The Volkswagen Polo range expands its sales success by adding BlueMotion, TDI, and GTI manual models
The Volkswagen Polo range expands its sales success by adding BlueMotion, TDI, and GTI manual models
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo is a reworked previous generation Volkswagen Polo, and has been South Africa’s best-selling passenger car by far, for years. The 2nd best-selling passenger car? The Volkswagen Polo.
Sales success of Volkswagen Polo boosted further by efficient new turbo engines
At the facelift of the current Volkswagen Polo hatch (in June 2014) this popular people’s car moved away from ageing 1.4 and 1.6 engines in the best-selling models to the advanced modern 1.2-litre turbo TSI engines, in 2 output levels.
At the same time the 1.6 TDI was discontinued, leaving Polo diesel-less. Great news is that the diesel Polo is re-introduced – a 1.4 TDI engine, also in 2 levels of kiloWatts and Newton metres.
Polo built in South Africa
The Polo 1.2 TSI models are built at the modern Volkswagen manufacturing plant in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. Surely playing a big part in its sales success is the stock availability afforded by a locally-produced car, in addition to the superb Volkswagen quality.
The BlueMotion and GTI models are imported, which clarifies why the 1.2 TSI models received a facelift while the 1.2 TDI BlueMotion continued un-facelifted, as did the Polo GTI until it was facelifted earlier in 2015.
BlueMotion swaps diesel for petrol
The Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion used a 3-cylinder turbo diesel engine, and was an unbelievably fuel-efficient car, as per our review.
Now the BlueMotion receives the facelift as per the rest of the Polo range, and surprisingly ditches the diesel for a smaller petrol turbo – the 1.0 TSI BlueMotion steps forward as double eco (economy and eco-friendly) winner.
The 55kW 180Nm 1.2 3-cylinder turbo diesel is exchanged for the 1.0 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine quoted at 70kW and 160Nm. Consumption figures are not that extremely low, but still as low as most small diesels: urban consumption changes from 4.1 to 5.2 l/100km, and the low-low overall 3.4 of the 1.2TDI BlueMotion compares to 4.2 l/100km in the 1.0TSI BlueMotion. Fortunately a bit more fuel also brings a lot more performance, with the sprint to 100 dropping from a barely adequate 13.9 seconds to a much quicker 10.5 sec.
It is the first BlueMotion model to use a petrol engine. Not the “BlueMotion Technology” badge as seen on several VW’s tailgates, but the full-on BlueMotion, meaning it gets all of the fuel-saving eco-sparing trickery known to VW, including lower air drag by using a closed-off grille (radiator louvres open only when needed to cool the engine) and special underbody treatment, plus low rolling-resistance tyres. The BlueMotion also gets its own Buenos Aires alloy wheels. Cruise control is standard, as this is seen to help keep a steadier “foot” which improves fuel economy.
The new Polo BlueMotion gets a unique aerodynamically-optimised front airdam and rear roof spoiler, which make it sleeker and sportier-looking. Win-win.
Polo TDI is back
When Volkswagen brought the European trend of diesel in a passenger car to South Africa with the TDI in Golf TDI and Jetta TDI from the Golf 4 and Jetta 4, it started a new acceptable high-torque low-use fuel alternative. Introducing the previous Polo TDI to the sporty Polo 3-door body created a sporty compact diesel in the Polo 1.9TDI Sportline, which was and is one-of-a-kind.
The current Polo’s phased-out 1.6TDI 4-cylinder is replaced by the 1.4TDI engine, now using 3 cylinders, which also means less fuel needed for fewer cylinders.
The Polo 1.4TDI with 55kW produces its peak power from a mere 3000 revs. Torque is strong, with 210Nm available from 1500 to 2000 r/min. This engine tune is linked to the Trendline spec level, offering a more affordable base-spec TDI, addressing the previous criticism of the 1.6TDI which was only available in more expensive top-spec level. However, whereas the Polo 1.2TSI Trendline is priced at a whisker over R200k at R 201 900, the same-spec 1.4TDI Trendline costs R 223 500, which is R 21 600 more.
The other Polo 1.4TDI ups power to 77kW, and torque of 250Nm is on par with the previous bigger engine’s number. This is packaged with the high-spec Highline model. Good news for CrossPolo fans is that it will also now be available with this 1.4TDI 77kW engine.
Polo GTI introduced with a manual gearbox
Considering the big brother Golf GTI and even Golf R can be bought in a choice of manual or DSG automatic gearboxes, it was perhaps strange that the current Polo GTI, being a smaller car with likely younger driver, was launched as auto-only.
When Polo GTI received its new look, aping the Golf 7 GTI’s red line across grille and strike-through headlights, the previous 1.4 supercharger + turbocharged engine was replaced by a 1.8-litre turbo engine. News was that a manual would follow… and it has arrived.
Noteworthy is that the GTI manual and DSG use the same size engine, but showing different engine graphs. Though both models issue an identical 141kW, the Polo GTI with manual produces its power from 4200-6200 rpm, while the GTI DSG peaks at 5400-6200, and torque delivery differs too, with the manual at 320Nm during 1450-4200 r/min versus the DSG which has its torque restricted to 250Nm, though through a broader 1250-5300 r/min. Performance comparison? Despite these output differences and the manual’s torque advantage of 70Nm, Polo GTI models have identical claimed performance for the 0-100 and max speed, quoted at 6.7 sec and 236 km/h.
Prices of range-expanding models
To prove its emission friendliness, the new Polo 1.0TSI and 1.4TDI engine models are emission tax exempt.
The 5 newly-added models and prices are:
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| Volkswagen Polo 1.4TDI Trendline | R 223 500 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.0TSI BlueMotion | R 235 800 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4TDI Highline | R 252 000 |
| Volkswagen CrossPolo 1.4TDI |
R 260 000 |
| Volkswagen Polo GTI manual |
R 313 300 |
Polo celebrates 40 years
Did you know the first Volkswagen Polo entered the market in 1975? Although South Africa did not receive the initial Polo generations, the first Polo was created 40 years ago this year.