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The Polo has always scored well in driving manners
Driving Dynamics – As always, the Volkswagen Polo is brilliant when it comes to ride and handling balance. The ride quality is good, the handling is excellent with great body control and the steering is light at low speeds but weighs up well at higher speeds, being a bit artificial though. The 195 mm tyres offer good grip but this car seems to be overtyred for the power it puts down. The Polo remains stable at speed and the brakes offer surefooted stopping power.
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Competition is moving ahead but the new Polo is yet to arrive in India
Verdict – The Volkswagen Group is known to make the best engines in the world, right from that W16 in the Veyron and Chiron to the ones that power Bentleys, Audis and Lamborghinis. This makes me wonder why can’t VW make a decent small capacity NA engine to compete with Maruti Suzuki’s brilliant K12 unit. Not only does the new MPI engine lack excitement, it doesn’t have the performance to match any of its rivals and when the price actually turns out to be more (the Swift costs lesser), you realise if you want to buy a petrol Polo, you are better off spending Rs. 2 lakhs more for the GT TSI.
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The design has started feeling old now
What’s Cool
* Interiors feel brilliant with excellent quality components
* Ride and handling balance is good
* Gearbox is slick
What’s Not So Cool
* 1.0 MPI engine lacks performance, feels very lazy
* Rear seat doesn’t have much space
Alternatives: Maruti Swift, Maruti Baleno, Hyundai i20, Honda Jazz
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Buying the GT versions of the Polo makes more sense
Testers’ Note:
“I love the Volkswagen Polo but my favourite trim is the GT TDI. I have driven the 1.2 MPI earlier and found it to be lacking in performance and the new 1.0-litre engine is no different. However, it does offer better fuel economy and the engine is quite refined too. This engine makes sense only for those people who never drive spiritedly.” – Parth Gohil, Associate Editor, MotorBeam.
Further Reading –
Volkswagen Polo Pros & Cons
Volkswagen Polo GT TSI Long Term Review
Volkswagen Polo GT TSI vs Honda Jazz CVT vs Ford Figo DCT
Volkswagen Polo GT TDI Long Term Review
Volkswagen Polo Long Term Review – Initial Report
Volkswagen Polo Review
Volkswagen Polo vs Hyundai Elite i20 vs Maruti Swift vs Fiat Punto Evo
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