polo

polo engine — Successful facelift, but a new model is just around the corner.

I am sure that the 1,2 TSI engines will be found in the new Polo which is expected to arrive next year.

- Is Polo okay?

The man from the rental car company smiled broadly. The Polo costs a few tens more per day than the Corsa I had actually ordered. Deep down, I had wanted to try the brand new Opel Corsa instead of the Volkswagen Polo, which I have driven countless times in the past as a rental car. But I never say no to being upgraded.

Volkswagen will soon present its new Polo. The sister model, the Skoda Fabia, is already out in a new generation. It doesn't help that the Polo got a small facelift 2 years ago. Today's model is starting to age. But one thing the new Polo will inherit from its predecessor, namely the fine 1,2 liter TSI engines with 90 and 110 HP respectively.

Look and feel

Checkered seat covers in durable material. Seat cushion that can be jacked up and down at the back. Adjustable steering wheel. All control levers are where they should be. I noticed new radio. It delivers good sound and is perceived as a class up compared to the competition. Manual air conditioning worked well, but was not really required in the Catalan November weather.

On the outside, I noted the 15-inch alloy wheels. The nice pepper gray color (Urano grey) dresses the car, and highlights the glossy strip from the last facelift, which divides the upper and lower parts of the front.

– Makes sense , I think. It's worth a four on Look-and-feel.

Driving pleasure

On our way north from Barcelona, we drove up the C-32, which winds along the coast. With the evening mist seeping inland, we experienced a more beautiful road than the motorway we normally take – the one that goes into the country – which continues into France – and where the right lane consists of a continuous column of semi-trailers. Unfortunately, the nice C-32 ended abruptly and we had to enter a regular two-lane national road with confusing bends, hilltops and roundabouts in the direction of the Autopista del Mediterráneo south of Girona. The other cars on the road were clearly local and kept a high pace. A bit on the fast side, I thought, but still kept up. Occasionally I misjudged a bit, and had to almost throw the car into bends, or brake hard just over hilltops and out of bends. That's when you notice if you have a good car. The Polo is that kind of car. No surprises. It responds exactly as I expect, and I know exactly where I have it.

The engine delivers an almost flat torque curve from approximately 1400 to 4000 revolutions. During rapid acceleration from a standstill, the engine's sound pattern tells when the turbo is active. The good torque gives the feeling of driving a bigger car - at least a bigger Polo engine than 1,2 litres. During active driving, it is necessary to use the gear lever a bit to keep the engine speed where the good torque is located. During rapid acceleration there is therefore no point in pulling the engine all the way out on the gears, otherwise no problem as the 5-speed gearbox is easy to work with. If this isn't the best Polo engine, it's a lot of fun once you get to know it.

Comfort

The seating comfort is not up to the Peugeot 208. You have to have a bit of luck to find a decent sitting position when the height adjustment only raises the rear edge of the seat, but you still pass.

Plus the low noise level. I noticed that Volkswagen has done a good job of reducing road noise in connection with the latest upgrade. In addition, the TSI engine has a very pleasant sound, even when pushed. If you try to push it from a standstill, it sounds like not all cylinders are firing before the turbo kicks in. I would also like to highlight the radio which I notice has been upgraded. Good sound and intuitive touch screen.

Place

If you don't absolutely have to drive a car with straight arms and a straight ankle on the clutch foot, it's fine to sit 4 grown men in this car on a long drive. It's tight for fifth man, but it works. I myself am 1,88 and can barely sit behind myself. The luggage compartment with the seats folded down holds more than you realize, but with the seats folded up you only have 280 liters available in a two-part luggage compartment. It is in the middle of the tree for cars in the 4-metre class.

Safety

The newest Polo is probably one of the best in its class when it comes to active safety. I would particularly like to highlight the braking properties. Please note that only the models from 90 HP onwards have disc brakes both front and rear. The 3-cylinder models have rear drum brakes.

The Polo scored highly in NCAP when it was introduced in 2009, and still keeps pace with the latest cars. Switchable airbag on the passenger side and ISOFIX for child seats. New models can be ordered with adaptive cruise control for just NOK 2.

Economy

Our Polo with 90 horses costs 212, and is imported to Norway only in the Highline edition. There is a lot of driving pleasure for the money. For 800 you get 219 horses. It is an engine that is well suited to the Golf as well, but the price difference between the Golf and the Polo has never been more favorable than it is now. Previously, the "big" Polos moved well into the Golf's price range.

If you are thinking of buying the Polo, I recommend taking the DSG automatic transmission for a drive. The 1.2 TSI with DSG is a fantastic drive unit, with both 90 and 110 horses.

With mixed driving, it should be possible to drive well under a pint per mile with our test car. Even after 10 days, I have to admit that I never took any real measurements. I experienced the petrol consumption as low, and do not doubt the stated consumption figures: 0,60 (city) and 0,40 (country road). The petrol tank only holds 45 litres, but gives an OK range. Our car had start/stop and recovery (recuperation) of the braking force which supplies power to the battery.

