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Well this is exciting. The brand new Volkswagen Polo GTI against the semi-legendary current Ford Fiesta ST.
It’s exciting because VW has really upped its game in this segment. The latest GTI looks fantastic, and as Ashley Oldfield assured me, the suspension setup is very unlike a VW - it's firmer and racier than usual. This is a good thing. VW has also shoved in a 1.8-Litre turbo motor with outputs of 141 kW and 250 Nm.
But, list price is R326 400, with our test unit coming in at around R340 000. It feels very premium inside however, the new alcantara and leather seats are just the business and of course it has two more doors than the Fiesta ST.
With a list price of R275 900, the ST is significantly cheaper, but is only available as a three-door hatch (other markets have a five-door, boo). The 1.6-Litre turbo motor in the ST offers 134 kW and 240 Nm, with an overboost function.
The Fiesta is 90kg lighter than the Polo, weighing in at 1100kg (kerb weight) which should help it around Killarney.
Making it even more interesting, the Polo we used was fitted with DSG, while the Fiesta was a manual. However, we should see a manual Volkswagen Polo GTI coming later in 2015, which will be cheaper.
With the two cars lined up, we told our very own Ashley Oldfield to race suit-up! One standing start hot lap of the Killarney Racetrack in Cape Town, by one driver, in perfect conditions, minutes after each other. It doesn’t get closer.
Interested in a new Fiesta ST?
For an ultra detailed side by side comparison, visit our Compare page here
| Volkswagen Polo GTI | Ford Fiesta ST | |
| Price | R326 400 | R275 900 |
| Engine | 1.8-Litre 4-cyl turbo | 1.6-Litre 4-cyl turbo |
| Power | 141 kW | 134 kW |
| Torque | 250 Nm | 249 Nm |
| Fuel economy | 5.6 L/100km (claimed) | 5.9 L/100km (claimed) |
| 0 – 100km/h | 6.7 seconds | 6.9 seconds |
| Top speed | 236kph | 220kph |
| Weight (kerb) | 1190kg | 1100kg |
| Transmission | DSG | Manual |
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