The New VW Polo is here…
February 2, 2018
VW is by popular choice the peoples favourite car, the Polo to date has gone on to sell 14 million cars worldwide and is now one of the best selling cars in its category.
So, what’s changed?
The design has taken a massive turn, and the new Polo finally looks grown up and mature, kind of like that friend who you don’t see after 4 years and when you do they suddenly have a sense of responsibility and maturity, and that is exactly what the new Polo is like. The length of the Polo has grown by 81mm, and its wheelbase has also been lengthened by 81mm too. This means that both driver and passengers won’t be in for a tight squeeze but a more Golf-like spaciousness.
The Polo is now 69mm wider and it’s height has been reduced by 8mm. The sixth generation Polo has become a more ‘masculine’ car, and draws a lot of its strength from the ever so popular Golf and having driven both the current Golf 7 and this, you can see just how much catching up the Polo did to its big current brother. Styling helps too, the new Polo has gone premium. The grille of the Polo runs around the headlights to emphasise the width and stance. The lines and swoops all add to the affect that this is not a rough-cut kinda car, no, the designers have really worked effort to make it sexier and plush.
Interior?
The inside gets a major overhaul. While the dials infront of you may look similar, they have got a bit of refinement. Digital is key here and the facia now looks pretty good because the display now visually merges with the instruments to give a nice flow to the cockpit. The Polo can be optioned up with an eight-inch central infotainment screen, radar cruise control, rear cross-traffic alert, blind-spot monitor, switchable dampers, park assist that does the steering and braking for you, connectivity options including detailed traffic info and a wi-fi hotspot, and LED headlamps. Quite a bog upgrade for the baby Golf indeed.
Engines?
The Polo will not come in diesel. You heard right, no oil burners. As told by a VW official, the current engines on offer are far superior to that of its equivalent diesel therefore it won’t be offered. So what will you get? A choice of two motors, a 1.0 TSI with 70 kW and 175Nm which is standard for both the Polo Trendline and Comfortline. It will get to 100 km/h in just 10.8 seconds before running out of steam at 187 km/h. It will also come standard with a 5 speed manual gearbox. The other engine is a 1.0 TSI with 85 kW and 200Nm. This engine will be launched with a 6-speed gearbox as standard and optionally with a 7-speed DSG. With a combined fuel consumption of 4.5 – 4.7 l/100 km you won’t find yourself at the pumps very often, unless you drive like a teenager who’s just got his license.
The actual money question…
With a base price of R235 900 and a range topper of R302 200, the best selling and locally produced South African Polo will do extremely well. It has grown up a lot, has great efficient engines and the amount of technology and features on offer, it really makes it worth your while and dare I say it, a more cost efficient alternative to the Golf 7.5 facelift until the new version arrives. All new Polo models come standard with a 3 year/45 000km Service Plan, 3 year/120 000km warranty and a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty. So if you are looking to get a first car or upgrade your hand me down, look no further than the bang for your buck Polo.