18 February 2011
This compact, small car has everything you need to get from ‘A’ to ’B’ and nothing you don’t. And when I say nothing, I really mean nothing.
Yes, it’s perfect for city driving and city-parking and sure, the VW Polo ensures a smooth and agile ride; yet for me, something was missing when stacked against other competitors in its class, especially considering the pricetag (pricing starts at $16,690 and goes through to $24,850).
For a small car, the VW Polo delivers – it’s compact, basic, reliable and certainly the ride is not uncomfortable. Yet, even for a small car, make no mistake, it’s definitely on the tiny side and thus best suited to young female first car buyers, older independent females or vertically challenged men.
The drive
On the plus side of small, the Polo moves around sharp corners with great agility and parks easily in those tiny parking spots in the city; and the ride is consistent to Volkswagen in being heavy yet not cumbersome, delivering a sense of safety for both driver and passengers.
The strong engine delivers a fun, zippy drive, allowing this little beast to power up any hill with ease and be able to accelerate between 40km/h zones and 110km/h zones easily.
Interior features include cargo area lighting, a glovebox with cooling feature, semi-automatic air-conditioning system (including a dust and pollen filter), vanity mirrors inside the sun visors, a warning tone if lights are left on and a warning tone and indicator lamp if seatbelt in front is unfastened. This can be annoying at times but hey, it’s great for drivers who are in a hurry and can sometimes forget such things.
Style
The exterior is nothing new for VW – it’s a classic Polo after all, so think neat and everything you know and expect of a VW. A feeling of girl-next-door familiarity is prevalent here.
The VW Polo is compact inside and outside and although touted as a 5-seater, this small car will only realistically allow you to comfortably fit and carry only 4 passengers, and smaller ones at that.
The interior is clean-cut and smooth but very basic for the price. With a dash that’s straightforward to the point of boring, the interior of the VW polo provides the driver with a high level of simplicity without the fuss but for me, it was like eating a wafer without the cheese.
Safety
Having received a 5-star ANCAP safety rating as well its European equivalent, the VW Polo will stop your safety worries.
The all-important car safety features are standard for all VW Polos, including 6 airbags (2 front, 2 side and 2 curtain), electronic stabilisation program (ESP) including anti-lock braking system (ABS) with braking assist, anti-slip regulation (ASR), electronic limited-slip differential (EDS), and engine braking control (MSR).
3 words to describe this car:
Cute, compact, fun.
What are the best things about this car?
A fun zippy ride that’s easy to drive and park.
What are the downsides of this car?
I test-drove a manual and found the brake over-responsive and thus the car stalled a lot. I also found it to be basic in regards to features, especially the radio and sound system, given other competition in its class. Further, the seats were a tad on the hard side and the boot was consistent with the overall theme of the car – too small.
What kind of petrol did this car use?
Diesel.
Liked it?
I found it too small and basic for my liking, especially in relation to the price. Perhaps for some, the VW brand is worth paying for but for me, as Demi would say, “Gimme Moore”.
If personified, who would this car be?
Gwyneth Paltrow, who is more aware of brands than she should be.
Soundtrack of choice for the VW Polo
The petite Kylie Minogue.