Little Engine, Big Ambitions

Engines are getting smaller and smaller, and considering the whole  Dieselgate debacle, who better to propagate powertrain downsizing than Volkswagen?

In March this year, Volkswagen expanded their best-selling Polo-range with a stronger and more efficient three-cylinder, turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI-variant, dressed to the nines in sporty R-line kit, and bestowed with a 7-speed DSG transmission. Happy days! Because if you’ve been dreaming about the Polo GTI , the 1.0 TSI Polo R-Line (R 292 400) is the next-best thing.

The introduction of the latest 1.0-litre TSI-engine underlines the German Automaker’s commitment of bringing cleaner cars to the people, and will also serve as the base engine in the upcoming VW Golf. So how do 3 cylinders and 999 cc’s of turbocharged petrol-engine feel in the Polo - does it have sufficient grunt for your everyday needs?

Well, that depends on what you are used to driving - but you can trust Volkswagen to extract every last kiloWatt out of the little powerplant - 81 kW to be exact,  with 200 Nm of torque - which makes it rather sporty, actually. Compared to my ex-husband’s 1.6-litre naturally aspirated 2012 Chevy Cruze, the Polo is a Jalapeno chilli - you won’t leave a trail of fire behind, but it’s fizzy enough to blow your hair back, especially around the mid to upper rev-ranges (and if you open the optional R 10 000 sunroof). You are most aware of the engine’s miniscule dimensions upon pull-away - yes, there is some expected lag at low revs. But once you hit the highway and beyond - it’s all fun and games, while the cheeky engine growls much like an overgrown caracal kitten.

My old stomping ground of Clarens Drive (30 mins from Cape Town) proved to be right place for testing the Polo R-line Hatch, which exhibited a tad more body roll than I remembered, but good grip. The DSG gearbox is best left in manual mode if you plan to take on  a succession of quick corners - and this is where I longed for those flappy paddles on the steering wheel the most. Yet, how often do you take your day-to-day car out for track-like joyrides? And there’s nothing that says you HAVE to drive your Polo like Sebastian Vettel would. If that’s what you want, then the Polo GTI with DSG (R 376 000, with 141 kW) will be worth splurging on - but that is a BIG difference in price.

The Polo R-Line also comes rather well-equipped for a German car, and gets all the cool kit: the R-Line logo on the grille (and bumpers), sill extensions, a rear spoiler, a sporty rear diffuser with an integrated chrome exhaust tailpipe, and 17-inch Serron alloys. I suggest you visit www.vw.co.za for a complete list of specs.

Despite the biggish wheels and skinny tyres, road noise levels are low, making it all the more easy to enjoy the very decent 6-speaker sound system, accessed via the standard, 5-inch Composition Colour (touchscreen) infotainment system, with radio/CD, USB and SD Card slots, and Bluetooth connectivity with smartphone interface. Our specific test model had the optional 5.8-inch Composition Media system fitted, but I wouldn’t bother spending R 2 950,32 more on that.


The  steering wheel’s satellite controls are invaluable - teamed with the info on the multi-function display screen (between the rev-counter and speedometer), you can make calls, stream specific songs or simply keep an eye on your fuel consumption. While we’re on the consumption topic: I eventually got my average down to  5.9 litres per 100 km (combined) after my one-way 150 km Hermanus - Cape Town trip.  The figure stood at  7.8 litres per 100 km when I took delivery of the Polo R-Line the week before, so that’s a huge improvement.

If you’re sitting inside the Polo and you aren’t terribly observant, no-one will blame you for mistaking the R-Line for a little Golf. The cabin itself is the usual classy VW-fare - still predominantly black but with  upgraded trim that includes plenty of brushed aluminium. Red backlighting brings some cheer into the cabin.

Safety features are EuroNCAP 5-star quality, thanks to ABS with EBD and stability & traction control, along with front fog lamps (with cornering function), and Fatigue Detection. This monitors your style of driving, and will alert you to take a break when it suspects you’re about to nod off. Two front airbags are standard, but curtain airbags (including side airbags) are an inexpensive and worthwhile R2500 investment.

The Polo is SA’s second-best selling passenger vehicle in SA - and will sadly be replaced in 2018. But in the meantime, the Polo 1.0 TSI R-Line DSG should play an important part in keeping those numbers high.


Facts & Figures
Name: Polo TSI 81 kW R-LINE DSG
Price: R 292 400
Engine: 3-cylinder, 999 cc
Transmission: 7-speed DSG (auto)
Power: 81 kW
Torque: 200 Nm
0-100 km/h: 9.3 sec
Top speed: 197 km/h
Realistic fuel consumption: 5.8 - 7.8 litres per 100 km
Fuel tank: 45 litres
Luggage volume: 280 litres
EuroNCAP safety rating: 5 stars
Warranty: 3 years / 120 000 km (12 years anti-corrosion)
Service plan: 3 year / 45 000km (Service intervals are at 15 000km)