The Volkswagen Polo is not among the top-selling passenger cars within the local market anymore, so we grabbed the keys to a Life-spec variant to determine why.
The locally-built Volkswagen Polo brings big car refinement to the small car segment; however, the Polo no longer occupies a spot in the monthly top five in passenger car sales locally, despite its sibling, the Polo Vivo, still regularly being a top-seller. We received the Polo in Life guise recently and wanted to use our time with the car to understand why it no longer sells as well as it once did.
Styling
The Polo retains its distinctive identity, but the refreshed model exhibits noticeable differences from its predecessor. The front bumper has undergone a transformation, and it now showcases sleek LED headlights connected by an LED crosslight. Moving to the rear, you’ll find a fresh bumper design and updated taillamps. This revamped exterior aligns the Polo more closely with the contemporary design language of the latest-generation Golf. True to Volkswagen’s signature style, it strikes a balance between understated elegance and premium craftsmanship. Our press car is also fitted with 16-inch Torsby alloy wheels as an option.
Interior and space
The Life specification Polo is one above the base model, meaning it is relatively basic inside; however, the prominence of plastics is somehow more acceptable in this basic specification, and the general fit and finish inside also leads to a feeling that you’re in something that has been built well.
The press unit is optioned with the Safety Package, which includes adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, lane assist, a multi-view camera, front assist and pedestrian monitoring over and above the six airbags and stability control. The Comfort Pack is also fitted to the press car, which includes keyless entry/start, Park Assist and a rear-view camera.
The Infotainment system in the press unit was the option Composition Media system, with an 8.0-inch screen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a wireless mobile phone charger, and a digitised instrument cluster, making the user experience pleasant.
From a practical perspective, the Polo has seating for five occupants, while the boot provides 351-litres of space, making the Polo reasonably practical within its segment.
Performance and driving impression
Powering the Polo in this specification is a 1.0-litre turbo petrol engine that produces 70kW and 175Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a five-speed manual gearbox that sends the power to the front wheels. The Polo is a wonderful car to drive, and it was refreshing to drive a car with a manual gearbox again, even though many consumers will opt for the more powerful DSG-equipped option. The level of refinement, low cabin intrusion and feeling of solidity that the MQB platform provides is commendable.
Although it can be argued that a vehicle like the Polo doesn’t necessarily have to excel in driving dynamics, it’s undeniable that the little Volkswagen falls short in terms of delivering a fun driving experience. However, where the Polo may lack dynamic thrills, it compensates in all other aspects, presenting itself as a more refined and polished offering than ever before. This solidifies its position as an excellent overall package, making it exceptionally easy to live with.
Safety
The Polo range was crash-tested in 2017 by the Euro NCAP programme and achieved a 5-Star rating with 96% for adult occupant safety, 85% for child occupant safety, 76% for pedestrian safety and 59% for its safety assistance systems.
Fuel consumption
Volkswagen claims that the manual-equipped Polo Life will consume petrol at a rate of 5.4 L/100km; however, our week with the model yielded a figure of 6.1 L/100km, which is impressive considering how mixed our driving cycle was!
Pricing
The Polo, in Life guise, was priced at R385 300; however, our test vehicle’s optional extras took its list price to well over R400 000, while those who want the same vehicle but with an automatic gearbox will be looking at over R450 000, which is too expensive for the level of specification as well as the mediocre aftersales offers of a 3-year/120 000km warranty and a 3-year/45 000km service plan.
Verdict
A week in the Polo reminded us of just how impressive Volkswagen’s small car is in general; however, the price Volkswagen now asks for a product which is produced locally is far too high, with new entrants to the market offering more value for money, despite the impressive package the Polo offers.
Keyword: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Life (2023) Review