Volkswagen has added a turbocharged petrol engine to its Polo Sedan range, elevating the product and providing a unique selling proposition within the local market. That begs the question: How does this newcomer compare with two key rivals, the Toyota Corolla Quest and the Honda Ballade? All three brands are known for producing budget-friendly sedans, but which is best? Here's how these three compare.
Related: Volkswagen New Polo Sedan (2023) Review - You don't really need an SUV
Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.0TSI Life
Commanding around an R40,000 premium over the equivalent 1.6-litre MPI-powered model, the Life-spec Polo Sedan now competes with the higher-spec models from Toyota and Honda.
Powertrain
In this comparison, the Polo Sedan has a 1.0-litre, 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 85 kW of power and 178 Nm of torque. The engine sends power to the front wheels through a 6-speed automatic gearbox. Volkswagen claims it will sprint from a standstill to 100 km/h in 11.5 seconds and a fuel consumption figure of 6.3 L/100km.
Standard Trim
You get a fair amount of equipment in the Polo, including 16-inch alloy wheels, climate control, a multi-function steering wheel touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality, a digitised instrument cluster, keyless entry/start and cloth-covered seats.
Safety
The Volkswagen Polo Sedan, in this guise, comes with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, ESC, and TCS. The hatchback derivative was crash-tested in 2022 by Euro NCAP, where it achieved a 5-star rating, including 94% for adult occupant safety, 80% for child occupant safety, 70% for pedestrian safety, and 70% for its safety assistance systems.
Practicality
The Polo Sedan has seating for 5 adults, a 521-litre boot, and a ground clearance of 179mm.
Price
The Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.0 TSI Life will cost R421 100.
Toyota Corolla Quest 1.8 Exclusive auto
The Toyota Corolla Quest is the benchmark in this segment, offering low running costs, an attainable price tag, a spacious interior and a strong reputation for reliability.
Powertrain
In this guise, the Quest has a 1.8-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine paired with a CVT. The engine produces 103kW and 173Nm of torque, allowing for a 0-100km/h time of 10.2 seconds and a claimed fuel consumption of 6.4 L/100km.
Standard Trim
In this guise, the Quest has 16-inch alloy wheels, 5 airbags, climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, a colour touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry/start, leather seats and a reverse camera.
Safety
The Corolla Quest is fitted with 5 airbags, has ABS with EBD, and a traction control and stability program.
Practicality
The Quest offers seating for 5 adults and a 452-litre boot.
Price
The retail price for the Toyota Corolla Quest 1.8 Exclusive auto is R414 800.
Honda Ballade 1.5 Elegance
The Honda Ballade is an iconic badge in South Africa. It is associated with robust, efficient, and well-made sedans that have taken many South Africans thousands of kilometres throughout the decades.
Powertrain
Under the bonnet of the Ballade is a 1.5-litre 4-cylinder petrol engine. It produces 89 kW and 145 Nm torque. It sends power to the front wheels through a CVT. A 0-100km/h time is not quoted, but the fuel consumption is claimed at 5.5 L/100km.
Standard Trim
The Elegance spec Ballade comes with 16-inch alloy wheels, 6 airbags, climate control, a multi-function steering wheel, a colour touchscreen infotainment system, keyless entry/start, leather seats, and rear PDC with a reverse camera.
Safety
The Ballade has 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, and stability control. It was crash-tested by Global ANCAP and achieved a 4-star safety rating.
Practicality
You get a 506-litre boot in the Ballade, 125mm of ground clearance and seating for 5 occupants.
Price
The Honda Ballade will cost you R425 500.
Volkswagen Polo Sedan 1.0 TSI Life |
Toyota Corolla Quest 1.8 Exclusive auto |
Honda Ballade 1.5 Elegance | |
Engine size (cyl/size) | 3-cyl, 1.0-litre petrol | 4-cyl, 1.2-litre petrol | 4-cyl, 1.2-litre petrol |
Power/Torque | 85 kW/178 Nm | 103 kW/173 Nm | 89 kW/145 Nm |
CO2 emissions | 144 g/km | 152 g/km | 131 g/km |
Airbag count | 6 | 5 | 6 |
Fuel tank capacity | 45 litres | 55 litres | 40 litres |
Ave Consumption * | 6.3 L/100 km | 6.4 L/100 km | 5.5 L/100 km |
Driven wheels | Front | Front | Front |
Boot volume | 521-litres | 452-litres | 506-litres |
Service plan | 3-yr/45 000km | 3-service/45 000km | 4-yr/60 000km |
Price | R421 100 | R414 800 | R425 500 |
* Manufacturer's claimed figures.
Pricing was all-inclusive at the time of writing but may change without prior notice.
Verdict
The three products we've listed above are fantastic options in the budget sedan segment: efficient, spacious and reasonably attainable. We would happily recommend any of the three models listed here; however, there can only be one winner, and we've decided on the Polo Sedan in this instance, purely based on its punchy turbocharged engine, large boot, safety rating and impressive set of specifications.
