Volkswagen Polo – What you need to know

The sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo arrived in the local market in 2018 clad in a much larger body and featuring a new engine line-up.

Two engines, three transmissions and four trim levels badged 70TSI Trendline, 85TSI Comfortline, 85TSI Style and GTI make up the range.

Let’s trawl through the specifications to help find the one you want for the dollars you have.

For $19,290 plus on-road costs, the Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline, with a six-speed manual transmission, is equipped with the following standard features:

• 8.0-inch touch-screen infotainment display
• Bluetooth hands-free mobile and audio streaming
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functionality
• Air-conditioning
• Cruise control with speed limiter
• Driver fatigue monitoring
• Reversing camera with guidelines

Metallic paint costs $600 on Volkswagen Polo models and it wouldn’t be a VW without several option packs.

Exclusive to the Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline, 85TSI Style and the GTI is the Driver Assistance package with adaptive cruise control – with a stop-start function for the DSG automatic variants – as well as kerb function to tilt the left mirror down to show the kerb when reversing, a blind spot monitor and rear traffic alert.

In addition, this pack also includes manoeuvre braking, optical parking and park assist, front and rear parking sensors and a proactive occupant protection system. The cost is $1500 for all three variants.

Polo 85TSI Comfortline buyers can dress up their car with the $1500 R-Line Pack, which features 16-inch alloy wheels, tinted side and rear glass, front fog lights with cornering function, R-Line badging, gloss black diffuser and chrome exhaust tips, a roof spoiler, body kit and sports suspension that lowers the Polo 15mm.

The GTI can be enhanced with a $3900 Luxury Pack that incorporates 18-inch alloy wheels, privacy rear and rear-side glass, LED headlights with daytime running lights and a self-levelling function, heated front comfort seats with microfleece upholstery, and a sunroof.

Also exclusive to the Polo GTI is the Sound and Vision package, delivering 10.25-inch digital dash instrumentation, discover-type media/audio and satellite navigation. Included in the pack is an 8.0-inch colour capacitive infotainment screen with 2D and 3D bird’s-eye map views, wireless connect for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone-style interface, plus a 300W premium audio system. Prepare to hand over $1900 for this bundle of goodies.

All current Volkswagen Polo models have anti-lock brakes and traction control, plus six airbags, brake assist, flashing brake lights activated by emergency braking, hill start assist and multi-collision braking.

Driver assist functions extend to cruise control with a speed limiter, a distance warning display to the car in front, city emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring, an electronic diff lock and a rear-view camera with guidance lines.

Do the convenience of rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights appeal? Then tick the box for the Polo 85TSI Comfortline.

Step up to the Volkswagen Polo GTI if you want a selection of drive modes, driver fatigue detection, selectable sport suspension and an extended electronic differential lock to enhance traction.

Every Volkswagen Polo variant except the 85TSI Style comes with an 8.0-inch colour capacitive infotainment touch-screen with smartphone-style interface and proximity sensor. Also onboard are an AM/FM radio, MP3, WMA and AAC music files, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth. Up front there are two USB ports.

The Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Style gains 2D and 3D bird’s-eye map views that come with the standard satellite navigation, along with USB ports for rear seat dwellers, wireless charging and wireless connect to Apple Car Play and Android Auto. The Polo Style also has a Beats 300W premium sound system.

A multi-function display between the speedometer and tachometer offers a plethora of vehicle and trip information. But if you want the fully digital and customisable dash opt for the Polo 85TSI Style, which comes equipped with that as standard or pay extra for the Sound and Vision Pack in the Polo GTI.

All Volkswagen Polo models feature gloss black trim on the door trims, encasing the instruments and infotainment screen, and the gearshift knob and handbrake surrounds are finished in leather for an upmarket look.

If you want to enhance the interior further, slip past the Trendline and Comfortline and their grey metallic garnish and settle on the upmarket-looking iron grey metallic trim of the Polo 85TSI Style.

And if it’s colour you want, the Polo GTI has dash, console and door trim inlays in red.

What about the handiness of rear reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, a storage compartment in the roof console, and an arm rest between the front seats? Then the Comfortline is the way to go.

