New Volkswagen Polo launched with more muscles

The sixth generation Polo is significantly larger than before.

The wheelbase, exterior length and width have all grown while the car’s height remains nearly identical.

What this translates to is an increased boot size that does not compromise on rear occupant space, which has also improved with great rear leg room.

The design team took advantage of these realigned dimensions to put a sporty, powerful, fresh and masculine Polo onto wheels of up to 18 inches in size.

The length of the compact Volkswagen has grown by 81mm to 4 053mm, and its wheelbase has also been lengthened by 81mm to 2 548mm. This means that the wheels are now positioned further to the front and rear, which also shortens the overhangs and gives the car a more powerful and sportier appearance.

At the same time, the Polo is now 69mm wider and has an overall width of 1 751mm. Its height has been reduced by 8mm to 1 461mm. Parallel to the standard features, the trim lines feature different interior trims, colours and fabrics.

One of the most striking individualisation features is the instrument panel with the dash. New for this generation of Polo, this dash is offered with different coloured trims.

Two dash coloured trims are available; Limestone Grey Metallic on the Trendline and Comfortline and Deep Iron Metallic on Highline.

The new generation of the Active Info Display makes its debut in the Polo.

This combines the new Active Info Display and the new 8-inch touchscreen to form a glass-encased functional unit that creates an elegant appearance combined with simple controls similar to a high-end smartphone.

The Active Info Display is available in South Africa from launch and is optional on the Comfortline and Highline models. The smallest TSI for the new Polo has an output of 70kW. The turbocharged engine, which is standard for both the Polo Trendline and Comfortline, is both agile and efficient.

The three-cylinder engine has torque of up to 175Nm. There is a 5-speed manual gearbox version and the optional 7-speed DSG version for this engine.

The most powerful 1.0 TSI / three-cylinder for the Polo is the version with 85 kW and 200Nm. New features for the Polo include the lane change system Blind Spot Monitor with Rear Traffic Alert, semi-automated Park Assist system for exiting parking spaces, the proactive occupant protection system and a manoeuvre braking function.

The latter automatically protects against minor but often expensive parking dents.

The optional Keyless Access locking and engine starting system, which is also new, can be used to unlock and start up the Polo. Multi Collision Braking (Automatic Post-Collision Braking System). Just around a quarter of all accidents that result in personal injury involve multiple collisions.

The Polo’s Automatic Post-Collision Braking System can help to avoid secondary collisions or at least reduce their severity. After an initial collision, the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System automatically initiates a braking action even before the driver can react.

This can reduce the severity of the accident and ideally prevent secondary collisions.

Park Assist automatically guides the Polo into parallel or perpendicular parking spaces, and it can also reverse out of parallel parking spaces.

It is activated by pressing a button on the centre console.

Using the indicators, the driver selects the side on which the car is to be parked. If Park Assist detects via the ultrasonic sensors a parking space that is large enough assisted parking can begin: the driver engages reverse gear and only needs to accelerate and brake.

An automatic braking function assists in the event of insufficient space and the car takes care of the steering.

The new Polo will be available in the three trim lines Trendline, Comfortline and Highline and also as a special Beats version with a 300-watt Beats sound system.

The Polo GTI will be launched in South Africa in the second quarter.

The Trendline base version is very well equipped. Standard features include assistance systems such as the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System as well as LED daytime running lights and front and rear curtain airbags.

Front Electric Windows, Composition Colour infotainment system with four speakers and a Connectivity Package featuring Bluetooth and USB also come as standard.

At the Comfortline trim level, additional details include Multi-function Display “Plus”, the Composition Colour infotainment system with six speakers, leather multi-function steering wheel, Driver Alert System and front and rear electric windows.

Those who select the Highline get features such as Composition Media infotainment system, App Connect, Voice Control, Sport seats, Cruise Control with speed limiter and white LED ambient lighting (front doors and instrument panel).