If you buy a new Polo today, you can probably count on a slightly higher loss in value in the very first years than if you had waited for the new model, which will probably arrive next year. But the outgoing Polo seems reasonably priced right now, at least compared to its big brother Golf. If I were to single out something that could drag Polo's used car prices down, it would have to be Volkswagen's scandal with the emissions measurements. There have been signals that this also includes the TSI models.

So far the 1.2 TSI is perhaps the world's best Polo engine?

The torque in the motor
Very good and safe driving characteristics
Quiet

No one special.

See

kingdom of witches — 1.0 liter summer car

2010 Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 1.4 86 HP DSG

Today's Polo is between the Golf's 2nd and 3rd editions in terms of size. Even though the cars are assembled in Spain, they give the same quality impression as the Golf. After testing various Polos over long distances, there are surprisingly big differences between driving Polos with the small 3-cylinder engines and those with 4-cylinder engines.

Look and feel

In this class, there are few cars that beat the Polo in terms of look-and-feel. The sensible Golf-like appearance gives the kind of signals and radiance such a car should have. The sound when you close the door and the solid levers for adjusting the seat in length and height give a feeling of quality. Doors with interior door trim and the placement of handles by the armrest add a touch of luxury. The steering wheel can be adjusted in all directions. The models in the Trendline Plus equipment variant have a leather steering wheel and radio controls on the steering wheel. The instrument panel and switches are clearly positioned and require no getting used to.

On one point, I feel that the new Polo has a minus compared to the previous model (2002-2009): Previously, the bonnet rose with a gas spring like on the larger Volkswagen cars. In today's models, the bonnet is held open with a brace. Not very important, but detracts a bit when inspecting the car for the first time.

Driving pleasure

Cars with 4-cylinder engines are equipped with rear disc brakes. They also have wider tire dimensions and tighter suspension than cars with small engines. The small Polos have 3-cylinder engines and rear drum brakes. They have a softer undercarriage that makes it dove and roll more on the road. There are such big differences that it cannot only be attributed to the tires that have been on the cars.

The difference is best felt when you fill up the car with passengers and luggage. Imagine a huge bump in the road just before a sharp bend. The large Polo feels much safer than the small Polo over such a stretch of road. It is undoubtedly far more fun to drive the big Polo. Safe, predictable, but not particularly comfortable.

The 7-speed DSG transmission works great. It is both easy to drive and fun to drive. Compared to a conventional automatic transmission, no power is stolen from the engine - and acceleration is therefore very fast. Full throttle from standstill to 100 km/h is experienced without drama. No jerking and snapping, - and with a nice sound image.

Of the small engines, the petrol engine seemed surprisingly nimble. Maybe because the expectations weren't that high? Both small engines occasionally feel a little underpowered at highway speeds.

Rating for driving pleasure applies to "large" Polo with DSG gearbox.

Comfort

Although Polos with small engines have a chassis with softer suspension, it does not increase comfort for either driver or passengers. It is the "large" Polos that are most comfortable. Our pictured test model had center armrests, height-adjustable front seats and an adjustable steering wheel. It is possible to find a comfortable driving position. Cars with DSG transmissions score higher on the comfort scale than their brothers with manual transmissions.

The sound image in the "big" Polo is more pleasant than in Polos with 3-cylinder engines. 3-cylinder engines may not produce much louder sound than 4-cylinder engines, but the sound is enervating on long journeys. This applies to both petrol and diesel. As soon as you start up, the engine sounds almost charming, and brings to mind outboard motors and motorcycles. After two hours on the road, however, I am sick of the sound!

Overall, it is not for comfort that the Polo scores the highest. The rating applies to the "large" Polo with DSG gearbox.

Place

Today's Polo is size-wise between the Golf MkII and MkIII. It is possible to cover a longer trip with 4 large guys in the car. Since the Polo is delivered without a spare wheel, the luggage compartment is divided into two sections so that the lower compartment can also be used for luggage. The intermediate plate can be completely removed and left at home. Despite this, the trunk does not hold much luggage. It is about the middle of the tree in this class.

Safety

It's Volkswagen and it's German, so not only high safety, but also perceived safety. All relevant safety equipment is in place. There is a switchable airbag on the passenger side, and Isofix for child seats.

Economy

In terms of price, a "large" Polo falls into the Golf's price list. But the trade-in value of a Polo is at least as good as a similarly priced Golf. Operating costs otherwise have little to complain about. All Polo models have favorable fuel consumption. By far the best here is the test car with the small TDI engine with a consumption that few cars can match. The pictured model with 1.4 liter 86 HP engine and DSG had the highest consumption. With city driving without thinking about saving fuel, the consumption can easily reach three quarters of a liter per mile. Today's models with a 1.2 liter 90 HP engine have lower consumption.

Polos are very economical cars, but still don't get top marks. Over the car's total life cycle, normal maintenance costs can sometimes be quite high. Møller, for example, charges NOK 10 to change the timing belt. There is a main service every 000 km or so every year.

positive1

Fun and easy to drive with DSG
Feels like a quality car

Unnerving engine sound in the 3-cylinder engines

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The world's best Polo engine?