Volkswagen Polo 70 kW Life (2022) review - evolution of a favourite

• Space & Interior 
• Comfort & Convenience 
• Fuel Economy 

The ever-popular Volkswagen Polo is a South African-built staple on our roads. We spent time with the updated model range to see if it still has what it takes to win over the hearts of the public.

In this article:

The Volkswagen Polo is a vehicle that needs little introduction. The immensely popular vehicle has developed a cult-like following locally and the recent updates, Volkswagen hopes, will make it even more appealing to the buying public. Getting off to a strong start after its release, we’re starting to see the Polo lose traction as the general cost of living increases and vehicle prices continue to climb.

I wasn’t particularly thrilled with the Volkswagen Polo GTI that I reviewed in the link above, finding it to be compromised and particularly expensive. I was hoping that the more consumer-orientated Polo Life would be more palatable and easier to live with, both on the pocket and in the real world.

Styling 

One of the bigger changes to the lineup is the revision to the naming conventions and designations. The Comfortline, Tendline and Highline trim designations fall away and make way for the Polo, Polo Life, R-Line, and GTI. Refreshingly, the model given to me to sample was of the Life variety and wouldn’t you know it, it had three pedals. Seldom, in this line of work, are we gifted the luxury of a manual gearbox, it’s a rather rare occasion. Volkswagen has identified that the market buying the Polo actually do like rowing through their own gears.

Aesthetically, one needs to look fairly close at the new Polo, particularly when viewed from the front, as to ascertain whether this is a new Polo or the model that preceded it. Both are intrinsically the same vehicle but the facelift seen the front and rear bumpers redesigned and fitted with new head and taillights. LED headlights are now standard across the range and our test model saw the addition of the IQ Light Matrix headlight package that allows for them to adjust automatically as the environment dictates. The one tell-tale signature is the LED strip that runs across the length of the grille. You may struggle to differentiate them when they’re parked but at night the new Polo is a completely different machine.

In a bold move, Volkswagen offers a few new colours for the Polo range, including the Vibrant Violet Metallic of our test unit here. In addition to Pure White, Reflex Silver Metallic, Reef Blue Metallic and Deep Black Pearl Effect, you will be able to select from the following new colours; Ascot Grey, Smoky Grey Metallic, Kings Red Metallic, and the aforementioned Vibrant Violet Metallic.

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Space & Interior 

The interior of the updated Polo is more evolutionary than revolutionary, adopting a more digital approach than in the pre-facelift. The Life replaces the Comfortline trim level and the materials are cloth for the most part with only certain elements being treated to leather bindings. The new multifunction steering wheel, gear lever surround and handbrake handle get the leather treatment but the seats are draped in regular cloth. The material is stylish and features a two-tone palate with raised stitching. The fake carbon-look dashboard trimmings do cheapen the overall look of the cabin but this is easily excused as well.

Interior space is still fairly generous and the Polo gives you 351-litres of boot space with the rear seats in place. The door bins are sizeable and there’s several storage compartments located around the cabin. The Life model benefits from a centre armrest that includes a USB-C charging outlet.

Locally produced Volkswagen Polo range updated

Comfort & Convenience 

Standard trim for the Life version sees it fitted with a Composition Colour infotainment system but our unit was specified with the larger Discover Media Infotainment system that includes navigation, Wireless App-Connect, Voice Control, Inductive Mobile charging and Multi-color Digital Cockpit Pro to give the driver a digital display. The wireless Apple CarPlay was a particular favourite and it negates the need to physically plug your phone in in order to make use of the approved in-car apps.

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Performance 

You get the Volkswagen Polo Life in two flavours. The first is a 70 kW offering that is mated to the 5-speed manual gearbox and the 85 kW version that sends power through a 7-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox. Both examples use a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged power unit but the interesting caveat here is that the acceleration figures for the 70 kW Life are actually better than those of the 85 kW version. I’d love to test them side by side to confirm this but Volkswagen say that you will be able to get to 100 km/h from a standstill in 10.8-seconds with the manual, 70 kW version.

Fuel Economy 

Claimed fuel consumption figures for both the 70 and 80 kW versions are identical, unlike their acceleration claims. Volkswagen claims an average of 5.4 l/100km but we returned figures significantly higher at 7.4 l/100km. The Polo really does need to driven cautiously in order to get anywhere near to the claims that the manufacturer states. With a 40-litre tank, you can expect to get 741 km from a full tank if you’re able to get that figure down to the claims of 5.4.

Safety 

Where the Polo shines is in its safety systems. Admittedly, our test unit was fitted with the Safety Package which sees the addition of Adaptive Cruise Control and Speed Limiter, Lane Assist, Multi-function Camera, Pedestrian Monitoring and Front Assist. If you’re not going to spring for this option, you’re still going to get no fewer than 6 airbags, ISOFIX mounting points and the usual array of ABS, EBD, ESC and TCS.

Price 

While I criticised the Polo GTI for being too expensive, the regular Polo offerings are more acceptable, but that doesn’t stop them from still being fairly pricey as a whole.

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Competitors 

There’s a fair amount to choose from in this segment and price range and the key players come in the form of the KIA Rio, Renault Clio, Peugeot 208, and Mazda 2. The pricing is fairly similar on face value but when you start adding a few of the options, the Polo starts tipping the scales and is suddenly a less valuable proposition. That said, your money is safe as Polos do retain their value down the road.

Verdict 

The Volkswagen Polo 70 kW Life is really enjoyable to drive and has features that make living with it a lot easier. It does away with the detractions that are present in the GTI, namely the harsh ride quality and exorbitant price. I’m not seeing as many of these new Polos on the road as one would expect but the sales figures still seem to suggest that this South African-built offering is still performing well.

Chad LückhoffWith over 18 years of motorsport commentary and a passion for 90s Japanese Sports Cars, Chad Lückhoff is happiest when surrounded by drift cars and smoking tyres. His experience as the Technical Editor of the country’s top tuning magazine means that it’s the nuts and bolts of motoring that tickles his fancy. As comfortable in front of the camera as he is behind it, he’ll take you behind the wheel with his video reviews, written recounts, and invoking photography. One of the first to join the AutoTrader fray, Chad has been living his passion at AutoTrader for over 7-years.View News & Reviews

Keyword: Volkswagen Polo 70 kW Life (2022) review - evolution of a favourite