Before the advent of models such as the T-Cross and the upcoming Nivus, Volkswagen had to service the demand for small crossovers. With the introduction of the Cross Polo, Volkswagen provided a more rugged looking Polo with a marginal increase in ride height, catering for those who want the looks associated with a small SUV while retaining the fun-to-drive characteristics of a hatchback.
Related: New Volkswagen Polo: Live confident, drive confident
At the time of writing, there were more than 50 Cross Polo variants for sale on AutoTrader. Here are 3 things that you need to know about this product.
1. First generation appears in 2007
In 2007, Volkswagen introduced a new Polo variant, the Cross Polo based on the fourth-generation Polo. The model proved popular thanks to its SUV-like styling, leaving owners with the impression that they owned an SUV, but with more compact dimensions. The original model featured a 15mm increase in ride height, 17-inch alloy wheels, black cladding on the wheel arches, reshaped front and rear bumpers with silver accents which match the silver side mirror caps and roof rails. The first Cross Polo is powered by the popular 1.9-litre turbodiesel engine that produces 74kW in this guise.
2. Second generation launched in 2010
In 2010 Volkswagen introduced the second generation of the Cross Polo. The model differentiated itself from the standard Polo by featuring an anthracite-coloured front apron, integrated front fog lamps, black classing on the wheel arches, special 17-inch alloy wheels in the Budapest design, anodised roof rails, reshaped front and rear bumpers and a 15mm gain in ride height. This version was available with either a 1.6-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine or a 1.6-litre turbodiesel engine, both producing 77kW of power while the petrol has 155 Nm of torque and the diesel 250 Nm.
When the fifth-generation Polo received a mid-life update in 2015, so did the Cross Polo, with mild exterior and interior upgrades and more importantly, a new engine and 6-speed manual gearbox. The Cross Polo was now available exclusively with a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine that produces 81 kW and 175 Nm of torque, allowing for a claimed consumption figure of 5.1 L/100km and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 9.3 seconds.
3. It became the Vivo Maxx
With the introduction of the Polo Vivo in 2010, South Africans had a spiritual successor to the original Citi Golf. The first generation Vivo is based on the fourth-generation Polo, but with some bits removed and an increased emphasis on locally-sourced parts to keep costs down.
In 2018, the new Vivo was released, now based on the incredibly successful MK5 Polo platform. Volkswagen briefly offered what is a very similar package to the Cross Polo, this time in Vivo guise, and badged it the Polo Vivo Maxx. The Maxx model features a 15mm raised suspension, 17-inch alloy wheels in the Canyon design, silver exterior mirrors, a single exit exhaust and aluminium roof rails. Inside, the Maxx gets sporty driving pedals, colour-coded interior trim, front electric windows, air-conditioning, a multi-function steering wheel and touchscreen radio. Powering the Maxx is a 77kW 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine paired with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
Recommended next
How to replace the car battery on a Volkswagen Cross Polo
2009 – 2017 Volkswagen Polo (6R/6C) engine efficiency
Is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0TSI BlueMotion the best economical Polo choice?
