2006 Volkswagen Polo Reviews

Ewan Kennedy reviews the 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 Volkswagen Polo as a used buy.

Volkswagen Polo is a small car from a German giant, but hadn’t done a lot in Australia until recent years.

Until the introduction of the cute little Volkswagen up! the Polo was the smallest Volkswagen sold in Australia. As is often the way the Polo grew in size over the years and later models are similar in size to older VW Golfs. This means that a late model Polo can be used as a family car if the kids are in their pre-teen years.The Volkswagen Polo has a solid feel that’s not the norm in Asian competitors of this size. Owners love them and say they feel safe and secure within them.Sales of the Polo were slow in its earlier days in Australia, but picked up after significant price cuts. Better styling helped as well, the new model introduced in July 2002 was more stylish than some of the somewhat bland earlier versions. The 2010 model further improved the looks and Polo is starting to become a serious contender in the small car market in Australia.Most Polos sold in Australia are hatchbacks, with either two or four passenger doors, but a four-door sedan, tagged as the Polo Classic, was imported from China during 2004 and 2005. The latter wasn’t a success due to dubious quality control.Another interesting model is the Polo Open Air of 1998 to 2000. Though a five-door hatchback it had a huge sunroof that could let in plenty of fresh air when fully open. It wasn’t a success either, so is comparatively rare on the used-car front.Handling was nothing special in the earlier days, with too much understeer. It can show up in anything more than moderate cornering and is presumably in there to maximise safety in the hands of clumsy drivers. This was improved in Polos from 2002 onwards.Most Polos in Australia have petrol engines, however turbo-diesels have really started to sell in good numbers in recent years. Petrol engine capacities in the standard models are 1.4 and 1.6 litres. Performance from the smaller engine is better than you might expect due to the little VW's relatively light weight. The 1.4 engine from the year 2000 was a more modern unit than the one it superseded and has a good combination of economy and performance.Interestingly, the petrol 1.6-litre engine used in the Polo Classic has a twin-cam setup, whereas the others have a single-cam head. In both cases there are four valves per cylinder.Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed auto until the new model of 2008. The Polo Classic sedan, pre-2010 GTI, and TDI diesel are only sold with the manual. From 2008 a six-speed automatic was installed, this expanded to seven speeds in 2010. Manuals remained at five-speed units.Polo GTI in its early versions wasn’t the pocket rocket its name might suggest, chiefly because the turbocharged 1.8-litre engine is running only modest boost. However, it works very nicely in mid-range torque. The real strength of the Polo GTI is its nimble handling. Firmer suspension and added precision through the steering means it gives you a lot of driving fun at a pretty modest price.Engine power in the latest Polo GTI, launched in November 2010, was increased from 110 kilowatts to 132 kW thanks to a new TwinCharger (supercharged and turbocharged) engine. Finally the Polo GTI had the grunt to back up its name.Volkswagen has undergone a revolution in Australia in recent years thanks to a smart new management team. This has led not only to better sales results, but also an increased number of dealerships, many with impressive high-tech facilities.Service and repairs are moderate in price, though they can be higher than for equivalent sized Asian cars. We have heard of no real complaints about the cost or availability of spare parts.A good amateur mechanic should be able to do a fair bit of their own work as the Polo has a simple mechanical layout and the underbonnet area isn’t too crowded. Have a repair manual at your side, and keep well clear of repairs that could affect the car’s safety.Insurance costs are about average for a car in this European class although you are likely to be charged extra, possibly substantially extra, to cover the Polo GTI because of its turbocharged engine.WHAT TO LOOK FORThe VW Polo is generally well built, however the quality of assembly on the Polo Classic sedan left something to be desired. Check the interior as it can be on the rough and ready side. Ensure the engine starts quickly and idles reasonably smoothly immediately it fires up.Older VW Polo engines aren't the most refined of units, but if one seems too bad it may be due for major repairs. Gearchanges should be light and easy, with no crunching when you shift down quickly. The clutch should be smooth and predictable in its operation. Look inside the boot for signs of harsh treatment as cars in this class sometimes get treated as small trucks by inner-city residents carting things around.Interior trim that has been continuously scorched by the Aussie sun through lack of undercover parking may fade. The dash top and luggage cover will be the first to suffer, look and feel for cracks, as well as for a dry feel in the plastics.CAR BUYING TIPTry to do any test drive with the car in stone-cold condition, after an overnight stop is ideal. Mechanical problems are often aggravated by cold weather.

