2020 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI review, test drive

What is it?

Initial released in India in 2010, the Volkswagen Polo is additional than a generation aged, but it has been in a constant condition of evolution. In excess of the years, it has been powered by no fewer than eight unique engines. Nonetheless, it’s the 2020 Volkswagen Polo one. TSI that will get the most completed engine however. 

An Worldwide Engine of the Year award winner, the 999cc direct-injection TSI petrol is the two densely packed with technological know-how and finely engineered to deftly stability the conflicting prerequisites of the two electric power and gasoline financial state. So how does it stack up on paper?

As opposed to the previous one.two TSI rated at 105hp, the new one. will make 110hp. And inspite of its scaled-down ability, it will make an identical 175nm of torque, albeit from a  somewhat greater one,750rpm (vs one,500rpm for the one.two TSI). The one. TSI also has a cylinder fewer and, as a result, a additional apples-to-apples comparison is with Hyundai’s one. -litre, three-cylinder TGDI motor which develops 100hp and 172Nm of torque.

What is important is that the new 2020 Polo one. TSI will get a six-speed manual gearbox for the initially time, to reinforce driver attractiveness. What is missing even though – apart from a diesel selection – is VW’s brief-shifting seven-speed DSG or twin-clutch automatic. In its place, the new Polo GT will get (it isn’t in showrooms however) a standard torque converter-equipped six-speed auto.

Aside from the engine, tiny has transformed on the 2020 Polo. VW’s little one was presented a facelift lately, and inspite of its age, it doesn’t appear dated. The properly proportioned form is timeless and however exudes that solid Teutonic experience. The crisp details however elicit prolonged appreciative seems, and what provides to the attractiveness is the new GTI-like nose. You can find also an added little bit of cladding that stretches alongside the jogging board and all over to the rear, merging with what seems like fake diffuser. 

What is actually it like to push?

Let us start with functionality, which by any yardstick is very powerful. The tug from three,000rpm to all over six,000rpm delivers a powerful thrust in the small of your back, and change up a equipment and there is not considerably of a permit-up in functionality. Acceleration is so powerful, the one.-litre does the -100kph sprint in just 9.97sec, producing it one particular of the quickest hatchbacks all over. Only Fiat’s Abarth Punto was more rapidly but with most of the very hot hatches discontinued, the Polo one. TSI stands unchallenged.  The frequent one.two Swift arrives closest but it can be a however a whole two seconds slower in the race to 100kph, and that is inspite of its large one hundred ninety kg fat edge. Also, uncover the suitable street and the one. TSI will strike a greatest speed of 192kph – gives you an plan of just how considerably grunt there is in the motor.

The one. TSI is also a whole next more quickly to 100kph as opposed to the outgoing DSG- automatic-equipped one.two, and by the time you get to 160kph, the gap to the one.two is additional than 6sec! Opposition for the Polo one. TSI is additional likely to come from Hyundai’s new Grand i10 Nios, which will get a 100hp turbo-petrol as properly. To give some reference, the Location powered with the identical engine and a six-speed gearbox does the dash to 100kph in 11.24sec.

The one. TSI also pulls cleanly from low engine speeds, producing it mild and straightforward to push in targeted visitors. Get off the clutch, even from as low as one,100rpm in any equipment, and there isn’t too considerably judder or hesitation – the Polo will get heading efficiently. Acceleration, having said that, is a little bit flat and electric power does not come in powerful right up until you go two,500rpm. So in-equipment acceleration isn’t very powerful, with twenty-80kph in third having 12.3sec and 40-100kph in fourth having fourteen.7sec. To illustrate, the discontinued Baleno RS that also experienced a one. turbo, did the identical in 9.48sec and 12.53sec. 

Rowing via the gearbox to keep the engine on the boil provides tremendously to the driving experience and the properly-picked equipment ratios squeeze the most out of this compact engine. The six-speed gearbox, having said that, is not one particular of VW’s very best units it takes a little bit of energy to slot the properly-concluded knob via the gate, and on situation feels a little bit notchy.

Lopping off one particular cylinder has also compromised refinement to some extent and the discordant defeat of the three-cylinder engine is obvious. Idle is a little bit lumpy and you can experience a number of pulses coming via the clutch The absence of a balancer shaft signifies it surely isn’t as easy as Ford’s one.five three-cylinder Dragon – which is however the benchmark for refinement – and one.two TSI entrepreneurs will clearly pass up the silky easy responses and seamless punch of the greater 4-cylinder unit.

Nonetheless, where by the Polo one. TSI’s hits it out of the park, all over again, is all over corners. Certainly, the steering is mild, but it is also direct, slack-absolutely free and it weights up properly as you go more quickly. The new Polo also enters corners with a large amount additional confidence. It very easily carries speed into corners, the flip-in is sharp, human body manage is decent on its rigid springs, and the big wheels and grippy tyres genuinely make it possible for you to keep cornering speeds up. Use the powerful mid-vary of the engine to fly out of corners and you are assured a big smile.

