Polo GTI a real hoot to boot big brother

In the world of motoring, evolution can be a dirty word. Especially when it comes to something like a purebred performance car.

Even though the process of advancing the species brings about greater levels of refinement and maturity, it does tend to scrub off that visceral essence that made (insert vehicle of choice here) such an enticing proposition to begin with.

The Golf GTI is a perfect case in point. Yes, the current model is beautifully engineered and capable of clinging to the heels of most sports cars but it's lost that raw, terrier-like tenacity that so defined the original. In fact, barring the red pin striping and that badge, I think there is hardly any resemblance.

Now this isn't a problem for technology-loving futurists with deep pockets, but what if you're a less plush purist looking for something that still gives a nod, albeit a vague one, to Volkswagen's hot-hatch icon that first rocked the establishment back in 1976?

Well the answer, I recently discovered, can be found inside the all-new Polo GTI.

You see, unlike its bigger brother that just seems to get larger and larger as the years roll by, the Polo GTI remains far closer in size and stature to that of the first Golf MK1.

It feels tighter, lighter, more intimate and, if I'm being honest here, a lot more fun to climb into.

Think of it then as picking the Rebel Alliance X-Wing over Darth Vader's Death Star. It doesn't pack the same firepower on paper but this deficit just makes it more entertaining in the long run.

Indeed, kicking out 132kW from a throaty twin-charged TSI engine, you have to work harder for all the carnal pleasures of going fast - but this just makes the driving experience that much more enjoyable. Not only do you have to be extra mindful of your lines when threading through the loops of your favourite back roads, but your gear selection also becomes more important. Fortunately, fitted with a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard fare (purists lament - there is no manual option available) this is easy to keep on top of thanks to its lightning-fast shift characteristics.

Certainly no slouch in a straight line, the Polo GTI feels far more youthful in the twisty bits too with its shorter wheelbase and ultra-firm suspension setup: qualities that make it come across like a proper old-school hot-hatch master.

Remember how the Golfs of summers past used to cock an inside wheel when really pressing on? Well, I'm pretty sure the same thing happened while I explored the raggedy edges of this car's potential around the tighter parts of Franschhoek pass. Sure, this overt chassis sportiness may not do the Polo GTI's ride quality any favours but it makes it brutally effective through the bends.

Wherever you point that honeycomb grille, it goes with quick, well-weighted steering telegraphing a goodly amount of feedback. Admittedly, veering away from those honest old-fashioned values, VW's entry-level GTI does make on-the-limit driving somewhat easier thanks to the inclusion of the firm's trick XDS system. Basically a form of electronic limited-slip differential, it works with the car's ESP to prevent the inside wheel from spinning in sporty driving scenarios. In reality it works well, coming into its own especially down those technical roads you are not all that familiar with. Unfortunately though, even with the ESP turned off, it's not something you can fully neuter should the perverse need ever arise.

Still, despite the ever-present road nanny to keep you in check, the Polo GTI remains a certified barrel of motoring monkeys. Fast and frisky, it's also very well priced and should give its rivals - the Renault Clio RS and Opel Corsa OPC - a proper wake-up call when it snarls up behind them. The best of the past mixed up with just the right amount of the present, I think its spiritual predecessor would be proud.