We normally spend at least a week behind the wheel of the cars we test and write about, but even then it it is still easy to overlook things.Our hearts goes out to the average punter forced to make a decision after just a few minutes shopping for a new car.The more time we spend behind the wheel of Volkswagen's diesel Polo the more we appreciate what a little gem it is.We've got about 7500km on the clock now and the fuel economy is getting better and better with each passing week.On our last fill we topped 720km and have persuaded Volkswagen to let us have the car a little longer so we can have a crack at the 800km mark.This is something of a milestone because neither of our previous hybrids - Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic - were able to crack this nut.Prius came the nearest with 777km.Over the past weeks we have discovered our Polo excels on long trips, sitting in top gear on the motorway where fuel use is at its lowest.Around town, however, consumption tends to rise, but it still remains very good.We were especially keen to drive the Polo because at $22,990 it is the cheapest diesel- powered passenger car currently available here.With a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine, fuel consumption is rated at a miserly 5.0 litres per 100km.The diesel engine delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.It is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.Apart from the obvious economy, the other thing that we have noticed about the car is that even fully loaded, it doesn't put much of a dent in performance.This is in stark comparison with small petrol-engined hatches that are reduced to a crawl up hill with any more than two people aboard.Many people point to the higher cost of diesel, but as we have discovered you get much better mileage.The Polo has a 45-litre fuel tank but it seems no matter how hard we try, it rarely takes more than 40 litres to fill which puts 800km within our grasp.Our fuel economy has ranged between 5.8 and 6.8 litres per 100km.The Polo pulls like a steam train from second gear and cruises smoothly and easily on the motorway.If I were a commuter (and I am) it would certainly be on my shopping list.The TDi has a four-star safety rating, with two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four-wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake-pressure distribution (EBD).Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system.Unfortunately, there's no auto available and we'd check out the cost of servicing. 

Then again it is black and we have clocked up well over 2000km since taking delivery of the car a few weeks ago.The Polo has generated a bit of interest at the office, with plenty of comment about its sporty good looks and the incredible way it drives.We were especially interested in driving this car because at $22,990 the Polo TDi is the cheapest diesel-powered passenger car currently available in Australia.With a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine, fuel consumption is rated at a miserly 5.0 litres per 100km.That's better than some of the hybrid petrol- electric cars that have attracted the spotlight latley.With the price of fuel on the up and up, it is fair to say that interest in diesel-powered cars has never been higher.Many people point to the cost of diesel, but this is more than offset by the extra mileage you get - at least 30 per cent as a rule of thumb.We're on our fourth tank of gas with consumption running at around 6.2L/100km.Our record for a single 45 litre tank of fuel stands at 647km so far.That's after the low fuel warning light had been on for quite a while.In spite of this, the car took only 40.3 litres of diesel no matter how hard to try to squeeze the stuff in.This means it still had a nearly five litres of fuel left.Doing the maths, that means we have been getting 6.2L/100km which in turn means that we could have got another 75km out of the tank taking our total to well over 700km for a single tank.A long run with plenty of freeway driving should generate even more impressive figures.The 1.9-litre turbo diesel that delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.The modern diesel is nothing like the smokey, smelly old oil burners of the past that people remember.For the most part, it's amazingly quiet, supremely powerful and extraordinarily fuel efficient.The Polo pulls like a steam train from second gear onwards and sails up hills like they are non-existent.It's shaping up as the perfect commuter.The TDi has a four-star safety rating, with two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four-wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake-pressure distribution (EBD).Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system.The one blot in the TDI's copy book is that at this stage, there's no auto available and this is likely to cost the company valuable sales. 

