Volkswagen Polo: First Look

By Motoring Channel Staff - 15/03/2005

The first details of Volkswagen's trendy new compact car, the Polo, have begun to trickle through, and the car's new look will go a long way to re-popularising the German runabout.

In time for its 30th birthday, the new Polo appears visually more dynamic than ever before, yet still adheres to VW's contemporary new design ethos.

The new front end with its V-shaped radiator grille, in particular, lends the Polo a significantly more striking look and together with the rounded-off headlights borrows elements from the new Passat.

Based on its well-known virtues, the most recent generation of this all-round talent will remain the benchmark in its class.

The Polo's cute demeanour is still intact, although its exterior appears more mature, more modern, and pre-sales of the new Polo have just begun in Germany, with the rest of Europe to follow suit.

Despite its improved convenience and safety equipment, the Volkswagen will keep the Polo's prices at the same level as its forerunner, and the official market launch in Europe will take place at the end of April.

Following the new Passat, the Polo will be the second Volkswagen to display the new brand face.

The entirely redesigned front end bears the shield grille and re-interprets the V topic, and from the A-pillars, a striking curve stretches via the bonnet to the radiator grille, which is somewhat reminiscent of the Golf GTi.

However, the new Polo's face is essentially characterised by its headlights. These are defined as a trapezoidal element, enhanced by the eye-catching, circular element of the main headlights, which houses the indicator bulbs.

In comparison with the predecessor, its redesigned front extends the new Polo by 19 millimetres to 3916mm. Its width (1650mm) and height (1465mm) correspond to the previously available model.

Regarded from the side, the Polo stands out thanks to a design which is both clear and convincing. Accentuation of the two available body versions is typical of the Polo: whilst the two-door's ascending lateral curve bears coupé-like features, the four-door reveals stature and solidity in its clear design and third side window in the C-pillar.

This most recent generation of the Polo will be available in three equipment levels: "Trendline", "Comfortline" and "Sportline", just like the Golf range. In addition to all the convenience and safety features familiar from these equipment levels, the new Polo is fitted with new details as standard.

These include an anti-lock brake system with dual-rate brake assist, electric window lifters in the front, air conditioner (as of Comfortline) and central locking. Until recently, features such as Park Distance Control, Tyre Pressure Monitor and the dipped-beam's "Coming Home" function were exclusively available for luxury class models, but the Polo is set to change this, setting new standards in the compact class.

The new Polo is fitted with front and side airbags on both front seats as standard. An optional head airbag system, in which the curtain airbags inflate to provide protective padding covering the entire side window area, is also available. The Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP), which is fitted as standard in models with the 74kW (100hp) engine, and is optionally available for the other engines.

The new Polo demonstrates its first-class qualities as an all-round talent in the diversity of its engines. Five petrol engines with outputs ranging from 40kW/55hp to 74kW/100hp – including an FSI direct injection engine – and four state-of-the-art TDI engines with outputs from 51kW/70hp to 96kW/130 hp are available.

Access to the Polo's diesel world is provided by a modern 1.4-litre three-cylinder TDI with 51kW/70hp, which replaces the familiar 1.9 SDI. Another new engine, a dinky 3-cylinder 1.4-litre TDI with 59kW/80hp, will meet customers' wishes for a higher output.