Volkswagen Polo GT TSI & Polo GT TDI Road Test Review

Polo GT 1.5L TDI

Report : Joshua David Luther

One of the most popular segments of the Indian car market is the hatch back segment in which some really exciting performance hot-hatches are on offer. Most of these cars make 100 plus bhp and offer power packed performance but an obvious riddle to solve is whether to buy a car with a petrol motor or a diesel mill. The diesel cars being offered in the Indian market today can match or even sometimes beat the petrol ones on offer. So we decide to settle the dispute using two of the most exciting hot hatches available – the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI and the Polo GT TDI.

I drove the GT TDI while Rahul our motorsports ace drove the GT TSI. The GT TDI is powered by a 1.5 litre, 4-cylinder, Turbo diesel mill which can make 103bhp at 4400rpm and 250Nm of torque from 1500-2500rpm. All this power and torque translates into a top speed of 183kmph and a 0-100kmph time of 10.51 seconds. The GT TSI on the other hand produces the same 103bhp of power but at 5000rpm and only 175Nm of torque from 1500-4100rpm. The petrol motor reaches its peak power a shade after the diesel and does not have the same torque output but is lighter and hence has a better top speed and is quicker to a 100kmph than the diesel. Despite this the GT TDI is quicker off the line and that in itself is a big thing.

Both the GT TSI and the TDI look exactly similar from the inside and outside but are two completely different cars altogether. The reason is quite simple, while the TDI has a 5-speed manual transmission the TSI has a 7-speed DSG gearbox. Now for some people shifting a stick can be a pain but for motor maniacs like me it’s an obvious choice. You can shift as per your needs and there is no need to worry about the car’s reaction time but with an automatic there is always a lag in response to the gear shift be it in automatic drive or manual shifting modes. The DSG gear box on the TSI how ever is lightening quick yet not as much fun as the manual stick on the TDI. While the TSI offers smooth acceleration the shifts on the TDI are jerky and you feel an instant punch when you slam the accelerator after shifting.

The GT TDI weighs almost 39kgs more than the TSI and is nose heavy thanks to the diesel motor in the front. The TDI however does not feel underpowered at all and is fun to drive if you don’t mind the constant grunting of the diesel engine which does seep into the cabin. One of the advantages of buying a diesel is the better mileage derived. While the petrol TSI returns 17.21kmpl the diesel TDI returns 19.91kmpl. While both cars are the same on the features front they get a new cooled glove box for chilling drinks on the move. So for me the Polo GT TDI is an obvious choice thanks to the manual stick and the fact that it is quicker off the line than the TSI.