Volkswagen Polo

EXTERIOR

Exterior looks have not changed much, and the family identity is still very much there. At the front, the new honeycomb grille houses the Dual-beam headlamps with cornering lights for illuminating the roads during the night. The company has toned down the usage of chrome in and around the front grille, which makes it look more sporty than before. The all-new front bumper, which compliments the design and houses the fog lamps. The Polo also benefits from slightly tweaked alloys and body-coloured door handles which blends in quite well with the overall design. The design of the tail-lamp cluster remains unchanged. Every change done to the exteriors, as mentioned before, are very slight and will only be noticeable to the practised eye.

INTERIOR

Polo interior comes with solid build quality with a number of features. The driver gets cruise control, front arm-rest, electrically adjustable and foldable rearview mirrors and the seat is height-adjustable for extended comfort and convenience. The steering wheel has been given a flat bottom for a more engaging drive. The dual-tone dashboard is also premium looking along with the all-new centre console. There are silver-coloured elements all around which help liven up the interior.

The instrument cluster consists of tachometer, speedometer, odometer and trip meter. The centre multi-function display comes with a monochrome display which is much more soothing to the eyes. The infotainment system comes with Android Auto, Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink. The touchscreen infotainment now also offers voice commands via the button on the multi-function steering wheel and Volkswagen Connect application. This connectivity suite helps with driver behaviour, location sharing, monitoring of fuel cost, trip tracking and statistic tracking. The Polo has tons of space inside for the front cup holders, bottle holders and sunglass holder. The centre console also has a 12V power socket to charge your Smartphone and a parcel tray to keep your stuff.

ENGINE & PERFORMANCE

As evident, Polo specifications include diesel and petrol engine. This 3-cylinder Inline, 999cc, mill develops top power of 76PS at 6200 rpm and a peak torque of 95Nm at 3000-4300 rpm. It is coupled to a traditional 5-speed manual gearbox in order to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. On the other hand, the diesel variants are powered by 1.5-litre TDI engine as it delivers a maximum power output of 90PS at 4200 rpm and a peak torque of 230 at 1500-2500 rpm. The diesel engine is also mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. There is also a 1.2L TSI and a higher spec 1.5L TDI engine available with the GT Line trim. This is made for the enthusiasts as this engine produces more power and torque and is more eager to rev. The engine produces 105PS at 5000 rpm with 175Nm at 1500-4100 rpm. It is coupled to a 7-speed DSG. The diesel engine produces 110PS at 4400 rpm with 250Nm at 1500-2500 rpm. It is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission.

According to Volkswagen, the Polo mileage will be around 18.78 kmpl for the petrol variant and 20.14 kmpl for the diesel variant. The GT Line petrol variant returns a mileage of 17.21 kmpl as per ARAI and the diesel returns around 19.91kmpl as per ARAI.

The Polo is quite a bit of a driver’ car, if such a term can be used here, The new leather-strapped 3-spoke speed sensing electronic power steering makes handling effortless. The tilt and telescopic adjustable steering wheel is fairly light and responds instantly to the driver’s directional inputs. The sporty flat-bottom steering wheel design enables an individual to manoeuvre the hatchback quite comfortably through narrow roads and thick traffic. Coming on to the performance, the Polo is fairly competent. The diesel variants of Polo are capable of accomplishing the 100-kmph milestone from standstill in a shade over 13 seconds while clocking a respectable 165-kmph top speed. The petrol is a fair bit slower to 100-kmph, while the top whack is around 150kmph. The front suspension comprises of McPherson struts with a stabilizer bar and the rear has a semi-independent trailing arm. The handling of the Polo is very good and surely feels a sporty hatchback to drive.

BRAKING AND SAFETY

European car manufacturers never skimp on safety, and this is more than evident in the Polo, which now comes with dual front airbags and ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) as standard. The braking system comprising of ventilated discs up front and drum in rear wark fairly effectively. Additionally, there are 3-point front seat belts, 3-point rear outer seat belts, lap belt in the middle, speed-sensing auto door locks, fog lamps and many more features to ensure maximum safety of the occupants. Moreover, there are rear parking sensors and speed alert system too.

CONCLUSION

Well, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration if it is termed a very capable hatchback for India in this price segment. With the best interior quality, powerful engine and aggressive pricing, it is a sheer delight to bring home.