PoloDriver

2017 was yet another busy year for the Volkswagen Polo. The launch and introduction of the all-new sixth-generation model has been the major news, and although there has been no Polo rally action in 2017, the PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTI has dominated the World Rallycross Championship in the hands of Johan Kristoffersson.

But, with a debut for the new Polo GTI R5 later in 2018, the stages look set for a Polo return to asphalt and gravel action. The Engen Volkswagen Cup in South Africa is due to run new-generation Polo GTIs, too, in 2018, so next year’s Polo motorsport activity is shaping up very nicely.

Right now, though, we round up the Polo’s biggest achievements in 2017. (Bold entries are illustrated by the picture above that particular month’s list of events.)

January

• Al-Attiyah confirms no Polo R WRC in 2017 FIA World Rally Championship
• PSRX and Volkswagen Sweden rallycross team confirmed
• Polo Sound special edition launched in Germany
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Autocar India’s Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Polo is the tenth best-selling car in Europe (JATO).

February

• FIA prohibits complete homologation of 2017 Volkswagen Polo R WRC
• Polo GTI 230 special edition for Switzerland
• Guy Wilks confirmed for Polo RX in 2017 World Rallycross Championship
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins Car India and Bike India’s ’Compact Sedan Of The Year’ award
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

March

• Citi Vivo special edition launched in South Africa
• 1,250,000th Polo production jubilee celebrated by Volkswagen South Africa
• Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI R-Line launched in South Africa
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden reveals 2017 World Rallycross Polo GTI Supercar
• Volkswagen Motorsport announces new Polo R5 rally car testing plans
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins the Thrill of Driving Award at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo-based VW Ameo wins the Compact Sedan of the Year at the Times Auto Awards
• Polo is the seventh best-selling car in the UK.

April


• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs show pace at World RX of Barcelona
• Kristoffersson drives Polo GTI Supercar to World RX of Portugal podium
• Volkswagen India launches limited edition Polo GT Sport
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins Flywheel Auto Awards’ 2017 Performance Hatchback of the Year award
• Indian-market Polo GTI wins BBC Top Gear Awards’ 2017 Hot Hatch of the Year award
• Polo is the ninth best-selling car in the UK.

May

• Fifth-generation Polo-based Volkswagen Vento Allstar and GT launched in Malaysia
• World RX of Hockenheim podium place for Kristoffersson and Polo GTI
• PSRX Volkswagen Sweden Polo GTIs dominate World RX of Belgium with double podium
• Sixth-generation Polo prototype drives and ‘sneak peek’ video published
• Solberg and Kristoffersson do the double at World RX of Great Britain
• Polo is the fifth best-selling car in the UK.

June

• Volkswagen launches sixth-generation Polo ‘teaser’ video campaign
• Johan Kristoffersson takes second 2017 World RX victory in Norway
• First images of new Polo revealed ahead of 16 June world premiere
• New sixth-generation Polo unveiled at Berlin world premiere event on 16 June
• Polo is the eighth best-selling car in the UK.

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Continuing its success story, the Volkswagen Polo remains one of the most popular cars in the UK according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). During September 2017, it was in sixth place in the UK top 10, with a tally of 8,189 Polos registered. A total of 40,455 examples of Volkswagen’s small car have found new homes in 2017 to date. It’s even more impressive given that these figures refer to the outgoing fifth-generation model, the sixth-generation car has just gone on sale with first deliveries expected in January 2018.

With 426,170 units registered, the September 2017 UK new passenger car market dropped by 9.3 per cent, the sixth consecutive monthly decline. It’s also the first time the traditional new registration month of September has fallen in six years. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during September 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Nissan Qashqai: 13,499 (53,197, 4th)

2 Volkswagen Golf: 12,800 (57,018, 3rd)
3 Ford Fiesta: 10,826 (75,814, 1st)
4 Ford Focus: 10,235 (57,526, 2nd)
5 Vauxhall Corsa: 8,562 (46,600, 5th)
6 Volkswagen Polo: 8,189 (40,455, 7th)
7 Mini: 8,137 (36,784, 9th)
8 Nissan Juke: 7,757
9 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 7,672 (34,547, 10th)
10 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 7,584 (39,055, 8th)

(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular car absent from September 2017’s registration figures was the sixth-placed Vauxhall Astra with 41,250 registrations recorded.)

