Volkswagen makes it official: first details of new Polo sedan released
Following on its Volkswagen’s recent design sketches, the company has released the first official images of the new Russian and international-market Polo sedan. The car’s Skoda Rapid-based origins are obvious, and the car will be built at Volkswagen’s Kaluga factory in Russia, alongside its Czech stablemate.
Appearing less sleek than the car depicted in the sketches, the Skoda heritage of the new Polo sedan is most obvious in the side profile. The car bears a resemblance to the 2012–2018 SEAT Toledo, too, which was also based on the Skoda Rapid. However, the front does have the Jetta-inspired grille as shown in the preliminary sketches, which also borrows cues from Volkswagen’s newest batch of SUVs. LED headlights are standard as is VW’s new style of roundel badge. At the rear, the tail lights take current VW design forms, as does centred ‘POLO’ badging. A pair of fake exhaust finishers add a finishing touch.
Interior update
Inside, the car has had more of an update. Volkswagen’s 10.25-inch Active Info Display digital instrument set-up is optional, and the car’s colour touchscreen infotainment systems are available in 6.5 or 8.25-inch sizes. A steering wheel which borrows style from the new all-electric ID 3 is also emblazoned with VW’s new corporate logo, while the air conditioning controls are also different from the sixth-generation Polo, which is based on the ‘MQB’ platform. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a USB-C port will take the new Polo notchback into the digital age. The new model sits on the Volkswagen Group’s older ‘PQ25’ chassis which also underpinned the fifth-generation Polo and it’s Vento-based saloon sister.
Three petrol engines power the new Polo sedan. As expected, a naturally-aspirated 1.6-litre four-cylinder gives outputs of 88 and 108bhp, mated to a five-speed manual gearbox. A six-speed automatic can be specified on the higher-output version. A 1.4-litre, turbocharged TSI model has 123bhp and is allied to a seven-speed DSG gearbox as standard. The wheelbase and length of the booted Polo has grown with the introduction of the new model, up by 49mm and 93mm respectively. Luggage space has grown by 90 litres to 550 litres. On sale in the summer, the new Polo sedan will arrive in four trim levels for the Russian market: Origin, Respect, Status and Exclusive.
