Volkswagen Polo GTI review – MPG and running costs
Near-40mpg on paper although as with all performance cars this doesn’t correlate to real-world usage
Volkswagen claims the Polo will sip fuel at a rate of between 38.7 and 39.8mpg on the combined cycle under the new WLTP testing regime, but like most turbocharged engines it will consume significantly more when driven with enthusiasm.
The EA888 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 320bhp) 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, repair bills are often high and sometimes excruciating.
