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- Pricing for the current generation Volkswagen Polo GTI starts from R535 600.
- We list a couple of pre-owned performance-orientated options that you can also buy.
- All information was taken from online dealer classifieds, Autotrader.
The Volkswagen Polo GTI was once affordable, but inflation has wreaked havoc on car prices and groceries, fuel, and electricity hikes. Here are some other pre-owned vehicles you could buy and have some change to pocket for upgrades.
The Volkswagen Polo – and more recently, the Polo Vivo - has been a popular seller among local consumers, mainly due to its affordability. It is often the go-to option for most first-time buyers who want good fuel economy and the latest features.
You can pick up a Polo Vivo from R255 600, while the Polo's pricing starts from R343 100. That is undoubtedly not a bad price point considering the present economy and market, but for those that want a bit more grunt but don't want to pay Golf 8 GTI money (priced from R765 100), there's the Polo GTI that is considerably cheaper (priced from R535 600).
Still, paying more than half a million rand on the "baby" GTI requires logical reasoning. Some don't mind paying for it, while others would rather spend that money on something else and likely faster – but pre-owned. Buying a new versus-a-used vehicle certainly has pros and cons, but it's ultimately up to the buyer as to which route to go down.
The Polo benchmark
We used Volkswagen's online configurator to see how much a Polo GTI would cost with all the optional extras boxes ticked. Over and above the purchase price, there are optional extras, like:
- Black "Faro" 18-inch diamond-turned wheels - R7 700
- Radio "Discover Media" - R11 400
- "Beats" sound system - R10 300
- Tilt and slide panoramic sunroof - R15 400
- Leather seat package - R11 250
- Smoker's package – R500
- Comfort Park Package - R16 350
- Safety Package DSG - R10 800
The grand total comes to R619 300 – or R83 700 worth of optional goodies. Notably, the panoramic sunroof is the most popular optional feature in VW's model range, with many customers opting for it when purchasing this model as new.
GTI versus the rest
Using the Autotrader dealer classifieds as a base, we compiled a list of pre-owned performance hot hatches sold nationwide from various automakers. The criteria these cars are based on are mileage below 40 000km, priced between R400 000 and R500 000 and five years or less in age than a 2023 VW Polo GTI - so these models are from the 2018 model year onwards.
Most of the cars on the list had at least one major service carried out at the automaker and have the factory warranty still in place.
The lower price point than a brand-new GTI means that potential buyers will have substantial cash left over to do (aesthetic or performance) upgrades.
Interestingly, a current Polo GTI is on the list for less than the brand-new selling price. Here are some pre-owned options you could buy for similar money:
