Which Volkswagen Polo is better: petrol or diesel?

Volkswagen’s Polo has firmly entrenched itself at the top of the local sales charts. Tremendous brand loyalty and reasonable prices play their part, but this nameplate’s popularity is also due to the wide selection of trim levels and available engines. You won’t find a Polo hatch with a diesel engine these days, though – for that, you’ll have to look at the previous generation. But is it worth paying the premium for a diesel engine?

The last diesel Polo?

The Volkswagen Polo nameplate arrived on local shores halfway through the 1990s and was an immediate hit. Of course, those first Polos were essentially re-badged Seats with locally-made engines, but that didn’t discourage the buying public from embracing the compact “Volkswagen” anyway. This success story continues today, with two generations of Polo ranking well in the passenger car sales charts, with the Polo having recently lost momentum.

A substantial portion of Polo sales over the years used to come from the various TDI versions, but, seeing as the Volkswagen Group has stated their aim of moving away from diesel propulsion in the wake of the massive “Dieselgate” palaver, the number of TDI derivatives have steadily been culled from many of their mainstream models. Nothing drove this point home more eloquently than the 2018 release of the current- (sixth) generation Polo, with the new range relying only on petrol power.

However, all hope isn’t lost for diesel lovers because they can still get a Polo with a diesel engine – they’ll have to accept that it will be fitted to the previous-generation Polo. That’s not terrible news, though, because the fifth-generation Polo is still capable despite age. It forms the basis of the current Polo Vivo entry-level model. It has two well-regarded petrol engines and a turbodiesel, with various trim levels in either manual- or automatic forms. Is it worth going for the diesel, though?

Let’s look at the three available engines before discussing the better buy.

* Manufacturer’s claimed figures for performance and average fuel consumption.

Which engine is right for you?

We selected manual-gearbox Polo sedan variants in the same trim level for this exercise. The 1.6-litre petrol is available with a 6-speed automatic as an alternative to the 5-speed manual transmission, and both petrol variants can be ordered in lower-trim specifications. The 1.5 TDI is only available with a manual and can only be had in high-trim “Comfortline” specification, so we also focused on the petrol versions.

At the bottom of the range is a 1.4-litre, 4-cylinder engine with relatively modest power outputs in the modern era. It offers 63 kW and 132 Nm from its port-injected, naturally-aspirated, with predictably pedestrian performance: it strolls from a standstill to 100 km/h in 12.8 seconds and a top speed of 178 km/h. Fuel consumption is not terrible, though, with a claimed average figure of 5.9 ℓ/100 km. But bear in mind that it won’t take too kindly to heavy loads, which will have the most significant adverse effect on both performance and fuel efficiency between these three otherwise identical cars.

The middle ground is covered by a 1.6-litre petrol mill similar to the 1.4-litre. Its output figures are more encouraging, with 77 kW and 155 Nm on tap, giving it a 0 – 100 km/h sprint in a claimed 11.1 seconds and a top speed of 190 km/h. Not exactly blistering, but it’s markedly nippier than the 1.4-litre sedan. The added performance doesn’t come with a massive fuel consumption penalty because its claimed average consumption of 6.0 L/100 km is near enough to the 1.4 engine’s figure to be considered negligible. The power boost will also make it more efficient at carrying heavy loads.

Topping off the Polo sedan range sits the 1.5 TDI, which has 81 kW and 250 Nm at its disposal. The power jump from the 1.6-litre petrol is a marginal 4 kW, but torque gets a proper bump of almost 100 Nm. And, being a TDI, it’s bound to be very light on fuel, with a claimed average consumption of only 4.9 L/100 km. The added torque doesn’t translate to improved straight-line performance, though, which is marginally down on the 1.6-litre (0.1s slower to 100 km/h and 4 km/h down on top speed). It will perform much better with full loads or when towing, though, where the extra torque will see the TDI pulling gaps on the 1.6 petrol.

The Verdict

The first one to fall by the wayside has to be the 1.4-litre unless budgetary constraints are front of mind: in Comfortline trim, it’s R 21 200 less expensive than the otherwise identical 1.6, but only R 10 400 cheaper than the (low-trim) 1.6 Trendline. For buyers who need more power than the 1.4 can deliver, it might be worth forgoing some creature comforts and instead opt for the 1.6 Trendline (priced at R 250 100).

Of the two petrol engines, the 1.6-litre is the better option. It brings a healthy extra performance shot without exacting a commensurate penalty at the service station. The 1.6’s claimed fuel range is only 15 km less than the 1.4-litre, which is too close to notice in everyday driving.

In terms of value for money, the Polo sedan 1.6 Trendline probably offers the best package in the entire range, while the 1.6 Comfortline is almost R 30 000 less expensive than the similarly-trimmed 1.5 TDI. Given the price difference, buyers must carefully consider whether they need the TDI’s extra torque. For owners who plan to undertake many long-distance journeys or often tow or carry heavy loads, the TDI will be the best buy in the range. But for everyone else, the 1.6-litre petrol engine will be perfectly adequate – just like the Polo sedan itself.

Keyword: Which Volkswagen Polo is better: petrol or diesel?