With the facelifted Volkswagen Polo having been spotted here and there on local roads, it’s safe to say that sales are already underway. About time, then, that we can confirm local pricing and engine details of the perennial little favourite from Wolfsburg.
Steffen Knapp, Head of the Volkswagen Passenger Car Brand said, “The Volkswagen Polo is South Africa’s second best-selling passenger car after the Polo Vivo. In 2021, 16 454 Polos have been sold in the local market which translates to a share of 22.6% in the A0 Hatch segment.”
Assembled at the former Uitenhage, now Kariega, over 80% of locally built Polos are destined for export with the plant providing all-important employment for the area and its surrounds.
The easiest way to spot a new Polo is its new face featuring redesigned headlights and a striking light bar, pinched from the Golf 8. At the rear, the taillights are completely new items and are almost upside down ‘L-shaped’ as opposed to the previous angular blobs, if that makes any sense? A palette of 8 exterior colours is available along with three new hues; Ascot Grey, Smoky Grey and Vibrant Violet (pictured).
In the cabin, buttons and knobs have been replaced with sliders and touch surfaces on higher spec models and a new multifunction steering wheel features, too. The infotainment system has received a refresh, too, and is now optionally available with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Top spec derivatives are fitted with Discover Media which consists of an 8-inch display with navigation, wireless app-connect, voice control, wireless mobile charging, and the option of a digital cockpit. For the first time in a Polo, IQ.Drive semi-autonomous technology is available as an option, offering adaptive cruise control and lane-keep assist, allowing the Polo to brake, steer and accelerate automatically “within the system limits” according to VW. Pedestrian Monitoring and Front Assist keep pedestrians safe, too.
Polo trim levels have been updated in order to fit in with the rest of the Volkswagen lineup, and so Trendline, Comfortline and Highline are replaced by Polo, Polo Life and R-Line respectively.
Polo features the following;
LED headlights and taillights
New multifunction steering wheel
14-inch steel wheels
App-Connect (Android Auto/Apple CarPlay)
Composition Colour
Bluetooth
Electric, heated exterior mirrors
Electric windows
Door handles and mirrors in exterior colour
Fabric upholstery
Options: 15-inch Essex alloys and smoker’s package
Polo Life features the following;
15-inch Essex alloy wheels
Centre armrest with USB-C port
Leather trim on steering wheel and gear knob
Uprated fabric upholstery
Options: a panoramic sunroof, 16-inch Torsby wheels, Composition Media, Discover Media, Rear-view camera, Comfort Park package, Safety Package for manual, Safety Package for DSG, keyless entry, smokers package, NCAP Package.
Polo R-Line features the following;
R-Line bodykit
16-inch Valencia alloy wheels
2-zone ‘climatronic’ aircon
Composition media with wireless phone charging
R-Line fabric upholstery
Options: a panoramic sunroof, 17-inch Bergamo alloy wheels, LED matrix headlights, Discover Media, beats sound system, rear-view camera, Comfort Park package, Safety Package, NCAP package, keyless entry and smokers package.
Of course, the Polo GTI arrives at the same time as the rest of the range, sporting a 147 kW and 320 Nm 2,0-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder motor. Claimed performance is a 0-100km/h time of 6,7 seconds, the fastest in the Polo range and thanks to its more sporty focused demeanour, will definitely be the most engaging Polo to drive.
Pricing for the updated Volkswagen Polo is as follows;
Polo 1,0TSI 70 kW Manual – R311 800
Polo 1,0TSI 70 kW Life Manual – R350 000
Polo 2,0TSI GTI – R489 400
