2009 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 The 1.4 engine from the year 2000 was a more modern unit than the one it superseded and has a good combination of economy and performance.Interestingly, the petrol 1.6-litre engine used in the Polo Classic has a twin-cam setup, whereas the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.

Three’s good company, when it’s a triple-door Polo with a little four-cylinder engine that can be both frugal and gutsy. The 1.2-litre twin-charged — turbocharger plus supercharger — unit we tested is just one of eight engines that will be offered in Europe in the new three-door Polo.The car will arrive in Australia in the second quarter of next year in a neat little package, with sharp lines dictated by Volkswagen Group chief designer Walter de Silva resulting a sporty look that’s squarely aimed at the younger demographic.There’s a clean face with prominent horizontal styling, and the body — the same size as the five-door at 3.9m long, 1.6m wide and 1.4m high — bearing short overhangs and a lower look with longer door lines, has a streamlined presence set off by black pillars and upward sweep of the side window treatment.While final decisions for Australia are still being made, Volkswagen will offer the car in Europe with seven engines. The four petrol versions are a naturally aspirated 1.2-litre developing 44kW, a twincharged 51kW 1.2-litre, a 63kW 1.4-litre and the DSG-mated direct-injection turbo 77kW 1.2-litre we tested.On the diesel side, there is a turbocharged 1.6-litre developing three different outputs: 55kW, 66kW (which also get the DSG option) and 77kW, which will be followed next year by a super-efficient BlueMotion 1.2-litre turbodiesel.There are three spec levels: Trendline, Comfortline and top-level Highline with features like ESP, daytime running lights, tinted windows and height-adjustable driver’s seat fitted as standard from entry level.Comfortline adds extras like height adjustment for the front passenger, storage drawers under the front seats, dual cargo floor and chrome and aluminium-look accent trim. Highline gets extra chrome trim, three-spoke leather steering wheel, front centre armrest, multi-function display and tyre pressure indicator, height-adjustable sport seats and leather-trimmed handbrake and gear knob.DrivingThe little Polo is a snappy drive, responding quickly to the pedal and the seven-speed DSG. It has plenty of acceleration up to about 120km/h in the auto drive mode, but beyond that mark it starts to snooze a little and benefits from being slapped over into sport mode to wake it back up. In this mode it grips the gear firmly, and was holding in S6 for us at over 140km/h.It handles well and it’s equally happy nipping around the city or jousting out on the highway, and on Germany’s unlimited-speed autobahn system sat easily at 160km/h with bursts up to 180km/h.During those runs the fuel readout would jump, which is logical considering the speeds. At 160km/h and 3500rpm it showed 9.4l/100km, rising to 11.2l at 180km/h. However it dropped quickly as soon as you backed off, and we finished the day with an average of 7.7l. That might sound high, but it’s a respectable result considering the driving was a combination of congested city streets and ultra high speed bahnstorming, neither of which make for fuel saving.We had the Highline spec — optioned up with extras like satnav — which made the cabin pleasant with soft plastics and chrome accents. But while we were comfortable in the front, the snug rear seat legroom could be a trial if you were in there for long trips.However you’d have no trouble climbing in and out of the back, with the long doors and the generous front-seat travel making for very easy access. The styling looks great, although the rear pillar treatment trims visibility a bit and also encourages some wind rush at higher speeds. Overall, it’s a fun car with this engine, and will probably also be a practical one with any of the drivetrains.Volkswagen Polo three-door Price: TBAEngine: (tested) 77kW 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinderTransmission: (optional) seven-speed DSGEconomy: (as tested) 7.7l/100km combined

