The Volkswagen brand’s most affordable vehicle in Australia has gotten a little less affordable, but it has picked up extra kit in the process.
The Volkswagen Polo now features standard Travel Assist in base Life trim, a safety feature that combines the functions of lane-keep assist with adaptive lane guidance and adaptive cruise control.
This was previously offered as part of a $1700 option package that included wireless smartphone mirroring, satellite navigation and the Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster, features that are no longer available on the Polo Life.
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The mid-range Style gains as standard proximity entry with push-button start, embedded satellite navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
These features were previously offered in the optional $1700 Sound & Tech package, which also included a Beats 300W sound system. This feature is no longer available on any Polo.
There are no specification changes for the GTI, though it has also received a price hike.
The hot hatch also loses the option of the $1500 Sound & Tech package that brought the aforementioned Beats sound system plus a larger 9.2-inch infotainment touchscreen.
The updated Polo is available to order, with deliveries commencing during the first quarter of this year (January to March).
Pricing
| Model | Price before on-road costs |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Polo Life | $30,790 (+$1300) |
| Volkswagen Polo Style | $34,790 (+$2250) |
| Volkswagen Polo GTI | $41,790 (+$1400) |
Drivetrains and Efficiency
| Specifications | Life and Style | GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 1.0L turbo 3cyl | 2.0L turbo 4cyl |
| Power | 85kW @ 5000-5500rpm | 147kW @ 4390-6000rpm |
| Torque | 200Nm @ 2000-3500rpm | 320Nm @ 1450-4390rpm |
| Transmission | 7-speed dual-clutch auto | 6-speed dual-clutch auto |
| Drive type | Front-wheel drive | Front-wheel drive |
| Weight | 1187kg | 1329kg |
| Fuel economy (claimed) | 5.5L/100km | 6.7L/100km |
| Fuel tank capacity | 40L | 40L |
| Fuel requirement | 95-octane premium unleaded | 95-octane premium unleaded |
| CO2 emissions | 124g/km | 153g/km |
| Emissions standard | Euro 6 | Euro 6 |
Dimensions
| Dimensions | Life, Style | GTI |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4080mm | 4080mm |
| Width | 1751mm | 1751mm |
| Height | 1450mm | 1442mm |
| Wheelbase | 2564mm | 2560mm |
| Cargo capacity | 351L (rear seats up) 1125L (rear seats folded) | 305L (rear seats up) 1079L (rear seats folded) |
Servicing and Warranty
| Servicing and Warranty | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|
| Warranty | Five years, unlimited kilometres |
| Roadside assistance | Service activated |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000km |
Volkswagen offers three- and five-year pre-paid service plans across the Polo range.
Five-year plans cost $2850 on the Life and Style and $3450 on the GTI.
Safety
The Volkswagen Polo has a five-star safety rating from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2022.
| Category | Volkswagen Polo |
|---|---|
| Adult occupant protection | 94 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 80 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 70 per cent |
| Safety assist | 70 per cent |
Standard safety equipment across the range includes:
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Pedestrian detection
- Cyclist detection
- Travel Assist (NEW)
- Adaptive cruise control with stop/go
- Lane-keep assist
- Multi-collision braking
- Driver fatigue monitoring
- Front, front-side, front-centre, and curtain airbags
- Front and rear parking sensors
- Reversing camera
The Style and GTI also include:
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Rear cross-traffic alert
Standard Equipment
There are three members of the local Polo lineup.
The Life comes standard with the following equipment:
- LED headlights
- LED tail lights
- 15-inch ‘Essex’ alloy wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres
- 15-inch steel spare wheel
- Park Assist (semi-autonomous parking assist)
- Power-folding exterior mirrors
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Manual air-conditioning
- Digital Cockpit digital instrument cluster
- 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system
- Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
- DAB+ digital radio
- Wireless phone charger
- 6-speaker sound system
- 2 x front USB-C outlets
- 2 x rear USB-C outlets
- Leather-wrapped steering wheel
- Height and reach adjustment for steering wheel
- Paddle shifters
- Leather-wrapped shifter
- Black inlays
- 60:40 split/fold rear seats
The Style adds:
- Front LED light bar
- Front fog lights with static cornering function
- IQ.Light matrix LED headlights
- ‘Premium’ LED tail lights with dynamic indicators
- 16-inch ‘Palermo’ alloy wheels with 195/55 R16 tyres
- Proximity entry with push-button start (NEW)
- Dual-zone climate control
- Touch slider temperature controls
- Digital Cockpit Pro digital instrument cluster with map view
- Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (NEW)
- Satellite navigation (NEW)
- ‘Comfort sport’ front seats
- ‘Comfort sport cloth’ upholstery
- Chrome interior trim for air vents, door handle surrounds, window switches
- Dark Iron Grey metallic gloss inlays
- Ambient lighting
- LED footwell lighting
The GTI adds:
- LED driving lights
- Dual chrome exhaust outlets
- Red exterior accents
- Rear diffuser
- Rear spoiler
- Black side sill extensions
- 18-inch ‘Faro’ alloy wheels with 215/40 R18 tyres
- Space-saver spare
- Selectable drive modes
- Sport Select adaptive suspension
- Sports seats with additional bolstering
- ‘Sports’ steering wheel
- ‘Clark sports cloth’ upholstery
- Black headliner and pillar trim
- Stainless steel pedals
- Kings Red interior inlays (except with Kings Red exterior finish)
A sunroof is optional on the Style and GTI.
Colours
A choice of seven colours are available across the Polo range:
- Pure White
- Vibrant Violet
- Reef Blue
- Reflex Silver
- Smokey Grey
- Deep Black
- Kings Red (GTI only)
Pure White is the only no-cost option finish on the Life and Style, while Deep Black is free for the GTI.
Kings Red incurs a $300 premium, while all other colours set buyers back an additional $600.
