Meet the new Golf GTI. In spirit, anyway. Here is a VW-badged hot hatchback almost exactly the same size as a Golf GTI mk2, and it even has the plaid seat trim of an early mk1. Reflecting today’s downsizing trend, the engine is smaller than in those early GTIs, its pistons displacing a mere 1.4 litres. But with the help of a supercharger and a turbocharger there’s 178bhp on tap.

That matches the SEAT Ibiza Cupra, of course. And this new Polo GTI, this honey-I-shrunk-the-2010-Golf bundle of energy, shares its seven-speed DSG paddle-shift gearbox with the SEAT as well as its engine. The stage is thus set for the Polo to play the naughty little brother to the grown-up Golf.

The engine note sets the perfect scene, its snorty, gruff induction noise pitching you straight into your own private trackday fantasy. As ever with this TSI unit, there’s strong punch from low down right through to 7000rpm, although seventh gear’s long-striding, economy-hyping 27mph per 1000rpm calms the ardour a bit. Upshifts are quick when accelerating hard but they can be lazy when ambling. Kickdown (past an obvious detent) is always available, even in manual mode. Curiously, the idle speed drops from 1050rpm to 750rpm if the selector is moved from manual to auto.

As with the engine, the chassis is friskier than the Golf’s and less the civilised tourer. The Polo steers firmly and positively with good bite from the front tyres (mounted on Golf GTI-type 17in wheels), the nose tucks in keenly but the ESP light is easily triggered as you power out of corners. There’s a touch of torque steer, too, the good sort that adds to the feistiness. The tail edges out just enough not to feel inert if you throttle-off, but – as usual in a VW Group car – the warning light flashes annoyingly even if the ESP is off. Over bumps the ride is firm, maybe too firm for the UK, but it’s very well damped with no after-bounce or choppiness.

So here is the best attempt yet at a convincing GTI-badged Polo, a car with its own personality freed from the shadow of the Golf. It looks right for the role, too, with its deep valances, honeycomb grille, red stripes and twin tailpipes, plus a mini-GTI interior treatment.

One big snag: there’s no manual transmission alternative. Some might favour the DSG idea, but manual-lovers will dismiss the Polo out of hand. Word from the UK importer is that this could change.