2014- It is just five months since Volkswagen South Africa launched the new 2014 Polo in South Africa, and it immediately followed in the footsteps of its predecessor, by posting sales at the top of the passenger car sales chart. With the outgoing Polo being so popular, the designers Polo had to be very cautious when penning the design of the new model, with the result that although most of the body panels are carried over from the previous model, the new Polo is distinguished by several exterior and interior changes, but the major advances are ‘under the skin.

The new Polo offers a choice of three specification levels, Trendline, Comfortline, and Highline, plus of course the Cross-Polo, but the model we feature in this road test is the 1.2 TSi Highline with the 7-speed DSG transmission.

Viewed from the front, most evident is the re-designed front bumper and larger and lower air intake. There’s new chrome trim that connects the two fog lights giving it a wider appearance, while a further chrome element supports the formal integration of the grille into the headlight design, joining the centres of the headlights with a horizontal alignment of the radiator grille. At the rear of the Polo Highline, the lights have been completely re-designed with the reflectors now embedded in the bumper, the cleaner horizontal layout and wider cut-out for the licence plate gives it a wider look, the “B- Sting” antenna for the audio system is on the mounted rear roof, and the tailgate sports a discreet spoiler for a sporty look.

The side view of the new Polo Highline is highlighted by the new 16-inch 10-spoke ‘Portago’ alloy wheels, which on the media vehicle were shod with Continental 215/45R16 low profile radials.

On the inside it is clearly evident that VW has moved the Polo another step up-market. The instrument panel and centre console layout has been revised, there’s a new three-spoke steering wheel perhaps sourced from the Golf, the instrument cluster resides in 3-D "tubes" that look quite classy, and are typical Volkswagen.

The new Polo has electric windows all round, an electric sunroof, a folding arm-rest between the front seats, the steering column is adjustable for both reach and rake, the driver’s seat is height adjustable, and the media vehicle was fitted with Park Distance Control, a R3 000 option. Also added to the media vehicle from the options list was metallic paint, cruise control and the Light and Vision package.

The centre console is completely new, with the infotainment system well positioned for easy use, and we are told that the new Polo is the first Volkswagen to get the second generation radio system of the "modular infotainment system". The system fitted to the test car was the more sophisticated version the "Composition Colour"; with a 5-inch colour display touch screen, additional rear loudspeakers, CD player, MP3 functionality, SD-card input and USB and Bluetooth connectivity, while below the infotainment system are the controls for either the automatic climate control system.

The cloth upholstery is attractive and appears to be a good quality and hard wearing, the vinyl-covered padded dash adds to the quality, as do the chrome accents on the door panels, the air vents and around the gear shift console. Storage for oddments is provided for in the fair-sized cubby, the door pockets, and there are two cupholders in the floor console.

Active safety features include ABS, ESC with Multi-collision braking system, ESP, hill-hold assist, ASR and electronic differential locks, while passive safety is taken care of with front airbags and combined head-thorax airbags, height-adjustable safety belts in the front, Isofix fittings for child seats, and the front head rests are designed to counteract whiplash.

The new Volkswagen Polo Highline comes standard with several driver assistance systems usually only found in the more expensive cars. These include the Automatic Post-Collision Braking System that automatically initiates braking of the vehicle to prevent a subsequent collision and Driver Alert System which detects any waning of concentration of the driver and alerts with a 5-second acoustic warning.

The driver’s seat is firm but supportive and the rear bench is also among the most comfortable in its class. Second-row head and legroom are adequate, while the boot size measures 280 litres, which can be expanded to 952 litres with the 60:40 split-fold rear seats folded down. To assist getting in and out the cab, the Polo is fitted with four grab-handles, and the doors open fairly wide.

The Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSi Highline DSG is powered by an all new 4-cylinder 1.2 TSI turbo-charged petrol engine which makes 81 kW of power at 5 000 rpm and 175 Nm of torque from 1 500 rpm, and drives the front wheels through Volkswagen’s 7-speed dual clutch automatic transmission, which allows for lightening quick gear-changes made by either rocking the gear-lever back and forth sequentially, or via the paddles mounted behind the steering wheel, where you don’t have to take your hands off the wheel to change gears.

This new 1.2 litre TSi is a smooth and responsive engine, and in fact feels more like a 1.6 in terms of torque and power, and has the feel of a sports sedan. The new DSG transmission is, without a doubt, an excellent gearbox, and adds to the sporty nature of the vehicle. In performance tests, floor the accelerator, there’s a moment’s hesitation before it heads for the horizon. It passes the 100 km/h mark in 9.3 seconds, while it glides through gears imperceptibly under acceleration and will instantly drop up to three gears if the throttle pedal is depressed with enough enthusiasm. It also swiftly and intuitively grabs lower ratios around hills and under braking.

Top speed is given as 196 km/h and claimed fuel consumption is given as 5.1 l/100 km in the combined cycle, although the on board computer gave me a reading of 6.8 litres per 100 kms which I think is more realistic in normal driving, unless you drove as if on an economy run. The tank holds 45 litres.

The electromechanical power steering feels quite natural, is well-weighted and precise at all speeds, and light enough for easy manoevering in tight spaces. Cruising on the freeways at the 120 km/h limit is effortless with the motor turning at just 2 500 rpm, The ride is comfortable, the grip through tight corners was good, the handling predictable, and the suspension smoothes out urban bumps and high speed undulations very competently. In the stopping department, the brakes are quite sharp and brought the Polo to a stop in just under 3 seconds.

The new Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSi Highline DSG is priced at R257 800, then add R9 250 for the options fitted, and the media vehicle as tested slots in at R257 050. The price includes a 3 year / 45 000 km service plan, a 3 year / 120 000 km warranty, and a 12 year anti-corrosion warranty and service intervals are every 15 000 kms.