PoloDriver

Volkswagen Group South Africa retains its leadership position in the passenger car market, as once again the Polo Vivo has been named as the best-selling passenger car in the country during March 2013, while the Polo dutifully supports it in second place, with sales of 2939 and 2596 respectively. Volkswagen Group South Africa sold a total of 8516 units last month, translating to a market share of 22.8 per cent. Overall, 37,596 new passenger cars were sold in South Africa during the same period.

The Polo Vivo was launched in March 2010 as an entry-level model for the South African market, replacing the Series 1 Golf-based CitiGolf, and is available as a three or five-door hatchback and four-door booted saloon with 74bhp/84bhp 1.4-litre and 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engines. Costing from R111,900 for the base-model 1.4 hatchback to R161,100 for the top 1.6 Polo Maxx, the 2013 Polo Vivo is based on the revised version of the Series 4 Polo (9N3), built from 2005 to 2009. The fifth-generation Polo (6R) is available as both a three and five-door hatchback, in addition to the four-door Polo Sedan.

Conscious of its recent value-based advertising campaigns, Volkswagen UK has realigned the Polo range, giving potential Polo owners better value for money with extra standard equipment on most models, as well as the introduction of a new model, the Polo R-Line Style. The revised range starts with the £10,490 59bhp Polo S three-door and tops out with the £20,055 178bhp Polo GTI five-door.

First up, the Polo BlueMotion and Polo Match are now fitted with rear parking sensors, cruise control and an alarm, while the Match has been renamed the Polo Match Edition, pointing to its enhanced specification. Together, the additional equipment has a value of £510, but the price for these models is increased by just £135, starting at £11,910 (OTR RRP) for the 1.2-litre 59bhp three-door. The higher-specification SEL, R-Line, BlueGT and GTI models meanwhile all now come with cruise control and rear parking sensors (as well as an alarm, which, as before, remains standard equipment), without any price increase.

The Polo R-Line Style combines the sporty looks of the Polo R-Line already on sale, but with equipment and engines that make it even more accessible. Prices start from £11,740. Based on the base-model Polo S, the Polo R-Line Style adds the R-Line body kit – sports-styled front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a bespoke radiator grille – body-coloured door handles and door mirrors, 16-inch ‘Rivazza’ alloy wheels and a Bluetooth telephone kit. As on the model on which it is based, air conditioning is an option on the Polo R-Line Style. This latest addition is available four eye-catching colours: Candy White, Flash Red, Nimbus Grey and Deep Black Pearl.

Not to confuse customers too much, while the established Polo R-Line comes with a 1.2-litre TSI engine with 104bhp, the Polo R-Line Style is available with a pair of 1.2-litre engines, developing 59bhp or 69bhp. Low insurance categories of 5E and 8E respectively, make the Polo R-Line Style a much more accessible proposition for younger drivers.

From now until 30 June 2013, all Polo models acquired on the Solutions PCP package come with a £1000 deposit contribution and monthly payments from as little as £135 (6.4 per cent APR, based on 3 years/30,000 miles, see www.volkswagen.co.uk for full terms and conditions). They are also available with free insurance (age restrictions apply), while all Polos purchased on Solutions are also available with up to three years servicing for just £249. Prices of the enhanced Polo range can be found below. For more information on the revised Polo range, visit the Volkswagen UK website.

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It was a story of continuing success for the Polo last month, as it remained in the top 10 UK best-selling cars chart, according to figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Holding firm in seventh place with 1437 units sold, it fended off competition from the newly-launched Peugeot 208, although when the year-to-date tallies are taken into account, the positions are reversed. The Ford Fiesta hold the number one spot for 2013 so far, but was second in February’s chart, held off the top position by the larger Focus. Volkswagen’s Golf was placed higher last month than in January, no doubt buoyed by the introduction of the new Mk 7 car, and possible buying deals on the outgoing Mk 6 model.

Overall, February’s new car figures were up 7.9 per cent to 66,749 units, with last month securing the highest growth in the private market since the end of the Scrappage Incentive Scheme in Spring 2010. ‘February is traditionally a low volume month as motorists look forward to the plate-change in March, but attractive new car deals are sustaining the market. New models are delivering ever greater fuel efficiency, practicality, refinement, technology and predictable ownership costs, so motorists are seeing the benefit of new car purchases,’ said Mike Baunton, Interim Chief Executive, SMMT. The UK’s top 10 best-selling cars during February 2013 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) are as follows:

1 Ford Focus: 38536 (9647, 2nd)

2 Ford Fiesta: 3655 (11,561, 1st)

3 Vauxhall Corsa: 3214 (8392, 3rd)
4 Volkswagen Golf: 2413 (5748, 6th)

5 Vauxhall Astra: 2181 (7643, 4th)

6 Nissan Qashqai: 1856 (6136, 5th)

7 Volkswagen Polo: 1437 (4322, 8th)

8 Peugeot 208: 1423 (4382, 7th)

9 Mercedes-Benz C-Class: 1317 (3673, 9th)

10 Nissan Juke: 1106 (3628, 10th)

The current Polo has been with us since 2009. Four years is a lifetime for some automotive models, but with the latest version of Volkswagen’s evergreen small car, it seems we’re still in the infancy of its lifecycle. Deliveries of the eco-warm hatch Polo BlueGT are just starting to trickle in, as well as the first examples of another new addition to the Polo range – the Polo R-Line. Not to be confused with the limited edition 217bhp Polo R WRC ‘street’ car which takes styling cues from Volkswagen’s Polo R WRC competition car, the R-Line marries a punchy engine with some welcome visual add-ons.

