Polo presses all the right buttons

This is a seriously impressive car, very much in the same style and with the same top-notch ride dynamics and first class finish as the eye-catching Scirocco and the South African 2010 Car of the Year finalist, the new Golf Six.

The Polo has grown up so much that it poses a very serious threat to the only slighter bigger (and considerably more expensive) Golf Six.

In fact, it has grown up so much that it poses a very serious threat to the only slighter bigger (and considerably more expensive) Golf Six.

Refreshingly new

The new Polo is so refreshingly new that it is almost impossible to compare it with the model it's replacing. The latest addition to the VW family is longer, wider, lower and lighter than the outgoing version, it's much better on the road and it looks ten times better.

The first wave of new Polos are all hatchbacks (with the more family fancied saloon following soon and probably a little hot hatch as well) and it is available with a choice of three engine derivatives and two specification levels, Comfortline and Trendline.

Of the three new engine derivatives the lively new 1,6-litre diesel made a huge impression on the local motoring journalist fraternity.

Great grunt, good consumption

The new TDI replaces the 1,9-litre and flexes its muscles with 77 kW and a hefty 250 Nm which VW says is good enough for a 0-100 km/h time of 10.4 seconds.

Steering has improved, the car feels much more settled and balanced through the corners, the brakes feel sharper and the manual shift feels even slicker than the outgoing model.

But even more impressively, all this grunt, plus a claimed top speed of 189 km/h, comes with the low consumption of only 4,2-litres per 100 kilometres

The more likeable of the two petrol variants is the delightful 1,4-litre that kicks out 63 kW and 132 Nm which will do the benchmark zero to 100 km/h run in 12,5 seconds, gallop to a maximum speed of 177 km/h and sip fuel at 11-litres per 100 kilometers.

The bigger 1,6 model is just over a second faster over the sprint distance and only 11 km faster flat-out than the 1,4 litre model although it only gurgles slightly more fuel at 6,4-litres per 100 kilometres.

Quicker, and slicker

I drove all three models over two days through long stretches of the Boland, over mountain passes, along country roads, on motorways and in heavy city traffic - and I was knocked out by the way the Polo behaved.

Whatever the colour, a good-looking vehicle.

Steering has improved, the car feels much more settled and balanced through the corners, the brakes feel sharper and even though VW has always made excellent gearboxes, the manual shift feels even slicker than the outgoing model.

I loved the lowdown grunt and the zippy performance of the TDI, but my value-for-money choice would be the enthusiastic class junior, the 1,4-litre petrol model.

It is amazingly versatile and will suit both first and last-time new car buyers, singles, small families and both the Venus and Mars species.

Cute, cocky, comfortable

Besides noticeable wind noise, the 1,6-litre felt a tad sleepier than the other two variants. This was particularly noticeable at over-taking and when accelerating at higher speeds.

Besides its cute and cocky looks the new Polo scores outstandingly well for the high-quality comfort and finish of its living quarters.

Some Germanic neatness and efficiency is brought to the dials and gauges.click to enlarge

It might be much-abused phrase in motoring journalism but the cabin is so classy and so well finished off that it looks and feels like it should be quite a bit more expensive than it is.

Besides the Germanic neatness and efficiency of the dials and gauges lay-out the cabin's spaciousness adds considerably to the appeal of the new Polo.

And it's practical, too, with a fair-sized boot that increases to 952 litres with the rear seats folded down.

When it comes to safety and extra features the Polo is certainly not shy either.

A word of advice

On the list off tick-offs you will find an NCAP five-star rating, ABS with EBD, (ESP which is only standard on the TDI and optional on the 1,6 Comfortline), a host of airbags, ISOFIX-compatible child seat fixtures, head restraints, seat belt tensioners, power steering, power windows, central locking, split and folding rear seats, tinted windows, sporty alloy rims on the more expensive models, aircon, and much more.

A word of advice - specifications vary from model to model and these should be weighed up against the price tags of the various models. For instance, a sound system is only available on the more expensive models, and ESP is only standard on the diesel, optional on the 1,6-litre petrol model and not at all on the entry-level 1,4-litre car.

The cabin’s spaciousness adds considerably to the appeal of the new Polo.click to enlarge

The one main let down of the new Polo is that although all models come with a three-year/120 000 and a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty, service and maintenance plans are not included in the price but come as expensive options.

A five-year/60 000 km service plan will set you back a hefty R6858 and a maintenance plan an even steeper R9141.

Prices for the petrol models range from R144 900 to R197 900 and the TDI sells for R209 900.

Growing the brand

Volkswagen has been a much-loved and highly-respected brand in South Africa from the days of the original Beetle and Kombi and this affection has continued to grow with the legendary Citi Golf (soon to become history) and the much loved Polo.

Since launch more than 11-million Polo cars have been sold world-wide and just in South Africa alone there are more than 330 000 of them on the road.

All right-hand drive Polo models are assembled in South Africa and exported to countries such as Japan (notoriously quality conscious), Australia, Malaysia and the UK.

Last year VWSA exported 19 000 Polos and this year export orders are expected to climb to 55 000.

In our new world of cost-cutting and down-buying the new Polo is destined to become yet another huge brand-builder and cash generator for VWSA and its wide dealership network.

With its good looks, outstanding safety features, charming driving qualities and high-level finishes the Polo is virtually guaranteed to become another brand-builder and top seller for VW in South Africa.

The Polo's full specifications