Volkswagen recently launched a new version of its Polo sedan, and judging by its pricing strategy, the newcomer has its sights set on the Toyota Corolla Quest and Honda Ballade. Which one has the lowest running costs, though?
Affordable sedans may not be as popular as they once were, and some consider them the preserve of e-hailing services, however, there is no denying their practicality for those looking for something different from the hatchbacks and crossovers that populate our roads. Volkswagen recently introduced a new version of its Polo sedan, which is aimed squarely at the likes of the Toyota Corolla Quest and Honda’s Ballade. How do the running costs of the Polo compare with these two key rivals? Today we will compare the Polo sedan with two similarly priced products from Toyota and Honda.
The figures
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Comparing the trio
Purchase price
The models we have chosen for this comparison are competitors from a pricing and body-style perspective. Monthly instalments are calculated throughout 72 months with a 10% deposit and no balloon or residual. The interest rate is set at 11%.
Volkswagen Polo sedan 1.6 Life auto
With the instalment parameters in place, the Polo will work out at R6 261 per month over 72 months.
Toyota Corolla Quest 1.8 Exclusive auto
With the instalment parameters in place, the Quest will work out at R6 313 per month over 72 months.
Honda Ballade 1.5 Comfort
With the instalment parameters in place, the Ballade will work out at R6 407 per month over 72 months.
Fuel consumption
On paper, the Honda has both the smallest engine and the lowest claimed fuel consumption with both the Toyota and Volkswagen being incredibly similar. The real-world consumption of the products should be reasonably similar.
Service plans
All three models come with service plans, but it is the Ballade with the longest plan, with the Polo and Corolla Quest matching one another’s in terms of duration and distance.
Verdict
Having looked at the data, in the first five years of ownership, we would be confident that the Honda Ballade will have the lowest running costs of the three products being compared.
Sean NurseWith a lifelong passion for cars, bikes, and motorsport, Sean knew that attaining a degree in journalism would allow him to pursue his passion, which was to be a motoring journalist. After graduating in 2012, Sean was awarded a bursary from the SAGMJ which allowed him to work for a variety of motoring publications. This was a dream come true for Sean, and after a year of gaining vital industry experience, he was hired as a motoring journalist at a local newspaper and worked his way up to editor. In 2020, Sean joined the AutoTrader team and counts himself lucky to wake up and genuinely love what he does for a living.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Volkswagen Polo sedan vs Toyota Corolla Quest vs Honda Ballade: Which has the lowest running costs?