Used Volkswagen Polo GTI 2010-2017 review

The bar was low given the spiritlessness of its predecessor, but the changes wrought have delivered much in the way of hoped-for effect. This is a more rambunctious and modestly involving brand of Polo.

Much as fitting a larger capacity engine helped the Mini Cooper S’s overall appeal so the EA888 enhances its new surroundings. There is a bigger presence and soundtrack for a start, married to the kind of ingratiating get-away that doesn’t immediately need stoking up with the throttle to feel brisk.

But briskness there is, should you want it. Where the 1.4-litre TSI was all forced induction fizz and then labored at the top end, its replacement is a grower; still inevitably muscular in the mid range, and more linear at high revs than peaky - but there’s now a decent payoff to keeping the GTI beyond 4500rpm.

And it practically goes without saying that having a manual gear change at the end of it all introduces a level collusion between driver and car that simply wasn’t present before.

The sensation of a bigger, more sinewy lump feeds well into the handling experience too, because the stability bias Volkswagen prefers to engineer into its non-R hot hatches requires a bit of heft to keep it halfway interesting.

Previously, there was a tendency to give up on the whole affair and stay grumpily within the limits; now, with a powertrain worth working, there’s more incentive to engage with the chassis’s ceaselessly high levels of grip.

As the range-topping Volkswagen Polo it gets a pretty comprehensive specification with 17in alloy wheels, a rear spoiler, twin-pipe exhaust and GTI styling pack all gracing the outside. Underneath there is a sports suspension, which is 15mm lower than the standard car, while inside there are sports seats, 6.5in touchscreen infotainment including DAB radio, Bluetooth and a CD player.

Opt for the Sport performance pack (which at just £250, you definitely should) and you get a switch to tweak the dampers a smidgen tighter; press it and together with the new anti-roll bars, the Polo passes off a pleasing impression of its big brother - meaning that B roads pass underneath in a confident blur of front-drive competence and clever isolation.