As a result there is a lot riding on the development and success of the fifth-generation Polo, which has just been launched in Europe.As one of the most popular VWs globally and best seller in Germany, VW Australia has high hopes for the new car.Sales of the current car are up 36 per cent this year, thanks to a strong marketing push.The head of exterior design for the new Polo, Oliver Stefani, says there was a desire to give the new car a “simplicity and elegance” but connect with the VW family DNA.“It is the first Polo to get a distinct shoulder line and this, combined with the larger wheels and wraparound headlight and grille treatment helps give it a VW identity,” he says.Volkswagen has benchmarked the Polo against its key European competitors, the Opel Corsa, Peugeot 207 and Ford Fiesta. In the Australian market it must also tackle the Mazda2, Ford Fiesta, Toyota Yaris and the budget-end Koreans.The five-door arrives to market first but VW will also build a three-door, sedan as well as a three and five-door GTi version.ExteriorVW has borrowed some of the front-end styling cues from the Golf to give the Polo a bigger, more sophisticated look. The car has grown slightly. It is 54mm longer, 32mm wider but 14mm lower in height than the previous model and the front and rear tracks are 29mm and 30mm wider.The wheelbase has edged up ever-so-slightly to 2470mm, a 4mm increase while the ride height has been lowered 20mm. In size the new Polo mirrors the Golf III.VW says the goal with the Polo was to deliver a level of quality, both technical and visual, generally found on cars several classes higher. They’ve succeeded.Pricing The Polo is still more than nine months away from Australia so it’s difficult to gauge pricing for either the three or five door hatch.However, VW Australia spokesman, Karl Gehling, says the aim is to bring the car in close to the current models. That means an opener around $16,990 for the 1.4 and upper models in the $19,990 to $21,990 bracket.As a guide, UK prices have risen just over $1000 for the new hatch.Platform and equipmentThe Polo sits on an all-new platform shared with the Skoda Fabia and Seat Ibiza, but like the Golf, much of the architecture has been refined, honed and polished into a car that will comfortably fill out the top end of the light car class.In Europe three models are available, Trendline, Comfortline and Highline and these models are likely for Australia.The latest fifth-generation Polo is almost a generation and a half above the old car; such is the level of engineering integrity in the vehicle. There’s soft-touch plastics around the cabin in the high-end models and thoughtful touches abound like the recess in the glove compartment to house the large owner’s manual and free up glovebox space.Electronic stability control is standard on Euro Polos, with six airbags also available. Satellite navigation and tyre pressure monitoring are also available.The entry 1.4 is tipped to get 15-inch wheels, cloth interior, electronic stability control, six airbags, hill hold control, electric windows, height and reach adjustable steering, pollen filter, air conditioning, and central locking. Upper end models are expected to get 15-inch alloys, cruise control, climate control, parking sensors and electric windows and mirrors.Like the Golf, premium CD stereos are also expected to be available, along with satellite navigation.The new body is significantly stronger. VW has reduced crash intrusion into the footwell area by 50 per cent and side intrusion by 20 per cent.VW expects the Polo to get a five-star crash rating in the new, tougher, EuroNCAP testing.Drivetrain In Europe the front wheel drive Polo comes with a choice of seven petrol and turbo-diesel engines, five of which are new.There will be three engines for Australia. A 1.4 normally aspirated four cylinder carried over from the old model but updated to Euro IV emission levels, a 1.2-litre TSI that will replace the 1.6-litre petrol and a 1.6-litre TDI, which will replace the 1.9-litre TDI.The 1.4 petrol engine develops 63kW/132Nm while the 1.2-litre TSI pumps out 77kW/175Nm. The TDI engine chosen for Aussie-spec Polos develops 66kW/230Nm.The 1.4 petrol and 1.6 TDi get five-speed gearboxes, while the 1.2 gets a six-speed.All are expected to be available with optional seven-speed DSG gearboxes.The 1.2 TSI and 1.6-litre TDI are new engines in the Polo family. VW claims a 20 per cent fuel economy improvement in the TSI and 15 per cent in the TDI. The TSI’s combined fuel figure is 5.5 litres/100km, the TDI 4.2 litres/100km and the 1.4 5.9 litres/100km.Ultra-frugal Bluemotion engines are available in Europe but are unlikely for Australia in the short term.DrivingIn the photos the Polo looks like