This question resonated often during the week, usually followed by "looks good, how does she go?"My answer?"The new Polo GTi is fantastic maaaate, goes like the clappers."Volkswagen's toey new tiddler looks a lot like the Golf GTi and shares that car's sporty intent though it's not as powerful or quick nor anywhere near the price.But it's just as much fun to drive.At a mere $26,990, Polo GTi is a performance car bargain offering 110kW of turbo boosted power and strong torque to make driving easy.How does VW do it for the money?Bringing the Polo GTi out of Spain could save a few bob but the $Euro is used across Europe so we can't really figure it out.It doesn't matter because this little three door hatch offers enthusiastic drivers arguably more bang for their buck than anything else on the market.And far from being a bare bones blaster, the Polo GTi has just about everything you need. Standard equipment includes six air bags, ABS, ESP and even a low tyre presssure warning system.That's on top of air conditioning, CD audio, power assisted everything and 16in alloy wheels.The 1.8-litre, 20-valve DOHC engine has been around for yonks in various Golfs and Audis and is infact the same engine used in the previous Golf GTi. In that heavier car it was underwhelming.While 110kW might not sound like a lot of poke, it's the torque that rules the day.With 229Nm available at 1950rpm, the GTi pays attention to even the smallest movement of your right foot.And it's easy to loaf along in too high a gear and simply push the accelerator.This helps optimise fuel economy as well as improving driving feel. The gearbox is a five speeder offering a good spread of ratios but no auto is available.Interior styling is up to a typical high standard and the GTi offers room for four adults and their luggage.We reckon the only downside to this car will be availability. Demand will almost certainly outstrip supply for the VW rocket-powered roller skate.

These days, you almost have to take your cheque with you, the cost of fuel has risen so much.With prices set to go even higher, motorists are starting to get cheesed off and they are beginning to look at the alternatives - vehicles that use less fuel but still deliver acceptable performance.Hybrid petrol-electric cars have been hog- ging the spotlight and we have been able to put both Toyota's Prius and Honda's Civic Hybrid to the test over the past few months.The hybrid technology is certainly impress- ive, along with the excellent economy figures that these cars produce.But then so too are the gains that have been made in diesel technology over the last couple of years, especially by companies such as Volkswagen.The modern diesel is nothing like the smokey, smelly old oil burners of the past that people remember.For the most part, it's amazingly quiet, supremely powerful and extraordinarily fuel efficient.In fact, in most cases, you'd be hard pressed to tell the difference between petrol and diesel- engined cars.But the proof is in the pudding and cars like Volkswagen's recently released Polo TDI are set to change the way Aussies think about diesel.At $22,990, the Polo has the distinction of being the cheapest diesel-powered passenger car currently available.With claimed fuel consumption of just 5.0 litres per 100km, it's the perfect commuter, as safe as it is fuel efficient with an impressive four-star star safety rating.Volkswagen has lent us one of the little oil burners for a closer look over the next few weeks.The equipment list includes two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four- wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake- pressure distribution (EBD).Polo TDI is powered by a 1.9-litre turbo diesel that delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.The engine is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.That's the same power output as the top- rated 1.4-litre petrol model, but it is the second figure in which we are more interested.At 240Nm the TDI produces almost twice as much torque as the petrol model (126Nm) and it is this that makes driving the car a breeze, with very strong performance from low in the rev range.The one blot in the TDI's copy book is that at this stage, there's no auto available and this is likely to cost the company valuable sales.Polo TDI is rated at a claimed 5.0 litres per 100km, compared to Prius at 4.4L/100km and Civic at 5.2L./100km.We've only had to fill her up once so far.The 45-litre tank too just under 40 litres of diesel at $1.32 a litre after clocking up 588km.That's a rate of about 6.7 litres per 100km, or about the same as the Civic Hybrid gets in real life.Many people point to the cost of diesel, but this is more than offset by the extra mileage you get - at least 30 per cent as a rule of thumb.We're expecting to get much better economy from the Polo as the engine begins to loosen up.With just 4000km on the clock, it's hardly run in yet.Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system. 

