More staple fare from Polo
2018 VERSION: SUBTLE CHANGES THAT ADD TO ALLURE BUT STILL NO TINGLE DOWN THE SPINE
Despite its relative blandness, it is not cheap at between R235 200 and R302 000.
The Volkswagen Polo reminds one somewhat of a certain international fast food chain’s burgers. You know exactly what you are getting. You know it will come good on all the necessities. And it is hard to find anything noteworthy enough to get the adrenaline rushing, or put a tingle down your spine.
But, despite its relative blandness, and somewhat hefty price tag (between R235 200 and R302 000), compared to some of the alternatives out there, you are inexplicably drawn to it, and you keep coming back for more.
The allure in the McPolo probably lies in the fact that drivers know they are getting value for money. And though there are cheaper, equally reliable, and sometimes even spicier, hatchbacks out there, you know that the Polo will get all the basics (quality, reliability and safety) just right.
Such is the case with the 2018 version.
Exterior – Though the car is slightly longer, lower, and appears a tad more muscular, it is immediately recognisable as a Polo, and doesn’t really differ much from its predecessors.
The entry-level Trendline, which I drove, takes some design cues from its big brother, the Golf, with a longer roof line, and some subtle bulges on the sides. To a die-hard Polo fan, this may be just enough, but to someone like me, who is drawn to the more flamboyant styling in some of the Korean and Japanese brands, it looks somewhat underwhelming.
The higher-end models, such as the R-line and GTI, will offer more sporty design features, such as side sill, a boot spoiler, and 17-inch alloy wheels.
However, be prepared to shell out quite a hefty sum more (about R100 grand more) for all that flash.
The different models will also be distinguishable by slight tweaks, such as chrome stips around the grille (Highline models), and Black side mirrors and millenial-pleasing decals (Beats models).
Inside – This is where the new Polo truly differs from previous models. There is plenty more space all round, with a redesigned instrument cluster, and a few tiny creature comforts that previous models lacked.
The Trendline Polo has soft touch plastic all over, adding to the perception of quality, while higher spec models will offer the option of leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and options in terms of trim colour for the dashboard and instruments.
The entry-level Trendline models with electric windows for the front passengers, but those in the back will still have to wind it oldschool. There is also an 11-inch info system, and as expected the Bluetooth pairing with my cellphone happened almost instantly, allowing me to make and receive phone calls, and stream music.
The pricier models also offer options like a special six speaker sound system from Beats by Dre (Beats model), and a full colour display on the info system.
Driving experience – The Polo’s little 1-litre TSI engine is remarkably zippy, and manages to haul it along quite nicely in traffic. There was plenty of power in low gears, and the car accelerated quite quickly. Though the petrol heads and boy racers may be unimpressed by the performance, it was just enough power for a boring journalist, driving to work in traffic.
The only problem I did notice while testing the car was that it seemed to lose steam when facing slight inclines, or attempting to overtake in higher gears, prompting some shifts down.
Interestingly, the entry-level Trendline came with cruise control, which is a nice touch, but I never got around to using it.