Review of Volkswagen Polo TSI for sale in South Africa

The face-lifted Volkswagen Polo Life 1.0 TSI entered the South African market in 2022 – so read all about its review below.¹

The test-driver drove a Polo Life from the middle of the Life range. Its 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine generates 70 kW of power and is mated with a five-speed manual transmission. The power output may not be much, but a torque of 175 Nm at 2000 rpm is massive and unaffected by altitude. As a result, the Polo TSI is nippy in city traffic, while the highway poses no challenge. But you may have to shift down a gear on an incline if the car is full of passengers. ¹

It’s smooth to operate, and the five forward cogs exhibit well-spaced ratios. ¹

The onboard information displayed a reading of a striking 5.4 litres/100 km during a highway drive, but this amount could likely increase with city driving. ¹

On the highway, the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI glides along and gives you an impressive feeling. Direct steering and excellent solid road holding make the ride comfortable. ¹

The Polo has 15-inch Essex alloy wheels, but for an extra R4,800, you can get the larger 16-inch wheels. For an additional R15,500, you can have IQ. Light matrix LED headlights. Despite its new facelift, you can still recognise it’s a Polo, with its striking new headlights, grille and bumper design. The car’s rear has changed considerably, with new split taillights merging with the tailgate, giving it that Golf 8 look. ¹

The spacious interior has a good ergonomic design and comfortable legroom – something that is impressive for this B-segment. A boot space of 352 litres is adequate for most journeys. ¹

The 2022 model has a standard digital instrument cluster, with an infotainment system consisting of a 6.6-inch Composition Colour media system. ¹

For an extra R2,000, you can choose a more sophisticated multicolour, multi-view instrument cluster and an 8.0-inch Composition Media infotainment system. The latter comes with inductive phone charging (R9,300) or a Radio Discover Media system (R20,600), with built-in navigation. ¹

These include standard cruise control, park distance control, and a leather-trimmed steering wheel. Besides the central armrest, a USB-C port is located in the interior’s middle. Upgraded ‘Slash’ seat upholstery and a Lava Stone Black interior complete the picture. ¹

These are keyless locking and start (R5,900), a tilting and a sliding panoramic sunroof (R14,500), and a Comfort Park Package (R15,500). ¹

A safety package at R12,700 is available, including Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency Braking, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Assist. ¹

The article reviews the Volkswagen Polo Life 1.0 TSI for sale in South Africa in 2023. ¹

You are legally required to buy comprehensive car insurance when buying a new Polo Life with bank finance. Benefit from our world-class client service while we reveal to you our affordable car insurance products. They comprise comprehensive and customised car insurance with fixed premiums* and reducing excess*. You may buy comprehensive or customised car insurance for cars not older than 15 years, but there’s no age restriction on our third-party PLUS car insurance. Ts and Cs apply.