2022 Volkswagen Polo Review

The Volkswagen Polo has grown up, shifting from a cheap price point to a more premium look and feel. The new model is available in three grades, Life, Style and the iconic GTI. The changes are a result of a mid-life upgrade, delivering increased standard specs and the availability of safety, and driver assistance technology from the Mark 8 Golf.

“We’ve moved the Polo still further from the sticker driven rat race into its most premium form to date,” Volkswagen brand director Michal Szaniecki said.

“With standard Digital Cockpit, wireless charging and the availability of features from more ‘senior’ Volkswagen passenger vehicles, the Polo range is not so much a junior Golf or entry car to our broader passenger vehicle showroom, as a fully evolved range in its own right.”

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Safety

Among the new standard fixtures are a centre front airbag, front assist with cyclist monitoring (in addition to pedestrian monitoring), lane assist, parking distance sensors front and rear, LED headlights, and two-part LED tail lights.

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Technology

A new front and rear bumper design, digital cockpit, digital radio, wireless charging and wireless App-Connect further enhance not only beyond what was standard in the previous Polo Trendline, but are additional to the previous mid-specification Polo Comfortline.

The Polo Life also shares other upmarket items from the previous Comfortline including automatic headlight function, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front centre armrest and illuminated vanity mirrors.

The practicality of the Polo GTI and Beats audio-equipped Polos has also been expanded, moving their boot volume from 305-litres to match all other Polo’s significant 351-litres.

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Powertrain and pricing

The range opens with the Volkswagen Polo Life, fitted with a 5-speed manual, for $25,250 or a 7-speed DSG for $28,250. That model is powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI petrol engine, delivering 70kW/175Nm (manual) or 85kW/200Nm (DSG).

It offers 5.4-litres/100km in terms of fuel economy, and has a cloth interior. An optional Vision and Tech package on the DSG variant adds satellite navigation, digital cockpit pro, voice control, wireless app-connect, travel assist and adaptive cruise control.

The mid-point in the range is the Style, priced at $31,250 (7-speed DSG), and sporting sports front seats, a 10.25-inch digital driver display, travel assist, park assist, IQ Light matrix LED headlights with dynamic light assist, and dual zone climate control.

It also comes with premium LED Tail lights with dynamic indicators, 16-inch alloys, front fog lights and interior ambient lighting. A Sound and Tech package adds navigation, voice control, wireless app-connect, and keyless access and ignition.

That package also includes a 6-speaker Beats sound system, while an 8-channel 300-watt digital amplifier and panoramic glass sunroof are also available as optional extras. The Polo GTI tops the range, at $38,750 (6-speed DSG).

It has a 2.0-litre 4-cylinder TSI engine under the hood (147kW/320Nm), offering 6.5-litres/100km in terms of fuel economy. Its list of standard features include GTI body styling, metallic paint, a tartan interior, anti-theft alarm system and keyless access.

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You’ll also find 18-inch alloy wheels, sport select suspension and driving profile selection.

Discover Media 8.0-inch navigation system, voice control, wireless app-connect, sports seats and a sports steering wheel with paddles.

A Sound and Tech package switches in a Discover Pro 9.2-inch navigation system and the Beats audio as per Polo Style. To find out more, contact your local Volkswagen dealer.

To read the original of this story, visit Exhaust Notes Australia.

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