For a not inconsiderable yet competitive £15,295 for the three-door (two extra doors are available for an additional £620), the Polo R-Line takes the 1.2-litre turbocharged engine from the Polo SEL and adds some much-needed aggression, in the form of an R-Line styling kit. R-Line flourishes include restyled front and rear bumpers, a larger rear roof spoiler, deeper side skirts, gloss back grille, 16-inch ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels (similar to the larger rims fitted to the full-fat Golf and Scirocco R models), as well as 65 per cent tinted rear windows and a smattering of ‘R-Line’ badges. It’s a purposeful yet subtle makeover, but one that certainly makes the Polo R-Line look the part.

It’s a similar understated story in the cabin, too, but everything you could wish for is included. Unique sports seats trimmed in Titan Black ‘Kyalami’ cloth with Crystal Grey ‘San Remo’ (a long-standing Volkswagen tradition of using racing circuit names continues) microfibre bolsters carry R-Line-embossed headrests; a flat-bottomed, three-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel is borrowed from the Polo GTI; and there are aluminium pedals and sill kickplates. Technical kit includes a tyre pressure monitor.

All Polos now receive a DAB radio as standard, and Bluetooth is now fitted to S models and above. The R-Line also gets black headlining – which really does contribute to the cocooning and sporty feel of the interior – and a gloss black centre console and air vent surrounds. It all adds up to a genuinely go-faster feeling and is unbelievably available for less cash than the SEL, from which the R-Line borrows so much.

The standard chassis settings are from the SEL, too, which is an indication that even Volkswagen doesn’t see this car as an out-and-out performance model. Even sports suspension isn’t part of the R-Line’s gene pool, which could be a good thing – the R-Line rides and soaks up the bumps in the usual calm and no-nonsense Polo manner. Sadly, the Polo R-Line keeps the SEL’s minimum steering feel, too, but it’s pleasant enough, with a nice degree of weighting from the speed-sensitive rack. The 215/45 R16 tyres grip well and the R-Line scoots around corners with the minimum of fuss.

The six-speed gearbox is lovely to use, with a short and precise action, while the brakes are equally responsive. The 1.2 TSI engine must rate as one of VW’s best, with strong performance (even from low revs), and a willingness to rev, accompanied with a welcome aural rortiness as the engine reaches it upper revolutions. Volkswagen quotes a 0-62mph time of 9.7 seconds, and this decent level of performance is married to decent economy, too. Where most cars with a bit of poke may not be so parsimonious, the Polo R-Line scores here – we saw a reading of 42.3mpg over our 200 miles.

Overall, it’s quite a convincing package. The Polo R-Line offers style, performance, practicality and economy, few of which would have bedfellows in the past. It costs less to buy than the Polo SEL on which it’s based, too. With more than a passing resemblance to the £4135 more expensive Polo GTI but with cheaper running costs and enough enjoyable real-world performance, VW’s latest R-Line model is an unexpected range highlight. It may be on the warm side rather than scalding hot, but the Polo R-Line is stylish and spirited enough to be exclusively enjoyable.

VOLKSWAGEN POLO R-LINE
Price: £15,295
Engine: 1.2-litre four-cylinder, turbocharged
Transmission: Six-speed manual
Power/torque: 104bhp/129lb ft @ 1550-4100rpm
0-62mph: 9.7 seconds
Top speed: 118mph
Economy (combined cycle), CO2: 53.3mpg, 124g/km
Weight: 1088kg
Equipment: 16” ‘Mallory’ alloy wheels, R-Line styling kit, front fog lights, privacy rear windows
On sale: Now
Rivals: Alfa Romeo MiTo TwinAir, Citroën DS3 VTI, Ford Fiesta EcoBoost, Suzuki Swift Sport
Find out more: http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/#/new/polo-v/which-model/compare/1291//

Over at Indian Autos Blog, our friends have reported that Volkswagen India has released two new colour options for its popular Polo and Vento models. Pepper Grey and Shadow Blue were previously available on the Polo and Vento respectively, but now, they can be specified on both models for the 2013 model year. Both variants have recently been refreshed and been updated with more technological equipment such as an RCD 320 music system with Bluetooth and SD card slot, as well as a multifunction steering wheel. The current Polo and Vento have been very popular models in India, with over 62,500 units sold during 2012.

In related news, the Vento is due to be exported to Algeria from March 2013, after being unveiled at the Algiers motor show. Expected to take its name from the Russian and South African versions of the car, the Polo Sedan will be built in Volkswagen’s Indian or Russian factories. Nepal has also just received the Polo TDI, exported from India. Imported by Pooja International, the car will be available in Comfortline and Highline versions, and is powered by the 1.2-litre 74bhp TDI engine. Equipment highlights include keyless entry, double DIN music system, and USB connectivity. Indian Autos Blog reports the Polo TDI Comfortline costs 3.19m Nepalese Rupee, while the TDI Highline is priced at 3.39m Nepalese Rupee.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]