Will the new Volkswagen Polo GTI make Golf GTI buyers think twice?

Will the new Volkswagen Polo GTI make Golf GTI buyers think twice in the future?

By now you would’ve heard about the upcoming new Volkswagen Polo. The new range promises to usher in a new benchmark within its segment. Judging by what’s on offer and the unconditional love South Africans have for the Polo, it will be a guaranteed success. Interestingly, South Africa also happens to be one of the largest GTI markets in the world, making the three letters offered by VW, a coveted symbol amongst young and old. The recent launch of the updated Golf 7.5 GTI had many salivating yet others have begun to worry. This is due to the fact that a new Golf GTI now costs just under R550 000. Of course the competition is priced similarly, but what was once a young man’s car has become a young executives car in terms of pricing. Which brings us to our question, will the upcoming Volkswagen Polo GTI make future Golf GTI buyers think twice before purchasing?

As you know the new Volkswagen Polo GTI will feature a 2.0 litre turbocharged engine, producing 147kW and paired with a 7 speed DSG gearbox. This is nothing to scoff at as it is not too far off from the Golf’s 169kW. “It’s still a Polo you may think”, but the new Polo will also have Virtual Cockpit, it will also have the option of LED headlights and it will have most of the technology offered in the current Golf. The biggest drawback for most then might be space, because the Golf’s dimensions have always been near perfect, even for those with families.

The new Polo is smaller, but not small per se. It’s longer, wider and taller than the current Polo. Most notably is the boot space that will be offered, 351 litres compared to 280 litres in the current Polo. With all these things considered, it’s safe to say that the new Polo is going to offer a heap load of goodness. So much goodness that it may detract from a confuse a Golf buyer? Only time will tell. What is certain is that the upcoming Polo GTI will not be the same price as the Golf, it will obviously be noticeably cheaper. In the worlds current situation with most cutting costs, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see some opt for the “baby brother” and save some money, especially if it follows through on its promise to offer great performance and practicality.