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The Volkswagen Polo Vivo has been phenomenally successful for Volkswagen South Africa, with 193,343 examples sold since its introduction in 2010. Replacing the Mk 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, the first-generation Polo Vivo was itself based on a past VW: the revised Mk 4 Polo first introduced in 2005. Now, after eight years as the best-selling car in South Africa, it’s time for the second-generation Polo Vivo.

Volkswagen South Africa states that the Polo Vivo’s key attributes are ‘ affordability, German build quality, comfort, safety, and space’, and those characteristics are about to be heightened, as the new Polo Vivo is based on the outgoing fifth-generation Polo, first sold in 2009, and only just out of production in Europe. Where the previous Polo Vivo was offered in hatchback and sedan (saloon) body styles, the new car will only be available as a hatchback, at least initially. And only with petrol engines.

Almost identical in appearance to the revised Polo ‘6C’ from 2014, the 2018 Polo Vivo has a slightly different lower front bumper housing and redesigned tail lights, but that’s about it. Six colours borrowed from the new sixth-generation Polo freshen up the Polo Vivo’s looks: Flash Red, Pure White, Limestone Grey Metallic, Reef Blue Metallic, Reflex Silver Metallic, and Deep Black Pearl Effect. The Polo Vivo is 3,972mm long, 1,682mm wide and 1,462mm tall, and has 280 litres of luggage capacity with the rear seats in place.

Polo Vivo Trendline
The new Polo Vivo range is available in four trim levels: Trendline, Comfortline, Highline, and GT. The Trendline is available with a 74bhp / 55kW 1.4-litre engine only, and is equipped with air conditioning, front electric windows, power steering, tinted windows, ‘140G’ four-speaker radio with SD / USB / Bluetooth connectivity, driver and passenger airbags, and ISOFIX child seat mounting points. On the outside, the Polo Vivo Trendline has 14-inch steel wheels and black door handles and mirrors. Options include cruise control, front fog lights, and 15-inch ‘Estrada’ alloy wheels.

Polo Vivo Comfortline
The Polo Vivo Comfortline builds on the specification of the Trendline and adds body-coloured door handles and mirrors, and front fog lights. Inside, there’s a multifunction steering wheel and display computer, ‘City’ cloth trim and a height-adjustable driver’s seat. Options include cruise control, leather trim, 15-inch ‘Estrada’ alloy wheels and a ‘340G’ colour touchscreen infotainment system with ‘App-Connect’ functionality. The Polo Vivo Comfortline is available with 1.4-litre 84bhp / 63kW and 1.6-litre 103bhp / 77kW engines driven through five-speed manual and auto Tiptronic gearboxes respectively.

Polo Vivo Highline
Sitting above the Comfortline, the Polo Vivo Highline offers ‘Cable’ seat trim, a leather-trimmed multifunction steering wheel, 16-inch ‘Rivazza’ alloy wheels, and a six-speaker ‘340G’ colour touchscreen infotainment system with ‘App-Connect’ functionality. The Polo Vivo Highline is only available with the 103bhp / 77kW engine.

Polo Vivo GT
Just as with the outgoing Polo Vivo, a sporty ‘GT’ model sits atop the new Polo Vivo tree. Building on the Highline, the GT additionally adds 17-inch ‘Mirabeau’ alloy wheels, black exterior side mouldings, rear hatch spoiler, chrome-trimmed exhaust pipe, lowered sports suspension, aluminium pedals, cruise control, front sports seats, and ‘Space’ seat trim. A smattering of ‘GT’ badges on the front, sides and hatch also distinguish the Polo Vivo GT from its siblings. Powered exclusively by a 1.0-litre turbocharged ‘TSI’ engine allied to a six-speed manual gearbox, the Polo Vivo GT has 108bhp / 81kW, and top speed of 121mph / 196km/h.

‘Low cost of ownership’
All Polo Vivos feature ABS, an alarm, and remote central locking, while almost 76 per cent of parts are locally sourced. With the sixth-generation Polo now rolling off Volkswagen South Africa’s Uitenhage production lines, it made sense to put the tooling of the fifth-generation car to good use, and Volkswagen South Africa states that ‘this ensures that parts remain affordable and contribute to the overall low cost of ownership’. The outgoing Polo Vivo enjoyed the best residual value in its market and the cost of ownership over a 3-year cycle makes it one of the most affordable cars to own in the South African market.

