Models · Volkswagen
Volkswagen Polo GTI AW buying guide
The sixth-generation Polo GTI, on sale from 2018 with a 2.0 turbo borrowed from the Golf GTI and a DSG gearbox. It was mildly facelifted in 2021 with more power and LED matrix headlights.
The versions
- 2.0 TSI turbo four (EA888), 200hp before the 2021 facelift, 207hp after
- DSG dual-clutch automatic only in the UK: six-speed wet-clutch DQ250 at first, seven-speed after the 2021 update
- Front-wheel drive, five-door hatchback
- Direct and port fuel injection, used to rule out inlet valve carbon build-up
What to check on a AW Polo GTI
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Creaking from the front suspension
What to look for: On the drive, turn the steering at low speed and go over speed bumps with the window down. Listen for loud creaks or groans from the front of the car.
Why it matters: Some early cars developed loud creaking from the front, in at least one case traced to misaligned front dampers. It's a fixable fault, and a quiet front end is what you want.
How the DSG behaves
What to look for: On the drive, try the gearbox in manual mode and in drive at low speed. Note any unexpected drop into first when slowing in second, refusals to downshift, or jerky pull-aways.
Why it matters: The engine has shown very little sign of mechanical trouble, so the gearbox is the part to judge on the drive. Its occasional odd downshift behaviour is a known quirk; a gearbox that slips, flares or thumps is a different matter and needs checking.
Door mirrors and windows
What to look for: Fold and unfold the electric mirrors and run every window up and down from both the driver's switches and each door's own switch.
Why it matters: Mirrors that won't fold and windows that won't work have usually been traced to a fault in a door control unit, and owners of the current Polo have also reported faulty window mechanisms. Check every door, not just the driver's.
Also in the full guide
- Seatbelt recall and dashboard rattles
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the AW Polo GTI
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
Other generations
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Volkswagen.