An auto-dimming interior mirror is also included but not folding exterior mirrors; they’re only available on the Polo GTI, but the exterior mirrors on all variants have a heating function.

If you want an even snazzier cabin, make a beeline for the Polo 85TSI Style and its sports comfort front seats, carpet mats in both rows, deep iron garnish on the dash and doors and black headlining.

After some chrome accents? Head to the Polo GTI with its chrome trimmings on the outer face vents, door handle surrounds and around the instrument cluster. Plus, you get LED ambient lighting and LED front footwell lighting.

The Polo 70TSI Trendline and Polo 85TSI Comfortline have manual air-conditioning with pollen filters, so if you are after the comfort of dual-zone climate control, chose the Polo Style as your car or the Polo GTI.

Like the look of aluminium-finished sports pedals? Tick the GTI box and you’ll also get aluminium GTI logo doorsill plates plus racy-looking red inlays in the dash and centre console.

Is a leather-upholstered steering wheel a must? Good news, you can get a flat-bottom leather-clad wheel on all models, but if you want paddle shifters on the wheel you must opt for the Style trim level as a minimum; only the Polo GTI has the sports wheel.

While all variants have cloth-covered seats, each has its own look, with the Polo Trendline getting cloth trim, Polo Comfortline its own ‘comfort cloth’, the Polo Style ‘comfort sport cloth’ and lumbar support for the front pews, and the Polo GTI ‘sports cloth’. The GTI’s front seats also provide additional side bolstering.

Do space-saver spare wheels turn you off? Then forget the Polo GTI and its space-saver. Instead, choose the Polo Trendline and save some money over the Polo Comfortline and Style, although all three offer a full-size spare.

Keyless entry? It’s super-handy and if it’s a must have, it’s the Polo GTI for you as it isn’t available on the others.

Do you want privacy glass for your Polo? Head to the Polo Style, although all models have tinted glass.

Picking the difference between the Polo Trendline and Comfortline takes an eagle eye, but the easy way to tell are the steel wheels on the Trendline with the Comfortline having 15-inch alloy wheels and a chrome grille.

But if you really want your Polo to stand out, the only choice is the Polo GTI and its 17-inch alloy wheels instead of the 16-inch alloys of the Polo Style.

But that’s the tip of the iceberg, as the Polo GTI comes with a front spoiler, a body kit with gloss black accents, twin chrome exhaust pipes, honeycomb inserts in the grille and lower air intake, a rear spoiler and sports diffuser.

It also has exclusive badging on the grille, front guards and hatch, and a signature red and chrome strip around the grille and headlight surrounds .

The Polo 70TSI Trendline and 85TSI Comfortline and Style share the same 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbocharged engine, which is tuned to deliver different outputs.

For the Polo Trendline the engine produces 70kW of power and 175Nm of torque, with the Polo 85TSI Comfortline and Style mustering 85kW and 200Nm.

Powering the Polo GTI is a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine developing 147kW and 320Nm.

Polo Trendline buyers can have the standard five-speed manual transmission or the optional seven-speed DSG.

Polo Comfortline buyers may also opt for the seven-speed DSG if they don’t fancy driving their car with the standard six-speed manual.

Polo Style buyers are limited to the seven-speed DSG, and for those stumping up for the Polo GTI, you get a six-speed DSG. All variants drive the front wheels.

For overall value the Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline DSG hits the sweet spot.

You get a sizeable power increase over the Polo Trendline with virtually no fuel efficiency downside, plus there’s more kit – such as the alloy wheels over the steelies on the Trendline – without spending a lot more.

But the reality is that if the pennies weren’t tight the Polo GTI is a must.

It is so enjoyable to drive, the fun factor is ridiculous and when the roads are twisty or undulating you multiply that further again. What’s more, it is very civilised traipsing around town.

One warning though: Buy the Polo GTI and factor in every trip being longer as you won’t want to stop driving it.

How much does the Volkswagen Polo cost?
70TSI Trendline (m) – $19,290
70TSI Trendline (a) – $21,790
85TSI Comfortline (a) – $20,890
85TSI Comfortline (a) – $23,390
85TSI Style (a) – $25,690
GTI (a) – $32,890
*Prices exclude on-road costs