The Polo is designed by German marquee Volkswagen and assembled for worldwide distribution in South Africa.
Despite being an entry level model in Malaysia, it boasts outstanding performance and, in the long run, good value for discerning vehicle owners.
There are three variants Polo altogether, namely the 1.2 litre TSI, the 1.4 litre three-door GTI and the 1.4 litre five-door GTI.
A seven-speed transmission direct shift gearbox (DSG) with different selectable modes is available with all variants.
The test model was the 1.2 TSI variant featuring a 1.2 litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine coupled with a seven-speed transmission.
I had initial ‘sticker shock’ from the six-figure price tag but this was quickly justified during and at the end of the test drive.
The first impression I got of the vehicle was that it looked like a miniature hot rod with aerodynamic lines.
The ignition of the vehicle was operated via an integrated key which was collapsible for comfort and convenience.
The doors and the hatch were opened remotely via the remote buttons on the key.
The driver’s seat was manually adjustable in six directions while the air-conditioning system was controlled via dials and buttons below the convenient cubby hole for storage of cell phones, CDs, and other assorted items.
Upon starting up and revving the engine, I could hear the engine roar eager to gallop down the roads.
While it was not absolutely quiet, the interior was fairly isolated from external noises.
The fun began with the different modes of transmission for varied driving styles: normal drive mode (seven-speed), manual mode (seven-speed) and the sporty mode (six-speed).
I was initially skeptical of the capabilities of the 1.2 litre engine but this was no ordinary engine.
This was a turbocharged powerhouse; a testament of fine German engineering.
In normal drive mode, the performance was nothing short of impressive as the Polo sped along the straight and open roads with surprising ease and minimal effort.
I found the response to be equally impressive in manual mode where pushing the shifter to the left facilitated gear changes (up and down).
In the more aggressive sporty mode, the vehicle’s performance made me literally utter the word ‘wunderbar’ which is the German expression for ‘wonderful’.
Uninitiated naysayers would be hard pressed to justify their doubts of such sheer performance to be squeezed out of a small capacity engine.
Another characteristic I took note of was the seamless shifting of the transmission of the vehicle which was a marvel to experience.
There was hardly any physical perception of gear changes; the only indications were visual as the tachometer (rpm) and the gear display changed.
Despite the high price for a vehicle of this size, Polo owners (and by extension Volkswagen owners) would enjoy fairly low maintenance costs and a worry-free five-year unlimited mileage warranty covering practically the entire vehicle.
In the long run, the low maintenance cost would significantly offset the overall ownership cost when compared with vehicles in the upper five-figure price range.
All variants of the Polo are available in Reflex Silver (pictured), Candy White, Flash Red, Shadow Blue, and Deep Black.
The 1.2 litre variant offers additional colours namely Savanna Yellow, Hot Orange, Pepper Grey and Sea Blue.
With outstanding engine performance and good long term value, the Polo exemplifies a solid choice when choosing an entry level European vehicle.