A Distinct Personality

Volkswagen's "Polo" has been refreshed. With its enhanced safety features, improved fuel-efficient engine, and a significantly more refined driving experience, it's an all-around success.

The Volkswagen Polo feels like a car made for Japan. Its moderate body size, under 4 meters in length and under 1.7 meters in width, along with packaging that can comfortably seat four adults and excellent fuel economy, make it a worthy successor to the original Golf.

You'll Quickly Grow Fond of the New Polo

The main focus of this update, the first in five years, is the 1.2-liter engine. Now DOHC, it produces a maximum output of 90 ps and a maximum torque of 160 Nm from 1,400 rpm. It seems to be tuned slightly more towards fuel efficiency than power.



Indeed, around 2,000-3,000 rpm, the torque feels a bit thin, meaning that even with more pressure on the accelerator, there isn't the strong acceleration you might expect. Is this the result of electronic control adjustments to prioritize fuel economy?



Perhaps it's a professional habit, but I tend to look for sportiness in every car, and the new Polo also shows a surge of power beyond 4,000 rpm. When you rev the engine, it briskly and satisfyingly accelerates the not-so-heavy 1.1-ton body. This is a pleasant feeling.



The Polo is as quiet as a luxury car, but if you listen closely here, you can hear a dry exhaust note. It's quite a pleasing sound, too.



You'll quickly grow fond of the new Polo. Its handling is also superb. The steering system, now electric instead of hydraulic, offers excellent responsiveness, reacting sensitively to even slight movements of the wheel, allowing the car to move exactly as you intend.

You Can't Help But Smile

I drove the new Polo on a road with continuous curves in Hakone, and it truly shone here. With its light yet precise steering, agile handling, and stable posture from corner entry to exit, anyone would find themselves smiling.



The moderate power, which doesn't overwhelm the driver, is also a plus. Even if you press the accelerator too hard, there's no sudden change in attitude mid-corner; the car accelerates with an "on-the-rails" sensation, as if running on tracks.

A Model That Perfectly Embodies VW's Idealism

In conclusion, the new Polo is a car that promises to be an excellent life partner. As mentioned, it offers excellent economy, along with high levels of quietness and ride comfort. You won't feel a lack of power in the city, and its fuel efficiency is outstanding.



The interior is designed with a clean aesthetic, the controls are user-friendly, and the seats are exceptionally comfortable. The rear seats also provide ample space for two adults. While legroom is snug, the backrests extend fully to the shoulders, and there's ample headroom, so you won't feel claustrophobic.



While the new Golf reaches a highly satisfying level in many aspects, including fuel efficiency, safety, and driving dynamics, the new Polo also offers compactness. It truly feels like a model that perfectly embodies the idealism of Volkswagen glimpsed in the original Golf.



Models such as the "BlueGT" with its 1.4-liter engine and cylinder deactivation system, and the popular, powerful "GTI," are also scheduled to be released with updated engines offering improved fuel efficiency. While each has its own appeal, the natural charm of the Polo TSI Comfortline is likely unique to this car.



Volkswagen Polo TSI Comfortline

Body Size | Length 3,995 x Width 1,685 x Height 1,460 mm

Wheelbase | 2,470 mm

Engine | 1,197cc Inline 4-cylinder DOHC Intercooled Turbo

Maximum Output | 66 kW (90 ps) / 4,400-5,400 rpm

Maximum Torque | 160 Nm (16.3 kgm) / 1,400-3,500 rpm

Drivetrain | FF

Transmission | 7-speed DSG

Suspension Front/Rear | MacPherson Strut / Trailing Arm

Tires Front/Rear | 185/60R15

Brakes Front/Rear | Ventilated Disc / Disc

Fuel Consumption (JC08 mode) | 22.2 km/ℓ

CO2 Emissions (JC08 mode equivalent) | 105 g/km

Price | ¥2,239,000 (TSI Comfortline Upgrade Package: ¥2,495,000)



Volkswagen Customer Centre

0120-993-199