a small car. It’s only when you walk up to the little five-door hatch that reality sets in.It is actually destined for the light car class but the large-car looks and mini-me Golf design will certainly help sales.The driving position is typically VW. That means everything is set out in a thoroughly planned way but unlike VWs of the recent past, the look and feel is not austere. The cabin has a VW family feel and that carries over to the quality levels. The doors shut with that Germanic “thud” and VW can be confident that the cabin ambience will attract buyers looking for prestige in a class dominated by highly-competent but “built-to-a-budget” rivals. Buyers who do not want to sacrifice quality and class when they downsize will love the Polo.The caveat on this German build quality is that Australian Polos will come from South Africa so we hope the quality levels are as good as the Spanish built cars we drove. Previous-generation Golfs out of South Africa had patchy build quality.On the road, the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta may feel and drive more dynamically, but the Polo responds well to measured driver inputs and finesse. Smoothness is the name of the game in this car and it repays such precision with fatigue-free driver and passengers.Press-on drivers may be disappointed that the chassis is not a bit sharper and the damping a bit firmer but we’d suggest that the vast majority of Polo buyers will be very happy with the ride and handling. The electro-mechanical steering, like many VWs we’ve driven, does lack some feedback though.Those buyers wanting a crisper driving experience will have to wait for the GTi.The 1.4-litre petrol engine is smooth, revvy and elastic at low revs. It is not overly endowed with urge but is a very sweet engine.Pushed into corners the 1.4 will understeer – push wide through corners - but the all-round composure is reassuring and confident. The TSI, fitted with 17-inch wheels and tyres, feels flatter and more precise without any loss of ride comfort.The front McPherson strut suspension and rear semi-independent suspension have been tweaked for better stability and ride comfort.Both the five and six speed manuals are smooth and precise and the seven-speed DSG is seamless. VW expects that most Aussie Polos buyers will go for the DSG gearbox. They won’t be disappointed.Although there is nothing wrong with the 1.4, the TDI and TSI engines are the pick.They are such sophisticated little engines there is little to separate them. The petrol engine revs harder but the TDI has better low-down torque.The 1.2-litre TSI version could easily wear a GTi badge and you’d be happy, such is the mid-range performance for overtaking. Maximum torque of 175Nm is available between 1500 revs and 3500 revs.Forget all you know about 1.2-litre four cylinder engines, the TSI Polo engine rewrites the book on how good small capacity engines can be. The TSI is deceptively quick with a top speed of 190km/h, yet flexible enough to pull away in third gear under 40km/h.We spent time in the higher capacity 77kW/250Nm Polo TDI but all TDIs share a common rail design that is sweet revving, quiet and demonstrably strong.All three engines are impressively quiet too. At 110km/h all engines are muted and suppressed and wind noise is virtually absent. Even with the rear seats folded and piled with luggage the cabin remains quiet and free of any road noise or “booming”. The overall body integrity shines through here.It feels substantial, well planted on the road and even back seat passengers are not treated as second-class citizens. Where some of the rivals pamper front seat passengers but are let down in the back, the Polo is a complete, quality package. Luggage space is also a respectable 280 litres with the reat seats up and 952 with the seats folded.The previous generation Polo may have lacked a clear on-road identity that set it apart from its rivals.But the new car has rectified this. It has a strong sense of sophistication and on-road composure that is likely to push it to the top of the light car class.For more a detailed test drive report, see Carsguide print sections or check back here this weekend.Engine: 1.4-litre four cylinder, 1.2-litre four cylinder turbo (TSI), 1.6-litre common-rail turbo-diesel (TDI)Power: 63kW at 5000 revs, 77kW at 5000 revs (TSI), 66kW at 4250 revs (TDI)Torque: 132Nm at 3800 revs, 175Nm between 1500 and 3500 revs (TSI), 230Nm between 1500 and 2500 revs (TDI)