Volkswagen Polo cops hefty price rise
VW moves on from ‘sticker-driven rat race’ with upgraded Polo light hatch no longer a sub-$20K carThe updated 2022 Volkswagen Polo will arrive in Australia in May, ushering in equipment upgrades and significant price increases across the light hatchback range.
Falling into line with VW’s latest model grade nomenclature, the updated Volkswagen Polo range will open with the Life manual priced from $25,250 plus on-road costs, or $28,250 plus ORCs for the automatic version.
That obliterates the previous sub-$20,000 opening marker for the outgoing Polo range – the 70TSI Trendline started at $19,290 plus ORCs – and marks an increase of $5960.
It’s a similar story across the refreshed line-up, with the mid-range Polo Style copping a $5560 price hike to now start from $31,250 plus ORCs while the flagship Polo GTI now asks at least $38,750 – $5860 more than before.
Volkswagen Australia’s brand director for passenger vehicles, Michal Szaniecki, said the increased specification of the upgraded Polo justified the higher prices.
“We’ve moved the Polo still further from the sticker-driven rat race into its most premium form to date,” Szaniecki said.
“Already in the pre-updated form released in 2018, the sixth-generation Polo asserted its technical superiority over perceived competitors due to its efficient turbo engines and MQB platform.
“With this thorough mid-life upgrade, Volkswagen’s entry range is positioned to meet customer requirements.
“Just as the Golf 110TSI range is equipped and priced to reflect the fact that it has always done the majority of its business well above the entry point, Polo customers have typically selected heavily optioned variants.”
To this end, the 2022 Volkswagen Polo Life is more closely aligned with the outgoing Comfortline, with the headline standard features including an 8.0-inch digital instrument cluster, an 8.0-inch infotainment system with App-Connect and DAB+ digital radio, wireless phone charging, cruise control, a leather-clad multifunction steering wheel, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, LED exterior lighting, automatic headlights, rain-sensing wipers and 15-inch alloy wheels.
Safety highlights include seven airbags, front assist with pedestrian and cyclist monitoring, lane assist, front/rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.
Unlike in the higher grades, Life customers will have the option of either a five-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic (DSG), the latter bringing with it a 15kW/15Nm power pump over the manual’s 70kW/175Nm figures.
The source of these modest outputs is the familiar turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo-petrol engine as seen previously in the Polo range, with the DSG combination being the only one available in the higher-spec Style.
Equipment-wise, the Style adds bigger sports seats, enhanced 10.25-inch digital cockpit, dual-zone climate control, ambient interior lighting, travel assist, park assist, Matrix LED headlights, dynamic LED indicators, illuminated LED grille strip, fog lights and 16-inch alloys.
Metallic paint adds $600 on both the Life and Style models, while a $1700 Vision and Tech pack on Life adds most of the Style’s improved technology highlights and the top-spec ‘Discover’ infotainment system.
A similar Sound and Tech pack is available the Style for $1900, adding keyless entry/start, the Discover infotainment system, voice control, wireless App-Connect and a 300W Beats sound system.
At the top of the range, the Polo GTI retains its bigger 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo engine with power and torque still rated at an unchanged 147kW/320Nm.
Drive is harnessed exclusively by a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
As before, the GTI dons a far more aggressive look and the higher performance is backed by a sportier suspension tune with adaptive dampers, more aggressive 18-inch wheels, various drive modes and sports seats.
Other equipment highlights include tartan upholstery, keyless entry/start, uprated infotainment system, voice control, wireless App-Connect, a sports steering wheel and matching sports pedals.
The GTI’s boot space has also been expanded from 301 litres to 351L.
A panoramic sunroof is available on both the GTI and the Style for an extra $1500, with the GTI also offering a Sound and Tech pack ($1500) comprising an even bigger Discover Pro 9.2-inch infotainment system and the Beats audio system.
How much does the 2022 Volkswagen Polo cost?
Life (m) – $25,250 (new)
Life (a) – $28,250 (new)
Style (a) – $31,250 (+$5560)
GTI (a) – $38,750 (+$5860)
*Prices exclude on-road costs
Related: Facelifted Volkswagen Polo gets Golf Mk8 look
Related: Volkswagen Polo – What you need to know
Related: New Volkswagen Polo GTI gets more power
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