Usually, Volkswagen likes change about as much as the Catholic church does. That's why their facelifts aren't really interesting. How different...
is that with this new Volkswagen Polo. The sixth generation has been facelifted and it's been quite substantial.
New headlights, and if you get one of the more lavishly equipped versions, it even comes with IQ Light LED-matrix-lights, like on the Golf.
There's a new bumper, new rear lights, four new available colors... I mean, this black isn't one of them, but there are some new ones.
There are new alloys available and the interior has seen some changes as well. Do follow me.
In the interior, the optional digital instrument cluster has become standard. Also, there's new connectivity with Apple CarPlay, a wireless...
phone charger, a centre airback to prevent you headbutting your lovely passengers in a crash.
There's a new gear lever, a new logo on the steering wheel, it all just looks a tad fresher.
And if you select separate climate control, you get the new panel from the facelifted Tiguan. You now have these sliders,
which look very fun, but they don't come near the practicality of the turning knob. But as a whole, there are more than enough...
physical buttons, there's a lot of shortcuts in the infotainment system, the responses are quick, the layout is logical...
So what was good has remained, they only made it more modern. Then, the materials. It's pretty good in here. I recently drove the Cupra Born,
which costs about 1.5 times as much as this, and the plastics were of worse quality. This has all kinds of decent materials aboard.
Then, the interior space. It has remained the same, so it's still very good. If you're 1.80 m. tall like me, you'll be more than alright in here.
Also, you've still got 350 litres of luggage space left in the boot. For the B-segment, that's more than alright.
In short: what was good has remained good, but they've modernized it all. And we haven't even driven it yet.
And when you're driving, there are some changes as well. Or rather, when you're not driving. The Polo now has some new features...
and if you select the IQ Drive Travel Assist-pack and the DSG-gearbox, the car is eligible for level 2 autonomous driving.
You only have to keep your hands on the wheel, and the car will take care of the rest. It's not something revolutionary and a...
brand like Hyundai has already done it in this segment, but it's still a very welcome change. It's not standard in this segment either.
And that's about it. The chassis has practically remained the same, and that's good. There wasn't anything wrong with it.
The Polo has always been a nice allrounder, clearly made by Germans. Meant to drive at high speeds on the Autobahn.
It has to feel very stable at high speeds and it does. The steering offers enough counter pressure and you always have a sense of control.
Other than that, it's nice and soft. It absorbs speedbumps and bad surfaces without too much effort and it feels like a bigger car really.
And that's very pleasant, especially considering the fact a lot of them are being sold in the Netherlands.
Enginewise nothing has changed. There's a 1.0-litre MPI, producing 80 horsepower, but that's mostly meant so they can say that you can...
get one for €19.995. In reality, you'll probably choose the 1.0-litre TSI, which also is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder, available with 95 or 110 horsepower.
Right now I'm driving the 95 horsepower-version with a DSG-gearbox, but I'd recommend you saving up for the 110 horsepower-version.
That comes with an automatic gearbox as standard, but it offers a bit more punch. That it won't win you any sprints,
is not a big deal, but only 170 Nm of torque at 2.000 RPM? There are competitors which do much better, which is very pleasant...
for the refinement and the quietness aboard. I do have to say there's a plug-in hybrid drivetrain available in the concern, but it's...
not for the Polo yet. And that's too bad, because that would've finished it for me. Instead, it's just a regular facelift now.
Other than that, the Polo was one of the best selling cars in the Netherlands and it will probably remain one as well. And if that isn't enough...
for you, you can already get one for €19.995 and the airconditioning comes as standard nowadays.