It seems like a hollow victory to say that the new Volkswagen Polo GTI is the best of the small hatchbacks given that the new Ford Fiesta ST hasn't arrived yet. Here, we'll have a game of hot hatch Top Trumps to find out which one's best on numbers alone.
The cars
The last generation of the Fiesta ST was an instant milestone in the hot hatch landscape. A modern-day Peugeot 205 GTi, if you will. Even the $35,700 (approximately), limited editionToyota Yaris GRMN doesn't match the old Fiesta ST for sheer thrills. It was just that epic. And, of course, it leaves a giant reputation for the new car to live up to. A new car that's taken the controversial route of using a three-cylinder turbocharged engine, complete with cylinder deactivation and coasting mode to improve efficiency. There will also be selectable drive modes including Normal, Sport and Track.
The VW Polo, by contrast, has a reputation for being the grown up one of its peers. The fast, refined, easy-living one that's at home in the company car park and outside a posh hotel, just as it is doing ill-advised handbrake turns in a supermarket car park by cover of darkness.
Check out how they fare when you compare the numbers, and have a look a the galleries below.
| 2018 Ford Fiesta ST | 2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI | |
| Price | not available in the U.S. / £19,000 est. in UK | not available in the U.S. / £21,140 in UK |
| Engine | 1.5-liter, 3-cylinder, turbocharged, gasoline | 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder, turbocharged, gasoline |
| Transmission | Six-speed manual | Six-speed dual-clutch automatic |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Power | 197 hp | 197 hp |
| Torque | 214 lb-ft | 236 lb-ft |
| 0-62mph | 6.7 seconds | 6.7 seconds |
| Top speed | 145 mph (233 kph) (est.) | 147 mph (237 kph) |
| Fuel economy | 52 mpg (est.) | 47.9 mpg |
| CO2 emissions | 114 g/km | 134 g/km |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot capacity | 292 liters | 355 liters |
| Length | 4,065 mm | 4053mm |
| Width | 1,735 mm | 1751mm |
| Height | 1,460 mm (est.) | 1461mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,493 mm | 2548mm |
| Weight | 2,535 lbs (1,150 kg) (est.) | 2,601 lbs (1,180 kg) (est.) |
| Fuel tank capacity | 42 liters | 40 liters |
Which one wins?
Given that we won't have a U.S. version of the Fiesta ST and Polo GTI, it's all speculation at this point. On numbers alone, given that the Fiesta manages the same 0-62 mph (0-100 kph) sprint with a manual gearbox that the Polo manages with a dual-clutch automatic, and given the lower emissions and lower (predicted) price, we'd be more tempted by the Ford. Mind you, the Polo has a far superior interior and better practicality... Paper, scissors, stone you for it?
Gallery: 2018 Ford Fiesta ST
Gallery: 2018 Volkswagen Polo GTI First Drive