It even rides properly. There is a hint of stiffness in the springs and that keeps you conscious of medium-sized bumps, but the suspension manages to round-off sharp edges fairly properly, and as opposed to earlier, substantial craters usually are not considerably of a problem either. Even the floor clearance is generous.

Keen motorists will genuinely delight in the properly-rounded functionality of the new Polo one. TSI, which genuinely arrives jointly as a fantastic driver’s car or truck. In fact, for sheer driving satisfaction, you won’t get everything additional entertaining for the cash. 

With its scaled-down ability engine and manual gearbox, the VW Polo one. TSI is also additional successful. The official figure stands at eighteen.24kpl, which signifies a genuine-entire world figure of concerning 11 and 12 on our town cycle.  

What is actually it like within? 

It can be no shock that the 2020 Polo is very common on the within. The cabin, in fact, feels like it has been carried more than unaltered, with only a number of vital attributes included. Purists will love the purposeful, solid and uncluttered design and style which, like the exterior, has stood the exam of time.

The six.five-inch touchscreen isn’t very substantial but the quality of the show and touch functionality is good. In fact, utilizing the method is fairly seamless, and Apple CarPlay performs especially properly with it. Even bigger isn’t usually far better.

Those people who love driving will enjoy the very sporty and crystal clear instrument panel with its white-on-black numbering and the monotone central show. And then there is the leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, a tactile experience in alone. 

Also one thing you are unable to fairly overlook is the Polo’s solid make. The ‘thunk’ when you shut the doorway speaks volumes about the way in which the car or truck has been set jointly, and what also lends an air of quality is that the buttons are developed to a very substantial regular. In fact, quality levels are so good, the bits utilised on the within could simply go muster on a car or truck or an SUV that is twice the rate of the Polo . . . and they typically do. 

The gray-on-black themed cabin with the gunmetal gray inset, having said that, seems dull. Volkswagen has utilised chrome highlights and ‘piping’ sparingly, and with the seats concluded in black as properly, the cabin clearly could have completed with some brightening up.

That aside, the driving posture is great. The steering adjusts for arrive at and rake, the seat base is awesome and broad, and even though a little bit additional shoulder support would have been appreciated, seat consolation, in typical, is very good. 

Ever because the Polo was released, rear-seat house has not been its strongest point, and that fact has been additional accentuated with the arrival of competitiveness with additional roomy back seats. Nonetheless, that reported, the Polo’s rear seat isn’t a poor place to be, especially if you are not very tall. Thigh support is good, the cushioning is just suitable and the backrest is properly reclined. You do pass up a central elbow relaxation, and even though there are air-con vents, there are no USB slots only a 12-volt socket is current. 

The boot is awesome and wide, and at 280 litres, it is decently sized too. Those people wanting for more cargo house can flip the rear seat down.

When it arrives to kit, VW has deleted some essential things. You can find no rear parking digital camera, no ESP (steadiness manage) and no LEDs. And, as opposed to the Hyundai Nios one. turbo, there is no wi-fi charging either. What you do get on the 2020 Polo Highline Moreover are stuff like a cooled glovebox, cruise manage, voice instructions, and one particular-touch electric power home windows. 

Ought to you buy one particular?

If you are wanting for house, consolation and practicality, the new 2020 Polo one. TSI isn’t the hatchback for you. Nonetheless, change your gaze to the driver’s seat (which is where by most entrepreneurs in this class sit), and the 2020 Polo abruptly emerges as a entrance runner. Certainly, the engine needs to be labored to get the most out of it, it isn’t fairly as easy as a 4-cylinder, and some vital kit has been deleted. However, if you are wanting at making the most of your time driving the wheel, the gracefully ageing Polo with a new heart is a powerful deal. 

Outright functionality is what sets this car or truck apart, and suitable now there is no other more rapidly mainstream hatch. It’s stable at speed, loves to deal with corners, and goads you to push it immediately. Place merely, this is a good driver’s car or truck with the capability to plant a big smile on your confront. 

Including to the experience-good variable is Volkswagen’s legendary make quality. It feels solid the two within and out and you know that even immediately after five years of challenging usage, it won’t appear the even worse for use. 

At Rs 8.02 lakh, it isn’t too much off the car or truck that at present dominates this class – the Swift ZXi+ at Rs seven.58 lakh. For the identical cash, you can get a compact SUV too but that won’t be fifty percent as considerably pleasurable the moment the newness wears off. So, if you are wanting for a hatchback that is the two pleasurable to push and very useable on a everyday foundation, the VW Polo one. TSI is the one particular for you.

Also see:

2020 Volkswagen Polo one. TSI video clip review

Limited-edition Volkswagen Polo TSI, Vento TSI released

VW Polo TSI vs Hyundai Grand i10 Nios Turbo: Value, specs comparison

Autocar Drag Day: Ford Figo vs Volkswagen Polo Drag race video clip