2015 VW Polo GTI vs Golf 6 GTI - Which Should You Buy?

When the latest Volkswagen Polo GTI arrived at the office, I have to confess to liking it. Quite a lot actually. It has the essential hot hatch elements: large wheels, sporty bumpers and skirting, an unnecessary engine with unnecessary power.
And with the manual gearbox, the Polo GTI is even more fiery; with 70 more Nm over the DSG version. With it’s vital stats now standing at 141kW and 320Nm, this was all shaping up very nicely.
Out on Cape Town’s backroads, the new little GTI didn’t disappoint.
It’s one of the sharpest drives you can get in a car with a VW on the front. It’s the kind of car which seems to enjoy being pushed, and in a refreshing way, it feels light on its feet. It’s all very…un-Volkswagen.
Until you look at the price. With a starting price of R313 000, the new Polo GTI is cheaper in manual guise, but still, we’re north of R300 000 here. For a Polo. And to make matters worse, our test unit was specced to R352 000. For a Polo.
And that got me thinking. How much could I pick up a good, used, Golf 6 GTI for these days? I began trawling through Cars.co.za’s vast database and I came up with some gems:
2013 Golf 6 GTI DSG Edition 35 (173kW special edition)
36 000km
R329 989
www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2...
2013 Golf 6 GTI 2.0 DSG
45 500km
R315 000
www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2...
There are literally hundreds more to choose from, to suit just about every budget. In this video, we set out to answer what seems to be quite an interesting question: If you have about R330 000 burning a hole in your pocket, which you should you buy? The 2015 Polo GTI, or a used Golf 6 GTI?
0:00 Intro
1:02 Golf Pricing Comparison
1:37 Engine, Power, Torque, and Speed
2:43 Polo GTI Ride Quality
3:42 Polo GTI Drive Modes
4:29 Golf 6 GTI Sport Mode Test Drive
6:09 Which one should you buy?

[@diegocalcagno5102]

You are so underrated, your work is high quality, you deserve millions of views.

[@jonathangeers797]

Holy crap, for 7:49 minutes I thought this video was better than all shows that run on channel 189... Well done.

[@t0nito]

The polo used to be a small sized car and the golf a mid size, now the polo is almost as big as the golf.

[@roarkebouffe3961]

Well done guys! You guys are easily SA's best Car show....

[@stephanslabbert3411]

I like you guys chill South African vibe... Keep it on...!!! well done

[@RandamusVideos]

Wow you guys are putting out some great videos!! I watched 2 vids and subscribed right away. SA needs a good car show again. You need to think about getting onto DSTV. And your presenter is a Legend!

[@shamz108s4]

Your guys reviews are brilliant! This video in particular is why I bought a g6 gti

[@Carscoza]

Thanks so much! We hope you enjoy the car

[@ryanwalker372]

I first owned the polo gti DSG which was an awesome car and with a few mods sounded mad! I own the golf gti now (manual), miss the polo! Think now that it's back to a 1.8, it's a winner. I think the secret is in the DSG box

[@JustifyJustin]

ryan walker True that, but I wouldn't buy a dsg - when they go you're in for R75-R120 000. No thanks.

[@Cosmic_Hobo]

We need a new version of this video!

[@atobee2595]

Another great video!

[@adamferronato1807]

Great review!

[@DarkSkinned_infatuation]

I love this guy 🙌🏿🔥

[@misfit2022]

I like sharp sporty handling so I have had Ford, Corsa and Seat so for me it would probably be Polo but my friend has the Golf and yes a bit of an old man's car which is why it is his preference but it is pure class. Maybe in retirement I would have a Golf but I started on hot hatches and I have not changed much. If you want a nice comfy cruiser the Golf is the choice. Lovely and smooth.

[@hokmo4890]

Very informative. Thank you.

[@Starcraft2Sonic]

Thanks for this awesome review which makes a lotta sense in the EU :o) I am actually in this conundrum. Excépt it's between the Polo 2017 GTI (2.0 Tsi) (around 60,000 USD) and a good Mark 6 GOlf GTI (around 40,000 USD). I've test driven the Golf GTI Mark 6, but not the new Polo GTI (it's not even out for sale in Denmark). I own a Polo Blue GT 1,4 Tsi and they do feel a bit small, and aren't as comfy as a Golf. Although the Polo is fun to slingshot around a corner, the Golf feels more planted. It's more of a cruiser and motorway cruiser. Either way you can't go wrong I would say, as long as you look at the miles you drive. My own view is that the Golf would be a better buy due to "bang for buck" espeically if you get one that's well looked after and with good equipment lvl, and low mileage.

[@tshegomokonoto]

The only reason my friends say I must get a Golf GTI and not the Polo GTI is because I am tall, but I am sucker for the Polo and it does look good.

[@olugarembuluwani6772]

It’s 2024 now and a polo 6 GTI is the car i would buy 😌

[@Braselton21]

Well now that 2015 Polo GTI is probably around 230K+- :D Steal

[@thabang7393]

What about now🤔

[@ralph2670]

300K💀

[@mikaeldebeer7905]

Im only now in the market 😢and i was contemplating between these two❤thanks cars.coza for this review Im definitely going for Golf 6 Gti as for me i prefer comfort over performance

[@dylandegouveia8522]

Even though the polo costs more and the golf is better all round I will still take the polo. reasons? so I can say my polo is faster than a golF :D

[@bettersteps]

Not sure why you would compare an automatic with a manual. Should have had them both manual.

[@AR-fw5bn]

drag race?

[@rendaninevhulaudzi1092]

I would go with the Golf 6 GTI second hand...

