Review
VW Polo
We are now in the sixth generation of the VW Polo and over the years more than 14 million copies of this bestseller have been sold. The latest generation has a new bodywork and has become more spacious with more space for the occupants. It is also the first Polo with digital instruments and numerous (optional) driver assistance systems.
More space
The sixth Polo generation was bigger than its predecessor in every area. The trunk capacity was increased from 280 liters to 351 liters. With a length of 4,053 mm, the new Polo is also wider than the previous generation and the car also offers more headroom at the front and rear for the occupants.
Motorizations
The new Polo is available in numerous engines that offer something for everyone. For the first time, there is now natural gas propulsion with a 1.0 TGI that delivers 90 hp.
In the petrol range you can choose an MPI with 65 hp or 75 hp, each with a manual 5-speed gearbox. You also have a TSI with 95 hp, 115 hp or 150 hp. These are available with manual transmission or DSG-7. At the top of the range is the Polo GTI with a TSI engine with no less than 200 hp.
A diesel is of course also an option. There you can choose between a 1.6 TDI with 80 hp and a manual 5-speed gearbox or a 1.6 TDI with 95 hp and a manual or automatic transmission.
Prices start from 14,990 euros for a trendline and rise to 27,300 euros for the GTI.
1.0 TSI
We were introduced to the new Polo through a test drive with the 1.0 TSI. Then you get a Polo with a petrol engine with a capacity of 999 cc. It produces a power of 95 hp and 175 Nm and accelerates to 100 km/h in 10.8 seconds. The top speed is around 187 km/h. The car drives quite quickly and we would certainly opt for the optional DSG-7.
Driver assistance systems
From now on, a number of latest-generation assistance systems have been integrated into the Polo, which have been taken over from models in the higher segment.
For example, you get the ‘Front Assist’ environmental perception system as standard on the Trendline, including City emergency braking function and pedestrian detection. This system helps to prevent rear-end collisions with its automatic warning and braking functions. There is also a speed limiter in the new Polo that allows you to limit the speed to a desired speed. The advantage of this is that you can, for example, avoid driving too fast in the city.
You can also optionally opt for, for example, cruise control with automatic speed controller or a blind spot warning system. The ‘Rear Traffic Alert’ can detect cross traffic behind the car and thus provides assistance when backing out of a parking space. The system will then warn and automatically brake when the system detects a danger.
Active Info Display
For the first time, you can also choose the latest generation of the Active Info Display as an option on the Polo. This digital dashboard consists of a 26 cm (10.5 inch) high-resolution TFT color screen. The image looks sharp and colorful and it offers the possibility to choose different views. You can see information such as a tachometer, speedometer and odometer. You can choose what you want to see via the multi-function steering wheel and the infotainment system. For example, you can also choose to display the navigation map over the full screen width.
More comfort
New in the range of options are features such as full LED headlights, LED daytime running lights, LED rear lights, an ‘Air Care Climatronic’ with humidity and sun sensor, wireless charging for smartphones, a large panoramic roof, etc. It is also possible to optionally opt for the ‘Sport Select’ chassis with active dampers, for example.
Conclusion
The new Polo with its handsome face and its already quite spacious dimensions has been thoroughly updated. There is now even more space inside and you can now also opt for many nice innovative options such as a digital instrument cluster. In terms of motorization, the version with 95 hp and a DSG-7 is certainly worth considering.
Johan De Haes
Test driver
