3 September 2014
It's like a Golf
Volkswagen always seem to run cheeky ad campaigns. One of the relatively recent ones showed a car salesman demonstrating aspects of some of Volkswagen’s competitive product to customers, desperately trying to claim that the car he was selling was “like a Golf”.
Well, here’s the irony – the car that’s most like a Golf is from the same stable. It’s the Polo and it’s like a Golf, only smaller.
At the recent Polo launch, Volkswagen New Zealand General Manager Tom Ruddenklau pointed out some hand-me-down features the Polo has robbed from its big brother, the Golf. The 5 inch touch screen, infotainment system, steering wheel and various other stuff comes straight out of the Golf parts bin, and interior feel and ambience really is just like a Golf.
Old platform doesn't detract
While the MQB platform that underpins the latest Golf won’t be used for the Polo until the next generation arrives in a couple of years’ time, there’s nothing wrong with how the smaller sibling performs and handles, feeling firm and stable on the road with an excellent ride quality and with minimal intrusive cabin noise for a small car.
Powered by a 66kW/160Nm turbocharged TSI powerplant, offered with a choice of 5 speed manual or 7 speed DSG automatic transmission, the new Polo’s 1.2 litre engine has more power and torque than the previous model’s 1.4 litre powerplant, and with a claimed 4.7L/100km, fuel efficiency is best in class.
Two basic levels of specification are available, starting with the entry-level Comfortline which comes with manual or DSG options, and the up-spec Highline which is DSG only. There’s also a third model in the range – the CrossPolo, which rides approximately 15mm higher than the one that’s not Cross.
At 81kW/175Nm, the CrossPolo squeezes 15 more kilowatts of power and 15 more Nm of torque from the 1.2 litre TSI engine. Also using the 7 speed DSG transmission, at 1,213kg, the CrossPolo weighs in 74kg higher than the 1,139kg Polo with equivalent transmission and has a claimed fuel economy figure of 4.9L/100km.
Comfortline models have 15 inch alloys, Highlines have 16’s and the CrossPolo sits on 17 inch rims. Steering wheel height and rake adjustment, leather clad multi-function steering wheel, gear lever and handbrake, cruise control, cooled glovebox, as well as an array of safety systems including Fatigue Detection, ISOFIX child seat anchorages, heated mirrors and flat tyre indicator are featured across the range.
The Polo Highline adds front fog lights with cornering feature, front and rear park pilot, and a Light and Vision package which includes rain sensing wipers, automatically dimming rear view mirror and low beam assistant headlights with “coming home” function.
A first for Volkswagen is a multi-collision braking feature which in the event of an accident, applies the brakes to prevent or minimise the severity of a secondary impact, and an Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system with City Emergency Braking is available as a $1,250 option on Comfortline and CrossPolo.
Other options on these models include a rear view camera for $750, and for an additional $1,000 for each option on Comfortline, sport suspension and 17 inch alloys are offered.
The people's car
Volkswagen is currently on a major drive to compete in the volume sector, with global aspirations to be the biggest car company in the world. Locally, they’re pushing the message that a Volkswagen should be on the shopping list of mainstream car buyers, going back to their roots of being the “People’s Car” and have pitched their pricing accordingly.
They acknowledge that they have some obstacles to overcome, such as the fact that in the last couple of decades, it’s been considered to be more of a premium brand, particularly in rural and provincial New Zealand, and a perception that their cars are expensive to service and maintain. They’re taking steps to overcome the barriers. Expanding their dealer network is one such step, and another being to offer a service plan with the Polo, although it isn’t included in the retail sticker price and is limited to 45,000km. The price of the three year service plan is $995.
From just $22,990, the entry-level manual Polo Comfortline offers genuine quality car feel, driving dynamics and fit and finish at an ordinary car price. Two pedal DGC models are $25,990 and $27,990 for Comfortline and Highline models respectively and the CrossPolo rounds out the range at $29,990. GTI models arrive in the second quarter of 2015 and will be powered with a 1.8 litre turbo instead of the 1.4 twincharger that was in the previous GTI.