Find out more details about the new Volkswagen Polo Vivo and download a PDF brochure for the new Polo Vivo here.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN SOUTH AFRICA NEW POLO VIVO: RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICES

Trendline
1.4 55kW, five-speed manual, 5dr: R179,900

Comfortline
1.4 63kW, five-speed manual, 5dr: R192,000
1.6 77kW, Tiptronic auto, 5dr: R221,900

Highline
1.6 77kW, five-speed manual, 5dr: R214,900

GT
1.0 81kW, six-speed manual, 5dr: R245,000

All prices include VAT and emissions tax. The new Volkswagen South Africa Polo Vivo models come with a 3-year / 120,000km warranty and a 6-year anti-corrosion warranty. Service intervals are 15,000km, and a Volkswagen Automotion Maintenance Plan as well as a Volkswagen Automotion Service Plan are available as options.

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Following Europe, Brazil, and South Africa, the new sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo lands in Australia next month. Priced from $17,990, the more accomodating MQB-A0-based car is largely the same as the European and South African versions which have already been launched.

Available to order now, the new Polo for Australia is available in Trendline and Comfortline trims, with a special Launch Edition model also offered. Engines are limited to two three-cylinder petrol units – both turbocharged TSIs, with outputs of 70kW / 94bhp (Trendline) and 85kW / 113bhp (Comfortline). The Launch Edition is exclusively available with the 85kW engine. Polo Beats and Polo GTI models will arrive mid-year.

‘Most significant generational change’
Volkswagen Australia states that the Polo represents ‘the most significant generational change to a Volkswagen since the arrival of the class-leading Tiguan SUV two years ago’. ‘Even the entry-level manual Polo 6 features the Golf’s elegant, flat bottomed leather steering wheel with multimedia controls,’ said Ben Wilks, Volkswagen Australia’s General Manager of Product and Marketing.

‘That literal touchpoint is emblematic of the Polo having graduated from its class not only in terms of physical growth, but in sophistication. The Polo 6 is obviously more upmarket than rival cars. We’re talking less than $18,000 for fixtures such as a soft-touch dash top, wide touch screen and dual USB charging ports.

‘Apple CarPlay and Android Auto remain standard. In terms of safety there’s autonomous emergency braking, six airbags, stability control, fatigue monitoring and a reversing camera as standard,’ he continued.

Trendline, Comfortline and Launch Edition
The entry Polo Trendline features 15-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, cruise control, electric windows, a leather multifunction steering wheel, a rear view camera, and an 8-inch colour touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth / USB / Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity. Standard safety kit includes front assist with city emergency braking and pedestrian monitoring, driver fatigue detection, and a low tyre pressure indicator. Five-speed manual and seven-speed DSG transmissions are available.

The Polo Comfortline builds on the Trendline’s comprehensive specification and adds 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights / rear view mirror / wipers, a front centre armrest, and ‘Comfort’ cloth upholstery. Launch Edition cars offer 16-inch alloy wheels, dark-tint rear window glass, front fog lights, inductive wireless charging, and tinted tail lights. These ‘85 TSI’ models gain an extra ratio for the manual gearbox.

An optional $1,400 Driver Assistance package can be added to Comfortline and Launch Edition cars and includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring and park assist systems, and electrically-folding door mirrors. Five colours – Pure White, Energetic Orange, Limestone Grey Metallic, Reflex Silver and Deep Black Pearl Effect – can be chosen on Trendline and Comfortline models, while all bar Pure White cost an additional $500. Launch Edition new Polos lose the Reflex Silver and Deep Black Pearl Effect options.

Find out more details about the Australian-market new Polo by visiting the Volkswagen Australia website, where ‘runout’ deals on the outgoing fifth-generation Polo can also be found.

2018 VOLKSWAGEN AUSTRALIA NEW POLO: RECOMMENDED RETAIL PRICES

Trendline
1.0 TSI 70kW, five-speed manual, 5dr: $17,990
1.0 TSI 70kW, seven-speed DSG, 5dr: $20,490

Comfortline
1.0 TSI 85kW, six-speed manual, 5dr: $19,490
1.0 TSI 85kW, seven-speed DSG, 5dr: $21,990

Launch Edition
1.0 TSI 85kW, six-speed manual, 5dr: $20,490
1.0 TSI 85kW, seven-speed DSG, 5dr: $22,990

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