and I would have less reservations about engine durability).

[iigx]

I think I first only really noticed this with the new Audi A3... but I really do appreciate the time and effort that has gone into designing the 6R Polo (& GTI's) interior cabin. The Ford Fiesta, and almost all of the Holden (except maybe the new Commodore) look so busy, the simple dash of Polo is very aesthetically pleasing and relaxing. Look at the number of buttons on the Fiesta ST's center console

I think for me anyway it helps me feel relaxed on days when I need to chill in my GTI.. but also more focused when I want to use the throttle... there are minimal distractions!

[JonP01]

Actually that Fiesta console was one of three reasons I chose the Polo over the Fiesta. The other two were that the Polo was physically more comfortable and the Polo had a much more relaxed and flexible engine. I am figuring that given how often-criticised the current Fiesta console is, perhaps the new model due in a few months will be less space age Fischer-Price and more appealing (as you say, this is the strength of VW, Audi, etc).

[noone]

No times?

Agree with the 77 test being more relative ($$$).

They picked the 2 main gripes I have, no manual and wheel-braking is not a diff.

Really interested to see how a 9n3 and 6R with some handling and power (stock turbo) mods go head to head.