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Power & torque

Fuel consumption

Warran ty, servicing

Performance data

Brakes & wheels

VWPolo 1.0TSI BlueMotion

Price (as tested)|R2 3920 0 (R 25 7 152)

He

ight

1 461

Suspension

MacPhersonstrut front,

torsion beamrear

Engine

999cc12v 3-cylinder turbo

Length3 972 Width 1 682

Transmission

Five-speed manual,

front-wheel drive

Power 70kW@ 5000rpm

Torque 160Nm@ 1 50 0rpm

Power toweight67.6kWpertonne

Claimed

Urbancycle 3.6ℓ/100km

Extra-urbancycle 5.2ℓ/100km

Combined cycle 4.2ℓ/100km

CO2 emissions 97g/km

Actual

Test route 80 km

Consumption 5.5ℓ/100km

Cruisingrange 900km

Warranty 3-year120 000km

Service plan 3-year/4 5 000km

Service intervals 15 000km

Bootcapacity 280 ℓ

Utilityspace 952 ℓ

Kerbweight 1 036kg

Fuel supply Direct injection

Acceleration

0-60kph 4.38sec

0-80kph 6.63sec

0-100kph 10.1 sec

Overtaking

60 -100kph 8.4 sec

80 -120kph 9.61sec

Braking

100-0kph 3.00sec/4 0m

Top speed 191kph

Brakesfront

Brakes rear

Wheels

Tyres

Ventilated discs

Solid discs

15in alloys

BridgestoneEcopia

185 /60R15

kg

45

litr es

TANK

OUR CHOICE:Yaris tries even

hardertobe anecowarrior, but

costs andboresmuch more. Won’t

get nearitsconsumption claim either.

Fiestacheaperand perkier but uses

morefuel whenyou’rehavingfun.

Polo for the win.

MEET THE RIVALS

Toyota Yaris Hybrid

>PriceR2 82500 >Engine

1 497cc 4cyl petrol-electric

hybrid, 74 k W+ 45 kW(e),

111Nm+1 69Nm(e)>

TransmissionCVT, FWD>

Stats11.8sec0-100kph, 165kph,

3.6ℓ/100km, 82g/km

Ford Fiesta 1.0T Titanium

>PriceR2 25900 >Engine

999cc3cyl turbo, 92kW@

6 000rpm, 170Nm@ 1 40 0-

4 500 rpm>Transmission

5-speedmanual, FWD

>Stats9.4sec0-100kph,

196kph, 4.3ℓ/100km, 99g/km

less responsive than a ke en driver would

expect. Adjust those expectations and you’ll

get along fine thanks to an

electromechanical speed-sensitive power

steering setup that’s easy to form a working

relationsh ip with. The lowered ride height

hasn’t discernibly affecte d the ride quality,

but you will have to live with

increased wind noise. It’s

almost as if the aero tweaks

that supposedly disturb less

air forc e moreof it to flow up

and over the windscreen

instead of through the

regular Polo’s larger grille.

Again, it’s not enough to

spoil the party. When cars

are this good, you end up

seriously nit-picking.

Sign us up

Stickered at R239200, the

well-equipped 1.0TSI

Bluemotion Polo is a ge nuine

delight, both from behind the

wheel and at the petrol

pumps. The aero work, tyres

and especially the switch to a

lightweigh t three-cyli nder

motor all tang ibly boost real-

world fuel efficiency without

the need for a half-hearted

throttle pedal or an ECU that

has overdosed on Valium.

The result is a relatively

affordable eco car for drivers,

and that’s a rare thing.tc

All segment-best regular Poloin
here. Upgrade to‘Composition Media’
touchscreencompletewithproximity
sensor–icons growasyourfinger
approaches to increase accuracy

Mostly blanked-offgrille,

Bluemotion badges andaero-

biased BuenosAires rims are

the mostobvious tell-talesto

the car’s efficiency intent