Latest Volkswagen Polo sedan touches down in SA

Volkswagen has unveiled its allnew Polo sedan in SA. Manufactured in Pune, India, it’s the only three-box sedan in the entire local Volkswagen lineup.

While not the most exciting vehicle to wear the VW badge, the Polo sedan offers tonnes of practicality, courtesy of its generous dimensions and spacious boot. Take out your tape measure and you’ll find it measures 4,561mm long, 1,752mm wide and 1, 507mm high. According to Volkswagen, the trunk sports 521l of space — a boon for small families.

Standout exterior features across the range include LED headlights and taillights, a signature chrome grille as well as chrome finishes on the window strips and door handles. Utilitarian 16-inch steel wheels are standard on the base model, while the Life derivatives up the style ante with a set of smart 16inch “scimitar” alloy wheels.

Step inside the two-tone cabin and you’ll see the base model gets a seven-inch touchscreen radio with App-connect, cruise control and a multifunction steering wheel. The flagship Life derivative builds on this with keyless entry and start, a 10inch touchscreen infotainment system, a reverse camera, wireless mobile charging and wireless App-connect.

Other notable additions are climatronic air-conditioning, ambient lighting, along with a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gear lever.

Power adjustable and folding exterior mirrors are standard, as are front fog and cornering lights. Opt for the Life Tiptronic variant and Volkswagen adds hill-start assist and paddle shifters on the steering wheel.

The latest Polo sedan models are powered by a 1.6l, fourcylinder naturally aspirated petrol engine generating 81kw and 152Nm of torque. It is paired to a five-speed manual transmission, though a sixspeed Tiptonic gearbox is available as an option on the Life derivative. – Bdlive

Pricing for the 2022 Volkswagen Polo sedan line-up 1.6 manual: R318,300

1.6 Life manual: R345,600

1.6 Life Tiptronic: R365,500 Pricing includes a threeyear/120,000km warranty and three-year/45,000km service plan.

Pictures: SUPPLIED DANDY: A chrome front grille gives the Polo sedan a distinctive look, and it also has LED headlights and taillights.