Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Polo GTI review – MPG and running costs

Drive neatly and the GTI will push 45mpg; other consumables can vary

Evo rating
RRP
from £28,905
  • Torquey, flexible and efficient powertrain
  • No life to the chassis; tough damping brings little benefit

Now that manufacturers have gotten to grips with the WLTP system, the Polo GTI’s fuel economy numbers have actually gone up compared to the car’s launch figures. Volkswagen now quotes an average of 41.5mpg, a couple MPG higher than the pre-facelift. Even more surprising is that these figures seem quite conservative, with a mid-40s figure averaged over a week of town and motorway driving. It even closed in on 50mpg on a long run in Eco mode.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The EA888 engine is otherwise well established, and has proven to be extremely reliable. Given its low state of tune compared to some other applications (new versions found in the Golf R are pushing 316bhp) it's also a lightly stressed unit.

The DSG is somewhat more problematic, as clutches are considered wear and tear items and do need replacing. How long they’ll last does vary though, and, like many dual-clutch gearboxes or the old-school single-clutch semi-automatics, depends vastly on driving style. Actuators and hydraulic pumps can also fail, and while this is less common, any time a dual-clutch transmission case needs to be cracked the repair bills are often high and sometimes excruciating.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV
Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio
News

£15k off Alfa Romeo Stelvio Quadrifoglio super SUV

If you have to have an SUV, a Stelvio QV is acceptable. Now it's being heavily discounted.
8 Jul 2025
New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo
Festival of Speed 2025
News

New cars at the 2025 Goodwood Festival of Speed – all the debuts from Aston to Zenvo

The Goodwood Festival of Speed was spectacular yet again. Here are the highlights from the British motoring event of the year
14 Jul 2025
Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track
Ferrari F80 review
Reviews

Ferrari F80 2025 review – near-1200bhp tech tour de force tested on road and track

Maranello’s latest hybrid hypercar and successor to the LaFerrari blends mind-bending capabilities with deeply intuitive character
10 Jul 2025