Elsewhere last month, the Polo held onto its second most popular car status in South Africa with 2,324 examples registered. Once again the entry-level Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, with 2,942 cars finding new homes. Based on the revised fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005 to 2009, the Vivo has dominated the South African new car sales charts since it was introduced in 2009, when it took over from the fondly remembered Citi Golf as Volkswagen South Africa’s lowest-priced model.

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In a repeat of July, the Volkswagen Polo steadfastly remains one of the UK’s most popular cars, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). It held on to fifth place in the UK top 10, the position it climbed to in July. A total of 1,834 Polos were registered in August, with an overall tally of 32,266 examples of Volkswagen’s small car finding new homes so far in 2017.

The Polo’s larger sibling, the Golf, sat atop the August UK chart, 43 units ahead of the Ford Fiesta in second, with 2,236 registrations. The small Ford is still king of the pile when it comes to year-to-date figures, though, its 64,988 units and 17,697 unit-lead over the Focus looking unassailable.

With a total of 76,433 units registered, August 2017’s UK new passenger car market dipped by 6.4 per cent, the fifth consecutive monthly decline. The SMMT states that demand still makes it the third largest August in 10 years. Superminis – of which the Polo is one – and family cars remained the most popular choices. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during August 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Volkswagen Golf: 2,279 (44,218, 3rd)

2 Ford Fiesta: 2,236 (64,988, 1st)
3 Vauxhall Mokka X: 2,063
4 Ford Focus: 1,995 (47,291, 2nd)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 1,834 (32,266, 7th)
6 Ford Kuga: 1,769
7 Vauxhall Corsa: 1,659 (38,038, 5th)
8 Kia Sportage: 1,541
9 Vauxhall Astra: 1,485 (36,360, 6th)
10 Nissan Qashqai: 1,484 (39,698, 4th)

(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from August 2017’s registration figures were the eighth-placed Mercedes-Benz C Class, the ninth-placed Mini, and the tenth-placed Mercedes-Benz A Class with 31,471, 28,647 and 26,875 registrations recorded respectively.)

In South Africa, the Polo retained its second best-selling car status with 2,096 examples rolling off the forecourts. Predictably, the entry-level Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, with 2,340 cars registered. Based on the facelifted fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005 to 2009, the Vivo has dominated the South African new car sales charts since it was introduced in 2009, when it took over from the fondly remembered Citi Golf as Volkswagen South Africa’s entry-level model.

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Distinctive inside and out, the Polo Beats is a more recent edition to the Volkswagen’s small car range. With upgraded kit and a 300W music system, it sounds like a tempting package. PoloDriver.com editor Rich Gooding takes this special version of the fifth-generation Polo for a final fling and sees if it’s a sound proposition

Red mirrors and special graphics: what’s this Polo all about then?
Introduced in May 2016, the Polo Beats started its life as a special edition model, but has become a mainstay of the current Polo range. And yes, its distinct from its siblings by way of (pun intended) loud – for a Polo – body graphics, ‘Beats’ b-pillar branding, a gloss black front grille, darkened rear lights, 16-inch ‘Knight’ alloy wheels, and those red mirrors (which, can actually be also had in black if a mis-matched look is to be avoided).

But, the main attraction of the Polo Beats is its 300W audio system. Yep, as the name suggests, the Polo Beats is a ‘collaboration’ between Volkswagen and Beats Electronics of California.

Volkswagen states that a lower-spec Polo Match comes with an 80-watt sound system as standard, but along with the upgraded output, the Polo Beats also features a digital sound processor, an eight-channel amplifier, seven ‘high-end’ speakers, and unique ‘Beats’-trimmed seats with quilted silver-grey centre sections and alcantara side bolsters. 

