Volkswagen Polo GTI review – MPG and running costs

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.

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.