Volkswagen have introduced a new variant of their hot hatch, the Polo, with a punchier 1.6-litre petrol motor.
Ravi Chandnani finds out how hot it is
Photography Sanjay Raikar
The Volkswagen Polo is a smart car with a perfect balance. Its 1.2-litre oil burner is a gem of an engine be it on drives within the city or on the highways. However, the 1.2-litre petrol Polo lacks the peppiness expected of a petrol engine. It seems that Volkswagen understood this lacuna and have now offered the Polo with a 1.6-litre petrol motor option.
This new variant has been priced at Rs 7.13 lakh (OTR, Pune), which is Rs 38,000 more than the Highline 1.2-litre petrol. This extra money gets you an engine which, if you so desire, can transform the petrol Polo into an enthusiast’s car. The 1,598-cc petrol engine is a direct lift from the VW Vento that produces 30 PS and 43 Nm more than the 1.2-litre petrol variant. The 105 PS of power and 153 Nm of torque generated by this 1.6-litre motor are transferred to the front wheels via a smooth, five-speed transmission. However, the gearing on this new car is a little taller. The new variant also offers excellent driveability, which, in any case, is the norm with all VW vehicles.
The solid build quality of the Polo always gives one the impression of driving a bigger car and, of course, its handling is as perfect as on the other variants of the model. It is precise, immaculate and inspires confidence every time you enter or exit a corner. The almost non-existent body roll allows the driver to take the 1.6 round a corner at a good speed and it holds on to the road fabulously without giving any jitters to the driver.
Performance testing proved that this baby easily outperforms its smaller sibling. It sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in just 11.7 seconds, which is almost five seconds quicker than the 1.2. This could have been bettered further if the car weren’t so heavy (1,100 kg). The top speed does not let one down either, as it can attain a maximum of 178 km/h, which is pretty good for a 1,100-kg hatchback. The third gear roll-ons were especially interesting as the 1.6 took 11.8 seconds to go from 40 to 100 km/h. The fourth and fifth gear roll-ons were equally impressive. However, what we really love in the car is its monocoque chassis, which is well engineered and can handle a powerful engine. Overall, this engine transplant has made the Polo 1.6 an attractive option if you are looking for some fun in the city as well as on the highways. The fuel efficiency test proved that this Polo would not burn a big hole in your pocket – it delivers an overall figure of 14.8 km per litre.
The fit-and-finish of the exterior and the interior is top-notch in its segment, just like that of the 1.2-litre variant.
However, there are a few issues, which, if addressed, would make this 1.6 variant a sure winner in every respect. For instance, small things like electrically adjustable wing mirrors and steering-mounted controls, which are available in other cars that cost almost the same amount of money, are missing from this Polo. Another thing that disappoints is the rear leg room, which has been discussed in detail in the earlier road tests of both the diesel and petrol variants. Since such things do have a bearing on the buyer’s decision, we would love it if VW took care of these.
Apart from these, the Polo is a perfect car for the family man as well as the enthusiast. You get a more powerful and peppier Polo for almost the same price. So, if you are looking for a powerful and reliable car with a solid build quality, excellent engineering and good ownership experience, then we would surely recommend the new 1.6 Volkswagen Polo.
Captions:
1. The peppy 1598cc engine makes the Polo an all-rounder
2.The exterior design of the car remains the same with only the rear badge now reading Polo1.6
3.The interiors also remain the same with only a new tachometer with a max reading of 8000rpm
Gasha’s Perspective
Every car comes with a character and that of the Polo is synonymous with hassle-free driving. Whereas the earlier car barely realised about 10 per cent of its potential with its 1.2-litre engine, the 1.6 feels like living with the true Polo. A better power-to-weight ratio now saves the driver from the pain of frequent gear shifts in the stop-and-go city traffic, a luxury any city-driving woman would never say ‘No’ to. Taller gearing and even distribution of torque throughout the curve keeps the car comfortably rolling even at lower revs with the fuel economy figures standing unharmed. That is exactly what a smart city car should be like. Even at higher revs, the car’s weight and suspension come into play as it clocks higher speeds on the meter, but without any body roll. To sum it all up, giving a bigger engine to the Polo has just made it a much better city car with no frills attached. Next in line, the company should start preparing to launch a 1.6 diesel soon. Finally, having survived the days of tiring our arms out, Indian drivers are in a position to make a wiser choice. Happy days are definitely here.
