Volkswagen Australia have announced details of the 6th-generation Polo as the all-new model prepares to head into local showrooms next month. Growing both larger and a good deal more luxurious, it’s perhaps a little unfair to think of this as VW’s smallest car sold here.
The range kicks off, as it does typically, with the Trendline at $17,990. The entry-level hatch comes with a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that will drive all launch variants of the MK6 Polo here. It produces 70kW and 175Nm, with its downsized and force-inducted nature designed to provide both adequate thrust and outstanding fuel economy.
In this tune, it boasts an impressive (and claimed) combined cycle figure of 4.8-litres/100km, though this rises slightly when paired with the 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic. In Trendline guise, the Polo also receives 15-inch steel wheels and cloth upholstery. But it also comes with a generous 8.0-inch infotainment system with compatibility for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The mid-pack Polo Comfortline takes power up by an appreciable 15kW and torque to a new peak of 200Nm, though displacement and cylinder count remains constant. For a $1,500 premium over the base Trendline at $19,490, it buys 15-inch alloys, higher quality ‘comfort cloth’, automatic headlights and automatic wipers.
VW is making more advanced safety kit available throughout the new Polo line-up with even the base Trendline coming as standard with city-speed automated emergency braking with pedestrian protection, driver fatigue monitoring, and tyre pressure monitoring.
There’s also the headlining entrant, this time called the Polo Launch Edition for $20,490. The engine is an identical 85kW unit shared with the Comfortline, but the $20,490 price does include slightly larger 16-inch alloys, tinted LED tail lights, rear privacy glass, front fog-lights, and wireless phone charging.
Also, for all trim levels besides the Trendline, there will also be a Driver Assistance Package being offered for an additional $1,500. For that sum, your Polo will be outfitted with blind spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, power folding door mirrors, and adaptive cruise control.
No indication of how long Volkswagen Australia plans to keep selling the Launch Edition past the actual launch, but existing patterns point to a proper Highline variant being passed the baton after an appropriate period - maybe even an R-Line while they’re at it. Also known is that the Polo GTI, with its 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre EA888 engine will be joining the troupe toward the middle of 2018.
- Polo Trendline - 70TSI - Manual - $17,990
- Polo Trendline - 70TSI - Automatic - $20,490
- Polo Comfortline - 85TSI - Manual - $19,490
- Polo Comfortline - 85TSI - Automatic - $21,990
- Polo Launch Edition - 85TSI - Manual - $20,490
- Polo Launch Edition - 85TSI - Automatic - $22,990
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