2009 Polo: three-door
Predictably, it’s not either as radical as we’d hoped, or as sporty, but the just-announced new Polo three-door is nonetheless a good looker. Building on the sharp suit of its new five-door relative, its taut, clean lines are a departure from the rounded, dated lines of its predecessor.
Unveiled ahead of a Frankfurt Motor Show debut, Volkswagen state that the new, less family friendly version of the latest Polo with its longer doors, new side window styling of the row of side windows and the dynamic lines of the sporty C-pillars give the car a ‘near coupe-like appearance’. We’ll just settle for quietly handsome, thanks, with a hint of SEAT Ibiza SC from the back.
It does show that the renders by Motor Authority posted a few months ago were very accurate. Volkswagen is a car maker known for conservatism, but while the new Polo is every inch the mini Golf everyone claims it is, it has got a mature and classy style all of its own, with sharper detailing.
And, as the ‘dull Polo vs funky Fiesta’ style debate rages on in forums across the internet, we’re on the side of the Fiesta haters. Yes, while the Polo doesn’t appear as cutting edge as its Ford rival, it will undoubtedly slip into old age more gracefully, while the Fiesta will, we fear, have one facelift too many.
So, what else is new on the three-door Polo?
Not much – it’s pretty much the same specification technically as the five-door. With the same footprint, quality and refinement as the ‘family’ model, it should prove as successful as its forebears, and reliably add a new chapter to the model’s heritage story. Production in right-hand drive form begins at VW’s Pamplona plant (long a Polo production facility) in late October, with the first cars arriving here at the turn of the year.
As well as being technically the same as the five-door, the newer car echoes it in trim levels, too. The UK gets four – S, SE, Moda and SEL – and prices are tipped to start at £9,400, rising to £14,000 for the top-spec SEL. Kit is good, with standard ABS, ESP, CD player and electric windows. SE adds air-conditioning, 15-inch alloys wheels, and a six-speaker stereo with iPod connectivity. SEL cars get 16-inch alloys, fog lights, leather trim on interior parts, a multifunction computer and a tyre pressure-warning indicator.
Five engines will be initially be available. Three petrol units of 60, 70 and 85 PS can be chosen alongside two 1.6 TDI oil burners with 75 and 90 PS. The much-anticipated 1.2 turbocharged unit with 105 PS will follow shortly after. In a departure from the outgoing car, a 1.2 TDI BlueMotion model will also be offered in 2010, alongside the more traditional five-door version.