Unlike other car-makers who just retain the same old interiors in their upgraded cars, VW have actually injected some more excitement in the new Polo’s cabin. It still feels premium and upmarket compared to its peers, and there are a few things that simply elevate the feeling of being in a good car. The familiar dashboard now features a centre console that is adorned by the music system. The entire console is further accentuated by beautifully finished silver paint. Adding a bit of zing and sportiness to the dashboard are the brushed aluminium trimmings that surround bits like the air-con vents, music system and a-c controls. The thing I love the most is the new three-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel with superbly finished gloss inserts. Many would say that this is not a sports car to have a wheel like that, but I would say that it looks good and makes me happy and that is all that matters.
Comfort-wise the seats are good just as before and offer ample support, but one thing that VW have not corrected is the rear knee-room. You still struggle to find suitable space for your knees and if you are six-foot-plus, I would recommend the front seats. Quality again is exceptional, fit-and-finish is immaculate and overall it feels a pretty solidly built cabin that would last longer than your mobile phone.
Redone exterior and interior is one thing, but the biggest change in the new Polo is the new four-pot 1.5-litre TDI motor. It is basically the same unit that serves the Vento, but the smaller bore has reduced its cubic capacity to 1,498 cc. You will forget the problems associated with the old 1.2 TDI as the 1.5 TDI is everything you ever wanted. The refinement levels are truly high and the smoothness makes you wonder whether this really is a diesel engine. It’s utterly quiet too even at 2,000 RPM and, unlike the old 1.2, it doesn’t sound like a farm tractor beyond 2K RPM.