The newcomer is a lot like a condensed Golf and, though it doesn't match the Golf GTi, it is an impressive little car that is sure to accelerate the growth in support for this German brand.The Polo is completely new and the line-up builds to the economy-focused turbo-diesel model and a hot hatch headliner that picks up the GTi badge together with a turbo motor similar to the one in the Golf.The price spread for the Polo range is from $16,990 for the 1.4-litre manual Club to $26,990 for the GTi, though you can go even higher with the optional leather upholstery and an electric glass sunroof.Volkswagen says the aim with the new Polo was to make the car better looking and more refined. And to spread its reach.Those were obvious targets because the previous Polo, which was never much below $20,000 in the early days and hardly got going in Australia, was always overpriced and underdone in a compact class where the best cars really set the bar high.Volkswagen has much tougher targets for the new car."This year we are looking for 1000 to 1500 cars in total," VW Australia spokesman Matthew Wiesner says."The main thing now is that we have a range. Previously we only had a three-door or a five-door, with one engine. Now it has grown up into a decent range."He also believes the GTi will provide cut-through for the whole Polo family, as well as a potential hero car for the company."Our first order for the GTi was a couple of hundred, and we'll watch over the next couple of months on how the mix develops."Volkswagen wants to avoid the backlog that has created a continuing waiting list for the Golf GTi, but also needs the Polo to bring new and younger buyers to the brand so it can then move them up through the Golf and the Passat, which is about to be renewed.The Polo plan is a broad sweep that includes a range of models and production sites.The mainstream cars — Polo Club, Polo Match and Polo TDI — are all built in South Africa, and the GTi comes to Australia from Spain.Power outputs run from a basic 55kW in the 1.4 to 110kW in the GTi, while the turbo-diesel actually tops the rankings with 240Nm, compared with 126Nm for the starter car and 220Nm for the GTi.Equipment is good with two airbags, anti-skid brakes and semi-automatic airconditioning for $16,990, rising to full head-curtain bags and electric mirrors, alloy wheels and electric windows in the upper cars.The turbo-diesel is expected to win more customers to the VW brand with its economy and value, while the GTi is tipped to lure defectors from Japanese brands and is fully equipped with everything from sports seats and cruise control to a trip computer and electronic stability control.But the small-car class is tough, and the Polo is still relatively small for its price.It is closer to the Hyundai Getz than a Ford Focus in body size, which means it straddles the compact scene and will have to do more against Barina-Getz-Yaris to justify its $16,990 bottom line and put more punch into its play to win people to the more expensive GTi.ON THE ROADAt first we thought the speedometer in the Polo GTi was wrong. The car was always going faster than we expected.In the Polo TDI, it looked like the fuel gauge was broken. It didn't move for the first 150km.Those are impressive signs of the potential appeal of the new Polo. There is much more refinement in the new model. The Volkswagen badge is starting to win the following in Australia it now deserves.The German company might build its cars in South Africa and Spain — and even China — but the thinking is European and so, too, is the basic engineering.We tested the turbo-diesel and GTi to get a better feel for the Polo, and we were generally impressed.The TDI has excellent torque, runs along easily in all road conditions while sipping less than eight litres of diesel for each 100km, and is comfy and relatively quiet.It's not cheap at $22,990, but more and more people are starting to consider diesel power and the Polo could win them.We spent more time with the GTi, partly because it is the hero car and partly because it shows how far VW can push with the Polo.It is brilliantly quick, but, even better, combines pace with panache.Most hot hatches rely on high-revving, noisy and harsh little engines and crash-bang sports suspension to provide their driving thrills. That is fine, when you are 18.The Polo is more mature, does not need to be pushed hard to get along, and is quieter and more enjoyable.The turbo engine means power delivery is strong and constant, with good urge from less than 3000 revs, and it will also make an easy 8.4 litres/100km consumption figure.The five-speed manual gearbox — there is no auto in the GTi — is light to use and has good ratios.The car stops well, has the benefit of electronic stability control, has good lamps and is easy to park.We much preferred the sports seats in the GTi, because you sit more on the TDI buckets than in them, though both test cars had a few quality niggles.There was a bit of exhaust and road roar from the back end, each of them had a couple of plastic-on-plastic sizzles in the cabin, and the TDI took a bit too long — for our tastes — to get going.It is fine on the open road, but needs pushing in the city, or you are going to get run over by the big-bore Commodores and Falcons.Overall, the new Polo is a significant step forward and should manage to elbow some space in the small-car scrum.The GTi is much more, and will be a big hit.THE BOTTOM LINEThe baby Volkswagen finally gets an overhaul with a GTi flagship that is one of the most rewarding drives in the compact class.

