Hot diesel Polo hits the showroom

Volkswagen’s sporty new Polo GT diesel supermini is now on sale, costing £14,250.

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Volkswagen’s sporty new Polo GT diesel supermini is now on sale, costing £14,250.

The 128bhp 1.9-litre car is £1230 more than the next most powerful 99bhp 1.9 diesel model. It is also available in five-door form for an extra £500.

Fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, the GT is 1.4sec quicker to 60mph than the 99bhp car with a time of 9.3sec, and 11mph faster overall with a top speed of 128mph.

Its average fuel economy is just 1.1mpg worse than the 99bhp car’s at 55.4mpg, while its emissions place it in the lowest 15% company car tax band.

Standard equipment includes climate control, four airbags, a six-CD multichanger, heated door mirrors, front foglamps, remote central locking with an alarm and front electric windows.

The GT stands out from standard Polos thanks to its unique alloy wheels, chrome badging and lowered suspension.

Skoda’s Fabia 1.9 TDi vRS, which uses the same engine as the Polo GT, costs £11,990 and features alloy wheels, air-con, remote central locking and electric windows all-round. It is capable if hitting 60mph in 9.6sec and tops out at 126mph.

Sister company Seat offers an even more powerful 158bhp diesel engine in its Polo-based Ibiza. Priced at £15,500, the Ibiza Cupra makes 60mph in 7.6sec and can reach 136mph. It sits in the 18% company car tax band and returns 56.5mpg.