The VW Polo has been one of the most popular choices in the supermini class since 1975 due to its practicality, low running cost and trademark quality. It is the assurance of VW’s Polo that diverts people away from its rivals available in the market such as Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Skoda Fabia and above all Audi A1. The VW Polo has won the 2010 world car of the year title.
The VW Polo has a range of powerful petrol and diesel engines from the very first one to the most recent one–but there is a little bit need to work on entry level’s versions.
If you want more power don’t underestimate the GTI hot hatch gets 1.4-litre TSI petrol with 148 bhp which can also shut down half its engine when you are driving gently, thereby saving fuel. The pre-facelift polo GTI had a supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine but now it has been replaced with a muscular 1.8 TSI turbo unit which is a sleeved–down version of the engine from the Golf GTI produces a robust of 189 bhp. There’s a single 1.4-litre diesel engine with two capacities, 74 and 89 bhp both versions are turbocharged. Despite being a touch harsh on start-up, for a diesel in such a small car it is surprisingly quiet.
The 1.4 litre TDI with 89 bhp is reserved for the SEL and R-line trim Levels. Both models can manage exactly the same 74.3m/g and emit 97g/km of Co2, making them free if registered before April 2017. The TDI engines are suitable for torque but not for high speed or sprint they take the vehicle from0-62 m/h in 12.9 seconds and GTI takes the stylish car from0-62m/h within 6.7 seconds and reaches at the top speed of 146m/h. The Blue GT manages a respectable data, more than enough for the most of people’s need, with top speed of 137m/h and sprint of 0-62 m/h within 7.8 seconds.
VW provides a vast range of three and four-cylinder petrol and diesel engines for the Polo. the entry level engine is a 1.0-litre three cylinder engine A better all rounder is the 1.2-litre TSI petrol with 89 bhp, having the most close match with 1.0 litre TSI with 94 bhp engine of Polo’s BlueMotion eco-friendly model. there’s also a 1.2 litre with 108 bhp TSI version, which is available in R-Line and SEL models.
Though the diesel engines are often irrelevance in superminis but the 1.4-litre oil burner in BlueMotion puts a strong case for itself. The SE models with diesel engines give more fuel economy than the BlueMotion.
Volkswagen has recently introduced Active Cylinder Management (ACM) to the Polo, claiming diesel efficiency with performance and planted in the Blue GT model. The Blue GT gets up to 60.1 m/g and emissions of 107g/km thanks to its cylinder shut-off technology, and even the stop-start equipped GTI has an official 47m/g economy figure.