There are also red-edged seatbelts, red-edged carpet mats, LED footwell lighting and ‘Isaac Silver’ dashboard trim. A range of four engines power the Polo Beats, with prices starting at £14,355 ‘on the road’ for the 59bhp 1.0-litre three-door. A tempting proposition, does the sound-focused Polo offer much more for its near-£1,000 premium, or is it more a case of the extra kit distorting the appeal?

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

The current Polo is now eight years old, so how does it drive?
Despite its age, the fifth-generation Polo is still a decent drive. Our test car was fitted with the 1.2-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine developing 89bhp, and although it’s been around a while, it’s still a powertrain highlight of the soon-to-be-discontinued Polo range.

Nippy and very tractable with 118lb ft of torque coming in from 1,400-4,000rpm, it scoots the 1,107kg small VW along at a decent lick, and only loses some performance towards the top of its rev range. It sounds nice, too, slightly reminiscent of the thrum belonging to lesser Polos’ turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit. If we’re talking figures, Volkswagen quotes a 0-62mph time of 10.8 seconds, and a top speed of 114mph.

As has been the way with Polos since the introduction of the third-generation model of 1994, the latest version has a very grown-up feel, with sure-footed and safe handling. The Polo Beats can be cornered with moderate verve, and while we won’t pretend it’s the ultimate in small car fun, it offers a good compromise of mildly involving handling with good grip, a largely comfortable ride, and refined road manners.

The power-assisted steering feels naturally-weighted and not overly light, the manual gearbox has a nice slick ‘mechanical’ action, while the brakes are strong and the car is very hushed when cruising. Not that that is too much of a concern when you have a 300-watt sound system at your disposal…

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

2017 Volkswagen Polo Beats (UK)

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Even with cars now only available from dealer stock, the Volkswagen Polo remains one of the most popular cars in the UK, according to figures for July 2017 released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). In fact, the Polo moved up three places to number five in July from its eighth place in June: 3,227 Polos were registered last month, taking the 2017 year-to-date tally to 30,432 units.

The Ford Fiesta wasn’t reinstated as the king of the charts, though, with 3,372 small Fords finding homes last month. In fourth place, it was only one place above the Polo, the closest the two have been for some time. The Volkswagen Golf was at number two, with another Ford, the Focus, topping the list. So far in 2017, 62,752 Ford Fiestas have been registered in this country, so it remains the UK’s most popular model in the year so far.

At 161,997 units, the UK new passenger car market as a whole was down by 9.3 per cent, the fourth consecutive monthly fall. The SMMT states that demand was down across all sectors – business, fleet and private sales – but that the year-to-date overall performance is still at a ‘high level’, thanks to a strong first quarter: over 1.5 million new cars have been registered in the UK since January.

The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during July 2017 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 5,521 (45,296, 2nd)

2 Volkswagen Golf: 5,236 (41,939, 3rd)
3 Nissan Qashqai: 4,640 (38,214, 4th)
4 Ford Fiesta: 3,372 (62,752, 1st)
5 Volkswagen Polo: 3,227 (30,432, 7th)
6 Kia Sportage: 3,155
7 Mercedes-Benz C Class: 2,828 (30,214, 8th)
8 Vauxhall Corsa: 2,819 (36,379, 5th)
9 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 2,809 (25,753, 10th)

10 Audi A3: 2,607

(The 2017 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from July 2017’s registration figures were the sixth-placed Vauxhall Astra and the ninth-placed Mini, with 34,875 and 27,626 registrations recorded respectively.)

Elsewhere, the Polo retained its second best-selling car in South Africa status in South Africa with 1,623 examples finding new homes. Once again the entry-level Polo Vivo claimed the number one spot, with 2,675 cars registered. Based on the facelifted fourth-generation Polo sold in Europe from 2005-2009, the Vivo has topped the South African new car sales charts since it was introduced in 2009, when it took over from the fondly remembered Citi Golf as Volkswagen South Africa’s entry-level model.

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