Safety shootout: VW Polo vs. Nissan Micra

By Ané Theron

Both Nissan and Volkswagen bring their share of quality, sophistication and value to the ‘upper’ B-segment hatchback market: Nissan with their new 3-cylinder turbocharged Micra, and VW with their evergreen volume seller, the 1.0TSI VW Polo. But which one sits atop the safety podium?  

Contender no 1: Volkswagen Polo hatch 1.0TSI Trendline, R240 700

Every month it is either the Polo or Polo Vivo that is placed at the top of SA’s best-selling passenger vehicle list, and with good reason. A Polo doesn’t lose its value, is always in demand, and is reliable, inexpensive to service, and always looks stylish. And then there’s the German build quality, of course. The only issue with Volkswagen is that most of your more upmarket convenience features are usually expensive options, and this is also the case with the Trendline variant. On the safety side, however, ABS with EBD and brake assist are standard, and so is stability/traction control. Hill-start assist is standard too and there are six airbags. The 1.0-litre, three-cylinder engine is sufficiently energetic (70kW/175Nm) and benefits from a stop/start function as well as regenerative braking to keep fuel costs low. A tyre pressure monitor is also included. VW’s Composition Colour radio is included, with Buetooth/USB functionality, but no touchscreen. The Trendline gets 14-inch steel wheels and has daytime running lamps.

Contender no. 2: Nissan Micra 66kW Turbo Visia, R242 900

The Nissan Micra 66kW Turbo Visia is light years ahead of its predecessor in the looks department, and comes loaded with kit. It’s a tad slower than the perky Polo (the Micra has 66kW and 140 Nm), but the spec sheet is more generous with its convenience features. On the safety front, the Micra also comes equipped with 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, brake assist and stability control, and also has hill-start assist, just like the Polo. It has a multifunction steering wheel with switches for the audio system and Bluetooth (steering switches are optional in the Polo) as well as cruise control. Other features include auto headlamps, idle stop/start, and a roof spoiler. It also has steel wheels just like its German competitor.

There’s no touchscreen in the Micra at this price point either, you would have to look at the Acenta models upwards for this feature.

Verdict

This is a very tough decision because both cars offer (more or less) the same amount of safety features, but if you’re going to be trading up/in regularly, the Polo will undoubtedly get you a better deal or a higher price when you sell it. Our advice is to test drive them both before making a final decision.