Almost five decades have passed since the first Polo, and the model has gone through five generations and has found its way to 14 million people who have become its owners. He has been one of the world’s most successful compact small cars since almost fifty years since one of the worst-selling cars of VW. And now the new, sixth generation of this model is presented.

The new generation Polo features a relatively new design, a spacious interior that has been completely redesigned, featuring a state-of-the-art cockpit that is in line with the digital age, efficient petrol and diesel engines, as well as a wide range of driver assistance systems that were previously only characteristic for larger models of VW.

Dimensions and design

The sixth generation of the Polo is the first one based on the flexible MQB A0 platform, which certainly influenced the dimension of the car and its design. Polo now looks significantly longer due to the longer wheelbase, and at the same time more space in the cabin was obtained. The height remained almost the same. The GTI version of this model has an aggressive and powerful design, and the car itself is “lying” on wheels of 18 inches.

When we talk about dimensions, the new Polo is expected to grow in relation to his predecessor.

This led to the fact that in addition to more space in the cabin there was also a larger luggage compartment, whose capacity increased from 280 to 351 liters. Nevertheless, despite this extra space in the cabin, he still remained a compact small car on the outside. The dimensions are now the closest to the Golf IV. The new Polo with a length of 4.053 mm is slightly shorter than the aforementioned fourth generation of the Golf, but when it comes to wheelbase, it is 53 mm longer in the Polo model. The wheelbase is larger than the previous generation of the Polo model for 94 mm, now it is 2,564 mm, and the consequence is that the wheels are moved to the front and rear of the car, so it now has a more powerful and athletic look. The new Polo is also larger than its predecessor by 69 mm, and its width is now 1,751 mm. As we have already said, the height has remained almost the same, that is, it is smaller by 7 mm compared to the previous generation and now it is 1.446 mm.

From the very beginning, the new Polo will sell three famous versions: Trendline, Comfortline and Highline, as well as in the special “Beats” edition with a modern sound system. However, there will be another version, which is Polo GTI.

Positioned as the strongest version of this model, the Polo GTI is a sporty model with a sporty body and chassis. On the front, the strongest version of the Polo model highlights features such as a specially designed bumper with integrated lip spoiler and fog lamps.

In the GTI version of the Polo model, they are offered as an option and headlights with LED technology, under which there is a red line composed of a LED that represents the extension of the red line from the mask.

On the back of the car there is a large spoiler on the roof with a black color, a diffuser on the buffer, two exhaust gates specific for the GTI models, LED lights and again the GTI mark. From the profile seen from the profile are 17-inch wheels, and 18-inch wheels are available as options, slightly longer thresholds under the door and brakes with red color. There will be as many as 14 colors for this model as well as 12 versions of 14- to 18-inch wheels, two interior colors and 11 different seat covers. All this will be available to customers in a combination that they choose.

Interior and technology

The interior of this model adorns sports seats with the already legendary “Clark” template, a multifunctional sports steering wheel covered with red-seam leather, and the standard package includes ambient lighting.

The GTI, as well as other versions of the Polo interior, will be in line with the digital age. Interior designers have created a completely new interior of the model that is easily accessible to the driver. Namely, the new Polo will be the first model of VW which offers a completely new generation of Active Info Screen (AID). The functionality of the digital instrument table and cockpit is, just like the graphics, raised to a new level, and now it is becoming clearer and easier to use. Also, it is possible for the first time that only one button on the multifunction steering wheel switches from one menu to another. The infotainment system comes with screens of 6.5 to 8 inches. All this is highlighted by backlighting on Highline and GTI versions.

There are options available from technology also like Automated Driving, Intuitive Usability, Connected Community and Smart Sustainability.

In addition to the standard way of charging the phone, the new Polo can also be done with the Wireless Charging option, which means that there is an interface that is located under the climate control, but only suitable for certain phones. The new generation of the Polo model also has a non-key access option. There is only a Start engine / stop engine button.

Motors and performance

The new VW Polo had premiere at the Frankfurt Motor Show, and will appear in the market of most European countries during 2017, and in Germany it will be sold at a price of 12,975 euros. It will be sold with nine different versions of aggregates that meet Euro6 standards. For the first time Polo will be available with a natural gas engine. This TGI aggregate has a volume of one liter and an output of 90 horsepower, it can be CO2 neutral and is connected to a five-speed manual transmission.

In addition to this, six petrol and two diesel engines will also be offered. The gasoline aggregates will range from a MPI volume of one liter and 65 horsepower to the new TSI EVO aggregate of 1.5 liters and output power of 150 horsepower. The petrol engine has a GTi version of this model. The gasoline aggregates include, as the weakest MPI aggregate, one liter liter of 65 horsepower and is connected to a five-speed manual transmission, followed by versions of the same volume produced by 75, 95 and 115 horsepower. TSI aggregates of one-liter liter produced by 95 and 115 horsepower can be connected to a five-speed manual transmission or automatic seven-speed. The weaker MPI aggregates can only be connected to a manual five-speed gearbox. The petrol units also include a 1.5-liter TSI that produces 150 horsepower and can be connected to a manual six-speed or automatic seven-speed gearbox.

As the strongest model of its generation, the GTI version of the Polo also has the strongest four-cylinder TSI petrol engine capacity of two liters producing 200 horsepower and can be connected to a manual six-speed or automatic seven-speed transmission. In combination with a 320 Nm torque, it accelerates to a “hundredth” in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 237 km / h.

As far as the diesel engine is concerned, two versions of the 1.6 TDI engine producing 80 and 95 horsepower will be available, of which the stronger version can be linked to a manual five-speed or automatic seven-speed gearbox.

Assistance systems for the driver

In line with the development of technology and auto industry, the small Polo is now richly equipped with driver assistance systems. For the new Polo, people from Volkswagen say it is one of the most advanced small cars in the world, and this is reflected in the existence of a wide range of these systems. Namely, even the weakest version of this model is equipped with a monitoring system that includes emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring. Adaptive cruise control will also be available, which can be activated up to a speed of 210 km / h. There is also a Stop and Go function that is first available with a manual parking brake. These systems include monitoring of dead corners, maintenance of a vehicle in one tape as well as a traffic alert system that comes behind the car. Another novelty is an access-free approach to the ignition and extinguishing engine, which can also be used to unlock the car.

Summary

VW certainly made a step forward in this segment with the new generation of the Polo model, all thanks to the new design, great surfaces and lines, and especially the big part of it is that visually this car looks much wider than it actually is as well as an entry with a digital instrument panel.

It only remains to be seen how the new Polo will deal with its main competitors. All in all, this is an excellent small car, or to conclude by one of the main designers who worked on this model. “Polo is no longer just a little cousin of the Golf and is not just a car that people buy when they can not afford to own the Golf. Now he’s just the car that people want to buy. “