Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 2014 review

Volkswagen is running hot in Australia at the moment, particularly with sales of the evergreen Golf. Not content with that, VW Australia is keen to join the sales fray with the Golf’s smaller brother, the Polo. 

The light-car segment in Australia is dominated by cars from Korean and Japanese makers, selling at pretty low prices, so VW Australia trimmed it prices a few months back. Already sales seem to be on an upward path so we borrowed a Polo for a week to reacquaint ourselves with the little German machine.

Note that Polo is again the smallest Volkswagen in Australia, the interesting Up! didn’t appeal to Australian buyers and has been removed from the sales list downunder. Hopefully, only temporarily, because we love the styling and driving ability of the Up!.

Explore the 2014 Volkswagen Polo range

• Volkswagen Polo 2014 review: snapshot
• Volkswagen Polo 2014 review
• Volkswagen Polo Trendline 2014 review
• Volkswagen Polo 2014 review: road test
• Volkswagen Polo 81 TSI Comfortline 2014 review
• Volkswagen Polo Comfortline 2014 review

DESIGN

VW Polo’s styling is neat and tidy, with revisions to the front and rear that see it with slightly sharper lines. New wheel designs are part of the updated shape and some extra colours have been added to the body and trim brochures.

The interior is simple and functional, with instruments that are easy to see and controls that fall easily to hand. 

The little Volkswagen’s looks are likely to remain timeless, something that usually helps resale values. 

FEATURES
    
Volkswagen Polo has a 5.0-inch touch screen giving access to AM/FM radio, a CD player. There’s an Aux socket, an SD card slot and the system is compatible with MP3 and WMA music files.

OPTION PACKS

Polo Comfortline, but not the Trendline, can be specified with a $1500 Driving Comfort Package with adaptive cruise control, driver fatigue detection, front assist with autonomous emergency brake function, automatic windscreen wipers and a rear view camera.

There’s also a Sport Package, again at $1500, with lowered suspension, Mirabeau 17-inch wheels, dark tinted rear side window and rear window glass, front foglights with static cornering function.

ENGINES / TRANSMISSIONS

The biggest change to the MY15 Volkswagen Polo is the introduction of two versions of the 1.2-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine we have come to love in other recent Volkswagens.

In the lower cost Trendline models the little turbo engine provides 66kW and 160Nm. Torque is at its peak from just 1400 revs and remains there all the way through to 3500 revs. Most drivers will find themselves with top torque virtually all the time.

The upmarket Polo Comfortline version has the same 1.2-litre engine, except that it’s tuned to provide 81kW and 175Nm. The latter again reaches its peak at just 1400 rpm but now stays there till the engine is turning at 4000 rpm.

Polo 66 TSI is offered with a five-speed manual, whereas the 81 TSI has a six-speed. Both are offered with the option of a seven-speed DSG double-clutch automatic.

SAFETY

A five-star ANCAP safety rating has been obtained with ease thanks to a strong body and electronic stability aids. The Sport Package adds further crash prevention and/or minimisation items.

DRIVING

Volkswagen Polo handles in a dynamic European fashion, something that gives it a handy edge over its European rivals. It corners at much higher speeds than are likely to be attempted by most owners. 

At the limit there’s safe understeer and the Polo is backed by electronic aids to further help the driver keep it safely under control.

Electro-mechanical steering has been fitted to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It’s one of the better electric power steering systems, with reasonably direct feedback. 

The front seats support nicely, including under the thighs. The seating position is relatively high to provide for extra legroom for those in the back seats, this is barely noticeable, and certainly not as aggressively high as in one of Polo’s chief European competitors, the cute little Italian Fiat 500. 

We feel the rear seats are better suited to children than adults on a routine basis. However, adults can be carried in relative comfort if those in the front are willing and able to move their seats forward a few notches. 

As a city car for a family with children under about 12 years the VW Polo will work brilliantly.

Ride comfort is again typically VW as the body has a solid feel and provides a good platform for the suspension to work on. There’s a relaxed feeling inside the Polo that normally requires a car from the next size segment.

These new-design Volkswagen 1.2-litre engines are delightful to sit behind. They provide strong torque, respond almost immediately and are always happy to rev. 

I feel the majority of drivers won’t need anything more than the 66kW version, though as keen drivers we must admit to enjoying the extra urge provided by the 81kW in our Polo Comfortline test car.