Volkswagen Polo

Engine options and how they drive
The Polo gets two engine options initially - both petrol and diesel engines with inline three cylinder configurations. In fact, the similarities in numbers extend beyond the number of cylinders - both pack in a 1.2 litre capacity and both make the same amount of power too - 77 PS to be precise. But that's where the similarities stop. The 1.2 litre petrol engine delivers its maximum power at 5400 rpm and makes 110 Nm or torque at 3750 rpm. To be very honest, everyone expected the petrol to be quite a dud, especially considering the size of the car. But with the base trim weighing in at 1020 kg and 1055 kg for the Highline, the VW Polo does boast a pretty decent power-to-weight ratio and that is what finally changes all your preconceived notions about the 1.2 petrol Polo. The car has been tuned for optimal city performance as we could figure out on the drive, though we never really encountered any heavy stop-go traffic situations throughout. It never really feels sluggish at all, but there was a bit of an issue while undertaking long trailers out on the highway. With not enough grunt in third gear to start off with an overtaking manoeuvre and second gear running out of breath towards the end, I had to shift mid-way through the length of the trailers to complete the procedure. That said, it's not as bad as it sounds - with the gear shifts aiding with their buttery slickness. The engine seemed very driveable and was well matched with the gear ratios in the 5 speed manual transmission.
The 1.2 litre oil burner on the other hand felt like the meatier of the two engines - owing to its higher torque figures. While it makes its 77 Ps at 4200 rpm, the maximum torque of 180 Nm peaks at as low as 2000 rpm. But it's not just about the low peak revs for achieving that figure that makes the diesel Polo more likeable - it's also about all that happens between idle and 2000 rpm. Unlike most other diesel cars on roads today, the Polo TDI doesn't feel like it's struggling too much below the 2k mark and pulls rather well before unleashing a slightly muted rush of torque just above that figure, after which it just keeps pulling strongly all the way. Uphill blasts on the Amby Valley road in Lonavla, just a few km away from the Volkswagen plant at Chakan in Pune, were a breeze with the engine's credentials simply tractoring you up with ease. Even on the tight and steep uphill U-turns that you so most often encounter on ghats, the Polo TDI took them in second gear as long as you turned in with enough momentum. The 5-speed gearbox on the TDI was definitely a tad notchy compared to the unit on the petrol car.

Both cars are superb handlers owing to some very well sorted out suspension geometry and Apollo Acelere rubber. The steering on the TDI felt a lot more satisfying than the petrol, though that could be because of the added weight on the diesel version's front end. Ride quality is top notch and you'll feel or hear almost next to nothing even when driving over the roughest patches Indian roads can throw at you. Though we haven't got to test the performance of either of the cars yet, they seem to be on par with the other established players in the segment. Watch out for those details soon on ZigWheels.\


volkswagen AG India has launched their first small car for India, the Volkswagen Polo. The prices for the Polo are as follows:


1200cc Petrol (all prices in ex-showroom, Delhi)
Trendline: Rs 4.34 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 4.83 lakh
Highline: Rs 5.72 lakh

1200cc Diesel (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi)
Trendline: Rs 5.32 lakh
Comfortline: Rs 5.81 lakh
Highline: Rs 6.70 lakh

Volkswagen’s first foray into the volumes segment will come with two engines on offer. The 1200cc petrol will be on sale from March while the diesel 1200cc is expected to be available later in the year. The 1200c petrol is rated at 74 bhp @ 4500 rpm/11.2 kgm @ 3750 rpm while the diesel power/torque figures are - 74 bhp @ 4200 rpm/18.3 kgm @ 2000 rpm. Both are 3-cylinder engines with 5-speed manual transmissions.

Following are the features on the Polo:
Trendline – Front power windows, power steering AC, body colored bumpers, central locking standard, 14 inch steel wheels
Comfortline – Height adjustable driver seat, 60/40 split rear seat, all power windows, 14 inch steel wheels
Highline – ABS, dual airbags, keyless entry, 15 inch alloys, MP3 player, front fog lamps, rear defogger.

The Volkswagen Polo will be manufactured at their Chakan plant. Polo also comes with 6-anti corrosion warranty. The colours on offer will be – ‘Candy white’ and ‘Flash red’ for the Trendline and ‘Pepper grey, Glacier blue, Silver, Deep black’ for the Comfortline and Highline.

Read Srinivas Krishnan’s review of the European Volkswagen Polo here: