CompleteCar

Geneva 2012 review: Volkswagen Polo GT Blue

Petrol fights back against onslaught of diesel hot hatches in new Polo GT Blue.

What is it?

The combination of VW's BlueMotion technologies and sporty GT badge would, on the face of it, appear to be mutually exclusive; yet that is exactly what the Blue GT is. Powered by a 140hp 1.4-litre TSI engine the Blue GT can accelerate from 0-100km/h in under eight seconds yet, thanks to stop-start and cylinder deactivation (which cuts two of the four cylinders under partial load) this Polo can return 62.8mpg (4.5 litres/100km) and CO2 emissions of just 105g/km.

Why's it here?

Could there possibly be a more relevant car on the Volkswagen stand? The up! family will attract all the plaudits, but the prospects of a 140hp petrol engine that can achieve the kind of fuel economy normally associated with diesel engines is not to be sniffed at. Further than that though the Blue GT shows what is possible with the new EA211 series of engines. Bodes well for the the modular MQB platform that will underpin much of the VW range in then future.

Show stopper or floor filler?

The Polo Blue GT seems to be the ideal answer for the modern time, offering decent performance with good fuel economy. However, displayed alongside the new up! family and the Golf GTI Cabriolet it runs the risk of fading into the background. Shame.

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Published on March 8, 2012