Is the new electric VW Polo GTI a hit or miss? Have your say

Jack Rix: “The Polo isn’t planning on doing anything brave”

I’ll admit the Polo GTI does look like a tidy little package. The old Up! GTI proved that small, fizzy GTI models were the palate cleanser we all need from bloated, overpowered performance cars. 

However, how many times have we got excited about EV hot hatches (Alpine A290?) only to be let down by stodgy handling, zero emotion and a frustrating lack of range?

The only one that’s successfully tickled our pickle was the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and its box of tricks, but so far as I can see the Polo isn’t planning on doing anything brave or unusual in that space, which is in keeping with VW conservatism but rather dooms it to being a gussied up shopping trolley.

I predict a dud.

Ollie Kew: “The old hot Polo GTI was actually a damp flannel”

There’s a very telling line in VW’s presentation of the new GTI: “With its drive and vehicle handling characteristics, the ID.Polo GTI is more like a current Golf GTI than the [petrol] Polo GTI.” That’s less underwhelming than it sounds. The old hot Polo was actually a damp flannel.

VW knows people like GTIs because they don’t rattle your earlobes off in daily use, but the Polo badly needed more get up and go. Yes, an Alpine A290 has more pace than this EV, but it makes do with 30 miles less range and rides like a skateboard over a cattle grid.

VW’s brought back buttons, punchy hot hatch styling, and a sense it’s refinding its mojo. Roll on the triple test vs the Frenchie and Mini’s John Cooper Works Electric...