TopAuto reader Kyle owns a VW Polo 1.2 TSI Highline.
It is big enough to fit three friends and his cricket bag all at once, and it is not afraid of a dusty road.
He shared his ownership experience with us in the Q&A article below.
Which model do you own?
I own a Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI Highline, 2015, which has around 40,000km on it.
When did you get the car?
I managed to get a good deal on a demo model, that was used as a test drive car, in early 2015.
What are your three favourite things about the car?
The reliability has to be one of the most impressive things about this vehicle.
Being my first car, the gearbox has seen some heavy use, and I have also driven it on several camping trips with friends.
My Polo is capable of getting through most situations I can throw at it – so far.
Having enough space for three passengers and a decent size boot for camping stuff and a cricket bag is another huge plus for me.
The car is very fuel efficient in traffic, too.
Which three things do you like least about the car?
Having a 1.2-litre turbo engine, my car can lose performance when there is more than just the driver in it.
The power really isn’t the issue, but more so the lack of torque at low revs while waiting for that turbo to kick in.
Since it has a 5-speed gearbox, highway driving can cause the engine to rev quite high in 5th gear if you are driving over 120km/h.
Even though a 6-speed gearbox might be deemed unnecessary, it would really help bring the fuel efficiency down for highway travel.
My entertainment system is also glitchy.
Even after having numerous updates and system resets, I still experience issues with Bluetooth not connecting to anyone’s phone, music stops playing, media controls on the steering wheel and centre console stop working, and the whole system turns off by itself.
What is it like to drive your car every day?
I enjoy driving the car every day. With its comfortable drive and decent space inside, it’s not a bad place to sit – whether you are in traffic or on the open road.
Some of the annoyances mentioned above are drawbacks, but the pros really outweigh the cons in this case.
What is the hardest journey you have done with your car?
From Johannesburg to Durban was the longest journey I’ve had, but the most difficult was a trip to a campsite in the Dinokeng Game Reserve.
Some of the off-road areas to get to the campsite were either all dust or full of ridges.
The car seemed to handle it fine, though, which is mostly thanks to the slightly thicker tires and wheels you get on this model compared to other models.
Would you recommend your car to friends and family?
Yes. As a first car, it was forgiving while I was learning to drive with a manual gearbox.
I can’t complain about space and how the car drives, so it would be an easy recommendation for me.
Keyword: VW Polo Highline – A solid car with space for my cricket bag