Abarth Punto vs Volkswagen Polo GT TSI - Comparison

The Abarth Punto has all the right boxes ticked as a hot hatchback, but how does it compare against the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI in the real world? We find out

The hot hatchback segment is a pretty starved one on its own in India and the Volkswagen Polo GT TSI has pretty much dominated the segment ever since its launch – with its direct injection turbo petrol engine and double-clutch automatic gearbox. But Fiat’s new entrant in the segment in the form of the Abarth Punto has the GT TSI licked, alteast on paper. But how do these cars compare out on the road? We pit them against one another to find out.

But before we get there, let’s take a look at the aesthetic enhancements on these cars to see how each of these car makers wants to reach out to their customers. I’ve always been a fan of the way the Punto looks, and when this Abarth version arrived at our office I quite liked the red stickering and detailing – and those Abarth Scorpion wheels certainly look cool. But when you look closer, the quality of the stickers aren’t all that great. And that lets it down because the Polo is a quality item through-and-through. There’s no margin for error here, as the Polo comes to the party with perfect panel gaps and excellent fit-and-finish. Distinguishing the GT TSI from its lesser brethren are the GT TSI stickers on the C-pillars and the piano black rear spoiler above the tailgate. All told, one thing is clear – the GT TSI is styled to be a sleeper while the Abarth Punto screams its intentions!

On the inside, Fiat has distinguished the Abarth Punto from the standard car with an Abarth branded steering wheel, aluminium pedals, contrast stitching for the seats, and redesigned dials in the instrument binnacle. And while the quality of materials is pretty good inside the Punto, and build quality is decent, an awkward driving position lets it down – especially since it claims to be a purpose-oriented drivers’ car. Still, the car is decently equipped and comes with a nice stereo.

It’s when you get inside the Polo that you realize how superior its interiors are compared to the Punto. The plastic quality is better, and so is switchgear and fit-and-finish. There’s more equipment too, and the stereo is better.

Under the hood, the Abarth Punto’s 1.4 litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine develops 145bhp at 5,500rpm and 212Nm of torque between 2,000-4,000rpm. In comparison, the GT TSI seems trumped with 103bhp of max power at 5,000rpm and 175Nm of peak torque spread between 1,500 and 4,100rpm from its 1.2 litre direct injection turbo-petrol motor.

And this difference is translated onto the road as well. In the Abarth, initially, there’s some lag below 1,800rpm. But, once past that, it’s immediately noticeable that the Abarth is the more brisk car here – although, the engine doesn’t rev quite as freely as I would have liked it to.

And then there’s the gearbox. The five-speed manual unit has rubbery gearshifts. The unit just feels vague, and that kills much of the driver engagement. Still, work past these factors and the Abarth Punto feels quite a bit faster than the GT TSI.

Moving to the GT TSI reveals its refined and smooth manner. NVH levels are kept in check and gear changes from the autobox are absolutely unnoticeable. Put the gearbox in Sports mode, mash the right pedal, and the engine and transmission respond instantly. The car lets out a nice sporty snarl and charges ahead with urgency.

While the Abarth has more punch, at high speed it doesn’t feel anywhere near as rock solid as the VW. It also suffers from high engine and wind noise at those speeds. Meanwhile, the GT TSI behaves commendably and stays absolutely planted with the speedometer needle in the far reaches of its fairly generous gauge.

The GT TSI has always displayed very neutral and safe driving dynamics. But its 185/60 tyres run out of grip far sooner than the Abarth’s 195/55’s. Where the GT TSI begins to understeer, the Scorpions superior grip allows you to carry some serious speed through the bends. And this is helped by the feelsome hydraulic steering versus the direct but quite distant electronic power steering in the GT TSI.

Both cars offer excellent cushioning over poor sections of tarmac, and road noise is minimal too. The Abarth doesn’t compromise on ride comfort despite having a stiffer setup than the standard car – and, with front and rear disc brakes, the Abarth has far better stopping power than the GT TSI.

All told, it’s finally great to see some competition against the Polo GT TSI. The AbarthPunto is undoubtedly the more spirited car here, but it’s not necessarily the superior machine. While it may accelerate and decelerate faster, it isn’t as stable as the GT TSI at higher speeds. Show the Abarth a corner though, and it’ll simply disappear into the horizon.

So, which is a superior hot hatchback ultimately? Well, I’d have to go with the GT TSI. It’s a more refined and polished machine. The TSI is also better equipped, more comfortable, and better built. The AbarthPunto, on the other hand, is rough around the edges. It needs a better driving position and better gearshift quality. Plus, the GT TSI costs 1.37 lakhs less!

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