It has broadened the line-up of its smallest car in Australia by adding an exciting GTi hatchback pocket-rocket as well as a smooth, torquey diesel-engine model.The 110kW turbocharged Polo GTi – a kid brother to the famous Golf GTi – and the penny-pinching but surprisingly driveable Polo diesel DTi add to the two 1.4-litre petrol Polo models already released.It means Volkswagen Australia offers a wide Polo range from $16,990 (Polo Club 1.4 three-door) to the $26,990 of the new Polo GTi.Driving the GTi and the diesel TDi confirms they retain the expected, and welcomed, VW-German solid feel with good finish.These are light cars but they are not tinny. Both these new variants come only in five-speed manual.The GTi has a 1781cc engine with turbocharger and intercooler to produce 110kW power at 5800rpm and 220Nm of torque from 1950rpm to 4500rpm.VW claims a zero-to-100km/h sprint in 8.2 seconds on the way to a 216km/h top speed.The turbo effect is felt above 3000rpm when the engine comes on song and by 4000rpm there is considerable progress. But there is enough torque across that wide rev range that it does not have to be revved hard: leave it in fourth gear and it will do the 80-120km/h "overtaking test" in 7.5 seconds.Ride is a bit firm, thanks to the sports suspension and low-profile tyres but the rewards come by way of direct steering and good cornering feel for the driver. ESP is standard but it does not intervene too early: some laps at Victoria's Oran Park raceway revealed that the driver can still feel and react to understeer on the front-wheel-drive little car.It sits on 2900rpm at 110km/h in fifth gear. The GTi gets red-finished calipers for its disc brakes (288mm-diameter front rotors) and wears 205/45 tyres on its 16in diameter alloy wheels.Safety gear includes six airbags (front, side and head), ABS brakes, ESP, an anti-slip program, three lap-sash belts and three adjustable head restraints in the rear plus sensors for low tyre pressure.Equipment includes fog lights, red edging on the seat belts, multi-function trip computer, dual chromed exhaust tips, Interlagos sports cloth seats with good side bolstering, rear high-mounted spoiler and GTi-style black grille with honeycomb inserts.The $26,990 price is good considering the gear and the go. Options are sunroof ($1490), leather trim ($2490) and metallic paint ($490). Rivals include the Peugeot 206 GTi (100kW, 190Nm, $29,990) and Renault Clio Sport (131kW, 200Nm $32,990). Polo GTi is a fun vehicle to drive and it can still potter in city traffic, and do the shopping and commuting.Meanwhile, Polo diesel TDi is the real surprise package. Chances are a passenger won't even pick that it has a diesel engine. It runs quietly, smoothly and with good pull.It's the same 1.9-litre turbocharged four-cylinder found in other VW models but in the relatively light Polo produces good performance. It has 74kW power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque at just 1800rpm. It moves from zero to 100km/h in 10.7 seconds on its way to a top speed of 188km/h.The Polo uses diesel at a rate of five litres/100km. And it can handle highway work, sitting on 110km/h at 2200rpm. At $22,990, Polo TDi is the lowest-priced diesel passenger car in Australia.The Polo TDi has as standard 185/60 tyres on steel rims. Larger rims and lower-profile tyres are optional. It gets front airbags and ABS. Both Polo GTi and DTi have airconditioning, power windows and cruise control as standard.Automatic transmission is not on the horizon for either variant but is available in a 1.4-litre Polo.