Is the Volkswagen Polo suitable for new drivers? Here’s our verdict

In the current Volkswagen line-up the Polo is by no means the entry-level option. But its specification and excellent packaging make it a worthwhile consideration for first-time buyers.

The Volkswagen Polo has been an amazing success story here in South Africa and for the past decade the Polo nameplate (and its Polo Vivo stablemate) have consistently headed the passenger car sales lists in South Africa.

This trend has continued with the latest sixth-generation Polo model launched here in January 2018 with the new Polo being a runaway sales success. In December 2018 the Polo celebrated its position is South Africa’s hatchback of choice by selling 2051 units, far and away the top-selling passenger car in South Africa, and bested only by the Toyota Hilux. Second-best passenger in the December sales race was the Polo Vivo, which is based on the fifth-generation Polo.

The Polo sales success story seems to roll on, despite the fact that in its segment it is one of the more expensive offerings.  Prices currently range from R245 500 for the entry-level  1.0 TSI Trendline hatchback model to R389 100 for the Polo GTi.

So, shouldn’t a first-time buyer choose a cheaper model?

Quite apart from budget considerations, there is a good case to be made for choosing a cheap model as a car for a new driver. The theory is that new drivers are likely to make fundamental driving mistakes when setting out on their motoring adventure. By choosing a cheap new car or (more commonly) a cheap second-hand car, the theory is that damage to a cheaper and/or older car is going to be less expensive to rectify.

A lot of people would go along with this theory. A case in point is the sales success of the Renault Kwid which has regular surpassed the 1 000 sales units here in the past year, and the Datsun Go, which has also been a top-10 sales performer here for some time. Both these models sell for well under R200 000, and the fact that they don’t have great safety ratings seems to have little impact on their appeal as a means of achieving affordable new-car motoring. More information is available on these models here.

If it’s a VW you are after, wouldn’t a Polo Vivo be a better bet?

If you are a Volkswagen fan – and there are many of these in South Africa – there are cheaper models to consider. The entry-level VW model is the Up! which pricing starting at R172 200. It’s a funky little car with great style appeal but less practicality than a Vivo.

On the face of it, a Polo Vivo looks a better option for a first-time buyer. It’s based on the fifth-generation Polo, which means it is an excellent car in terms of dynamics and design, as well as ride quality and fit and finish. Pricing starts at R189 000 for the basic Vivo 1.4. Incidentally, most of the Polo Vivo models use naturally-aspirated petrol engines, which may mean less performance, but they are very well-regarded engines in terms of long-term reliability.

The Polo Vivo is also available with a conventional automatic transmission. This may be enticing to a first-time buyer, although it is our opinion that new drivers should learn to master a manual transmission model in the learning phase of their motoring career, so we don’t actually recommend an automatic for first-time buyers.

Why spend the extra money on a Polo, rather than a Polo Vivo?

Some motorists may well prefer the new 1.0 TSI turbocharged three-cylinder engine that powers all models in the latest Polo range. We would probably not go for a DSG version, as we still hear reports of DSG gearboxes giving trouble. A manual version is still the better option as far as reliability is concerned.

But the biggest reason for choosing the new Polo is one of safety. The new VW Polo comes equipped with six airbags, driver’s side, passenger, side airbags and curtain airbags. It also has the latest driver aids as far as traction and cornering assistance are concerned, and it earned a five-star safety rating in NCAP tests in November 2017, just before it was launched here.

It is also an exceptionally easy car to operate, with accurate steering, strong but not excessive performance, and good fuel economy, as long as you don’t indulge in boosting that turbocharger all day long. And it is exceptionally well-equipped in terms of driver infotainment, which will appeal to younger buyers.

In today’s South African motoring environment, where average driving standards are, quite frankly, shocking,  passive safety is a huge consideration, and the exceptional body shell rigidity of the VW Polo is another good reason to go for this car.

So, as a final answer to the question: Yes, the latest-generation Polo would make an excellent first-time driver’s car, as long as you can afford the rather steep price.

Would like to know more? Here are our top 5 Polo articles on AutoTrader.