[@TheJudeza]

VW are pricing themselves out of the market, the fact that a Polo costs more than my G6 GTi did is a joke.

[@SpaceMissile]

interiors are so nice though. you get a lot more for the price these days.

[@pw5192]

polo all day!

[@mikewish19]

Is the golf a better buy even though it would not have any warranty like a new polo would?

[@Starcraft2Sonic]

That's the question we are all asking ourselves when we buy second hand!

[@francisboissin6737]

Why don't comapre the gof 6 gti ed 35, wtich have 235 hp more torq about 300 nm and top speed above 247 km/h. and 0-100 deal in 6.6s

[@caven7056]

Watching this in 2022 and 300k for a polo gti is a bargain 😅. It's closer to 600k now

[@RussianBear-tg1oo]

Literally 😩. Latest golf touch a milli almost just imagine

[@youngrios]

Idk about you but my mk6 gti stock was faster to 60mph than said 6.9 seconds. I did a 5.8 or so . And stage 2 I was 4.9 -5.1

[@cameronarries838]

which is the better buy ? golf 6 r with about 60 000 km on for +- 330k or golf 7 gti with about 30 000km for the same price ?

[@Carscoza]

Interesting... The performance of the R cars is superb. Don't drive the R and then buy GTI, you'll spend your life wanting more. That said, the 7 GTI is one of the most capable all rounders we've come across. It might not be the most powerful hot hatch right now, but as a daily driver with a bit of firepower, it remains hard to beat.

[@cameronarries838]

+Cameron Arries so in other words you guys would recommend the newer golf 7 gti? the golf 6 R has got slightly better performance the the golf 7 gti. same torque but 188kw compared to 162.

[@mphorejakong4652]

+Cameron Arries get the R , provided that you are financially stable. Life is short. BUT remember that it will be hard for you to go less with power in the future,I would say. What did you end up getting?

[@lutha1720]

the polo costs more than a GTI and they are similar in many ways just the other is slightly better... I must be on nyaope or something to buy one of these cars...

[@MrJAGODIC]

golf 6 with dsg 0 to 100 6.5s

[@HaveOneWithHans]

my polo gti manual 6.2 seconds its a beast but the golf is a more refined car for everyday much nicer

[@raulcorreagarcia573]

POLO COSTS 352,000 WHAT? PESOS? SORRY I DIDNT GET IT...BY THE WAY ¿HOW MANY MTS. ABOVE THE SEA DID YOU TEST THESE CARS? THANK YOU.

[@shaunonverwacht9626]

+raul correa garcia Rands: South African Currency.

[@raulcorreagarcia573]

Oh..thanks a lot ,I didnt know you guys drive with the wheel on your right side just like the British people ,you are lucky VW sells manual 6 vel cars in your Country ,here in Mexico there are only DSG ,have a nice weekend.

[@kinmarwodzi7018]

and the camera man is in a mazda BT-50

[@janfenyane2112]

and here i thought newer is better but clearly not. lot of factors come when buying a car, but i'm a bit uncomfortable about getting second hand anythings i dont know. suppose you ought to swallow the bitter pill sometime.

[@WaseemKhan-iu4bh]

Why did you not take weight into consideration...

[@Starcraft2Sonic]

He did take that in to consideration. He was taking about "bang for your buck", not just taking weight into consideration. It all depends on what you use the car for. Do you want a backroad slingshot hatch or a motorway miles muncher?

[@nawanekhomo3159]

I just don't understand why would you compare this two, maybe you want to show us that the polo is expensive or what? Because I have a even much better deal a 2004 mk4 gti for R75000 with 120000km, but over I liked the video and between those two cars I would go for the mk6 because it's bigger and more power but slower from 0 to 100km/h. Can you please compare the polo 7 gti with the polo 6 gti.

[@H3AT_VeGaS]

+Thamsanqa khomo oh my god.

[@JustifyJustin]

Why would you spend more over the mk6 gti? Well, the Polo engine won't eat itself, for start :-)

[@lesolk]

R350 thousand that's a lot for the polo. I don't know wether to say that didn't well or the opposite. This was just 6years ago. 🤦🤦

[@jayczyzyk9707]

in terms of handling the wrk or so mini focus st are way ahead

[@anna-mariagio843]

they seem the same to me. haha

[@JeffSpehar-ov1cn]

What is a Polo GTI?

[@unotir7109]

Polo

[@nouredineennamli1059]

joux monte alarme Golf polo 2015

[@nigelmofati3683]

Now polo life is R350k 😂😂😂

[@terrenceganasen257]

Your bank balance will thank you, and then you get to service the golf 6..... and have to do cambelt change, brake discs and shocks and whatever else goes..... oh dont forget your bank balance thanking you there

[@wadenorton35]

All extremely cheap to do even with OEM Parts :). Also it doesn't have a cambelt it has a timing chain :)

[@babmzn868]

That Polo GTI is too f'n expensive!

[@Msunuwakho]

lol u would faint if you knew how much a polo gti costs now 😂

[@babmzn868]

@@Msunuwakho i just looked it up. Not a good sight😬

[@kamerl1]

Polo gti's are overpriced, would rather buy a slightly older golf gti

[@marinjurcevic8816]

Passatcc

[@tensl8junior116]

The polo GTI is sexy and small

[@thami031]

Thats a lie

[@mattsamuels3607]

Typical shit review. Jump on the manual bandwagon 🤨 it has more torque cos it needs more torque for the same outcome, admittedly the DSG gearbox is restricted. But the manual needs 70nm more to keep up

[@undergroundlegend198]

Shitty background music messing up a good review