Volkswagen has been successful on the sales charts in Singapore in 2010 and for good reason as it has a strong range of products. While the Jetta has been the German marque's perennial bestseller here due to the Singapore consumer's penchant for a car with a boot, its hatchback models such as the iconic Golf and Polo have been making inroads into the local car buying public's consciousness.
The Polo in particular has done particularly well as seen by the little hatchback's proliferation on our roads. The 'mini-me' Golf styling, solid build quality and affordable pricing have all contributed to its strong sales performance.
Looks
- The Volkswagen Polo Sport looks like a Golf has been shrunk in the car wash, but that is no bad thing as it is a handsome-looking car.
- Little differentiates it from the base 1.4-litre variant, with the exception of front fog lamps and larger 16-inch alloy wheels.
Performance
- Acceleration is good for a car with a 1.2-litre 8-valve engine thanks to a turbocharger. This unit is shared with the base Golf and Skoda Fabia.
- The 1.2-litre powerplant makes a respectable 105bhp and 175Nm. It is smooth, free-revving and quiet. These figures are comparable to normally aspirated 1.6-litre engines found in garden variety family sedans such as the Chevrolet Cruze.
- Fuel economy was good at an average of 15.6km/l during the time of ST Online's test and with the small engine size, the yearly road tax payable is a pretty small figure too.
- The seven-speed DSG gearbox is quick and decisive with its shifts, but is jerky at low-speeds, a common complaint about this gearbox.
Ride and Handling
- It feels like a much larger car in the way it drives. The ride is smooth and the suspension shrugs off road imperfections with little fuss.
- It is a tidy handler through the corners and body roll is well controlled.
- The electro-hydraulic steering rack is well-weighted and offers decent feedback through the helm.
Comfort, Practicality and Quality
- The Polo's cabin quality shames cars that are bigger and more expensive and the materials used are nicely textured.
- It is extremely roomy and space in the back is very good for a car of its size.
- The boot is well-shaped with minimal intrusions and practicality is aided by a split-folding 60:40 rear seat back.
Verdict
The Polo is a very accomplished little car offering Golf-like looks and quality in a very appealing package but...
Pluses
- Handsome looks
- Impeccable build quality
- Good fuel efficiency
Minus
- Manual air-con controls
Specifications
Engine: 1,190cc, 8-valves, inline-4
Max Power: 105bhp at 5,000rpm
Max Torque: 175Nm at 1,550-4,100rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed dual-clutch
0-100kmh: 6.8 seconds
Top Speed: 190kmh
Consumption: 18.9km/L (combined)