GROWING up in the shadow of a motoring legend can't be easy but the Volkswagen Polo GTI has always had a few things to show its bigger brother.
Now in its fourth generation, VW's little hot hatch is better than ever and just perfect for fun.
In this day and age it is rare to find a car that is genuinely a pleasure to drive under all circumstances but that is what the Polo GTI delivers.
Smart looks with the necessary GTI red regalia and honeycomb grille are set off inside with check upholstery, sports seats, a racy short through gear shift and a flat bottomed steering wheel finished in black leather with red stitching.
That's de rigueur for a GTI but what really is impressive about the new model is its poise on the road and the amount of power available.
The new GTI uses a 1.8-litre petrol engine derived from the larger 2.0-litre lump in the Golf GTI.
It develops 190ps and the response from the throttle is instant making for safe overtaking and a rewarding drive.
Top speed is 146mph, 0 to 60 comes up in 6.7 seconds and VW claims it is good for 47.1mpg on average with emissions of 139g/km.
In the real world that's not far off the mark and even on a spirited run we managed to clock up an average of 42.4 to the gallon according to the onboard trip readout and scoring 83 points on the car's ThinkBlue Trainer - a piece of software designed to encourage economical driving which can be viewed on the display screen in the middle of the dash.
The previous generation of the Polo GTI - and there's been a performance version in the Polo camp since 1985 - was fitted with a 1.4-litre turbo engine tweaked to 180ps and available only with a DSG semi-automatic box.
The new one comes either as a six-speed manual or a DSG and the former costs from £18,850 for a three-door model. As an auto it's £1,245 more expensive but just as nippy and even more economical with the DSG achieving a fuel rating of 50.4mpg.
We tried a five-door manual costing £19,480 and it proved more than a match for other hot hatches such as the new Vauxhall Corsa VXR, Peugeot's 208 GTi and the Renault ClioSport.
The Polo is up with the Ford Fiesta ST and the pick of the bunch and in some ways the GTI is more in tune with British roads.
The ride is much more compliant over our bumpy road surfaces and the handling is spot on, agile, nimble and very responsive.
With an optional sport performance pack fitted it was possible to stiffen the ride, the feel of the steering and accentuate the throttle response at the push of a button - a function which also generates more noise in the cabin.
It all stacks up on the fun side of things and in many a way the new Polo GTI feels like a blast from the past - a proper driving experience not overtly interfered with by an array of electronics.
Of course the likes of stability and traction controls are there but they feel very much in the background as does VW's XDS+ electronic differential set up to counter torque steer, especially when moving off.
It works well and does so without the driver really knowing it is engaged - a smashing feeling of the car doing just what the driver wants rather than being restricted by technology.
Manual air conditioning is standard and so is Bluetooth and a touchscreen display but sat nav is a £750 extra.
Pound for pound the hot Polo it is terrific value - some £8,000 cheaper than a Golf GTI - and, dare I say it, more fun on the open road.