Volkswagen Polo GTI on sale for $39,990 driveaway as strong supply returns

Pint-sized performance hatch packs a punch – and also a circa-10 percent discount for the next few months as supply normalises

A dramatic uptick in the number of South African-made Volkswagen Polo GTI hot hatches landing on Australian shores will coincide with the return of a driveaway price incentive for the Hyundai i20 N rival.

Volkswagen Australia will in effect offer a circa-$4000 discount on the smallest member of the GTI family. The Polo GTI is officially priced at $39,690 before on-road costs in Australia – meaning a normal driveaway price in the vicinity of $44,000.

Volkswagen Polo GTI 2023-4 — The offer makes the Polo GTI about 10 percent cheaper on-road

But for at least the third quarter of 2023, the Polo GTI will be on sale for $39,990 driveaway for a bone-stock version painted in either of the three included colours: pure white solid, deep black pearl, reef blue metallic, or smokey grey metallic. Kings red metallic attracts a $300 premium.

Two other options are available in the form of a $1650 panoramic sunroof or a $1500 sound and tech package that adds heated front seats and a Beats premium audio system. Deep iron grey interior trim inserts can be added to replace standard red trim at no-cost.

2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI — A return to incentives for the Polo GTI, which is now in healthier supply

Producing 147kW of power and 320Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre ‘EA888’ turbocharged petrol four-cylinder engine, the Polo GTI is the smaller and scrappier cousin of the Golf GTI – but it still packs two-stage adaptive dampers and 18-inch wheels.

Nor does the Polo GTI hang about: Chasing Cars independent performance testing reveals that the 2023 model can sprint from 0-100km/h in 6.57 seconds, and it can brake from 100-0km/h in 35.32 metres. A six-speed wet dual-clutch automatic with paddle shifters is the only transmission.

The Polo GTI’s larger and quicker sibling, the Golf GTI, will also be sold at a discounted rate of $55,990 driveaway in Q3 2023 – a significant $16,000 step up from the Polo.

Volkswagen Polo GTI 2022-4 — The Polo GTI’s cabin continues to feature classic tartan seats

The GTI sits at the top of a four-strong Polo range and is the only four-cylinder vehicle in the lineup. It uses a simplified version of Volkswagen’s MQB platform, codenamed A0, with a torsion bar rear suspension. The Polo GTI weighs in at 1326kg.

The light hot hatch segment has thinned out considerably in recent years, and the Polo GTI’s sole remaining direct rival in Australia is the manual-only Hyundai i20 N which is currently in extremely short supply, with a most recent price of $35,990 before on-road costs.