All-new Volkswagen Polo unveiled, vastly improved and very high tech!



With 14 million cars sold to date, Volkswagen is continuing the success story of the Polo with the sixth-generation Polo. Volkswagen has thoroughly reimagined the Polo from the ground up, featuring an all-new platform, new engines, high-tech features and semi-autonomous driving systems.

Underpinning the Polo is the famed MQB platform, albeit scaled down (MQB A0) for compact cars application. Dimension wise, it has grown significantly compared to the fifth-generation Polo, now measuring at 4,053 mm in length (+81 mm), 1,751 mm in width (+69 mm) and 2,564 mm in wheelbase (+94 mm). Overall, height has decreased by 7 mm to 1,446 mm. Thanks to the swelled dimensions, interior room for occupants has increased significantly and boot space has also increased by 21 litres to 351 litres.

EXTERIOR

According to VW’s Head of Design, Klaus Bischoff, the designers took an expressive design approach to give the Polo an outlook that fits the current buyers’ lifestyle. As a result, the four-door only Polo is more masculine, sporty and confident than before. One key design called ‘Arrow-shaped tornado double line’ that runs from the window shoulder all the way into the headlamps housing help make the Polo appear longer and better stance.

At launch, three familiar trim lines will be offered – Trendline, Comfortline and Highline as well as a ‘Beats’ special edition make up the Polo range. In its highest specification (including options), the Polo comes with full-LED headlamps with LED daytime running lights, LED tail lamps, keyless entry and start and remote start function. Alloy wheel options range from 14- to 16-inches in diameter.

For an even more aggressive appearance, customers can opt for the R-Line package (available with any trim lines) which adds a larger and sportier front bumper, rear diffuser with chrome trim, roof spoiler, black sill trim strips and 16-inch ‘Sebring’ alloy wheels.

INTERIOR

Inside, gone is the old minimalistic look. It now mimics those of the Golf MK7 and Passat B8,  and some features include 12.3-inch Active Info Display, 6.0- to 8.0-inch infotainment systems, ‘Air Care Climatronic’ system with air quality sensor and allergen filter, panoramic roof and Wireless Charging Tray.

The ‘Beats’ special edition Polo gets a specially developed 300-watt sound system by US headphone producer Beats (Dr. Dre). Elsewhere it gets special ‘Beats’ logo around the interior.

PERFORMANCE

The Polo can be had with up to eight engines: one Natural Gas, five petrol and two diesels. The entry level petrol engine is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder MPI with two tunes: 64 hp and 74 hp. Both engines are mated to a five-speed manual transmission. Onto the turbo petrol range, it kicks off with two 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo TSI engine: 94 hp and 114 hp; both engines can be had with a seven-speed DSG or manual transmissions.

The Polo is also available with the 1.5-litre four-cylinder TSI EVO producing 148 hp like on the Golf facelift. The 1.5-litre TSI EVO features Active Cylinder Management (ACM) technology which shuts down the middle two cylinders during light throttle load. Volkswagen has yet to reveal official fuel consumption figures but with the Polo being a smaller car, it should better the Golf’s 4.9 litres per 100 km. A seven-speed DSG or six-speed manual can be had with this engine.

On the oil burner front, two 1.6-litre TDI with 79 hp and 94 hp, respectively. The lower output gets a five-speed manual as standard while the more powerful TDI has the option for a seven-speed DSG. For added handling performance, the Polo can be optioned with Adaptive Dampers which allows the driver to select their desired handling characteristics for superior control.

SAFETY

Volkswagen has equipped the Polo with driver assistance safety systems found on their higher range models but the most impressive move is that all variants come with City Emergency Braking (AEB), Tyre Pressure Monitoring System and Pedestrian Monitoring as standard! Other options that greatly improve safety are Blind Spot Detection, Rear Traffic Alert, semi-automated Park Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) that operates up to speeds of 210 km/h.

On paper, the Volkswagen Polo certainly seems to have evolved leaps and bounds compared to the outgoing model. The new Polo will be available in European markets in late 2017 with prices in Germany starting from €12,975 (RM62k).

We know for sure that it’s only a matter of time before the all-new Polo arrives here in Malaysia. And hopefully when it does, Volkswagen Passenger Cars Malaysia (VPCM) will offer the full suite of high-tech features and drivers assistance systems at an attractive price. Otherwise, at least the sexy R-Line to replace the ALLSTAR.


IMAGE GALLERY

Volkswagen Polo R-Line

Volkswagen Polo ‘Beats’ Edition