There is nothing more difficult than to earn people's love. That is why the development of a mass, affordable car, which, with all its compromises, will be able to please, not every engineer-designer-marketer can handle it. But this is a huge sales segment: it is mass inexpensive cars that bring profit, and not futuristic-technological and magically beautiful exclusive cars. After discussing new supercars and concepts in the smoking room, motorists move on to real topics: what kind of car to take.
It is even more difficult to choose your only one. Here everything is important and everything is decisive.
While Volkswagen delighted with the handling (and price) of the small Polo hatchback and drew the graceful lines of the Passat CC, Renault, Peugeot, Koreans and even the Chinese established themselves in the budget segment, and the name "Volkswagen" has long ceased to be associated with its original meaning - the people's car.
While Volkswagen delighted with the handling (and price) of the small Polo hatchback and drew the graceful lines of the Passat CC, Renault, Peugeot, Koreans and even the Chinese established themselves in the budget segment, and the name "Volkswagen" has long ceased to be associated with its original meaning - the people's car.
But VW has a trump card with which to pull out a belated batch - the new Polo budget sedan. And judging by the interest of the potential audience, the chances are high.
VW has a trump card with which to pull out a belated batch - the new Polo budget sedan. And judging by the interest of the potential audience, the chances are high.
Designers, when creating affordable sedans that are popular on the Russian market, usually choose one of two possible ways: either a sleek, washed-out image, or a catchy pretentiousness. Neither option is particularly attractive. Against their background, the Polo sedan, it would seem, is nothing special: the muzzle resembles the front of the stylish Polo hatchback, and the rear of the car can be mistaken for a Skoda Octavia from afar. This, apparently, is the secret of its attractiveness: Polo Sedan is the most beautiful and solid of all models in the segment. It is impressive, harmonious, concise and stylish. "Polo" does not just look more expensive, it seems to be a representative of a different class.
Polo Sedan is the most beautiful and solid of all models in the segment. It is impressive, harmonious, concise and stylish. "Polo" does not just look more expensive, it seems to be a representative of a different class.
Perhaps that is why you expect so much from him, and expectations are not always justified ... However, in order!
At first glance, one to one - the stylish interior of an expensive hatchback under the same name, which served as the basis for the new sedan. But it is worth taking a closer look, as you notice cheap and hard plastic, a slippery plastic steering wheel without radio control keys, and the absence of any decorative details.
In the son-in-law the same salon. At first glance, one to one - the stylish interior of an expensive hatchback under the same name, which served as the basis for the new sedan. But it’s worth taking a closer look, as you notice cheap and hard plastic, a slippery plastic steering wheel without radio control keys, the absence of any decorative details, even the sound of a slamming door is different.
The food is that from a car that is not much different in size from the Jetta (the sedan is 4384 mm long, 1699 mm wide, 1465 mm high, which allows the car to be the largest in the class), you expect the same interior. But in reality, the Polo sedan should be compared with competitors - the same Renault Symbol, Peugeot 206 Sedan, Hyundai Accent, etc. And the comparison is clearly in favor of the "German".
The space in the glove box is perfectly organized - taking into account the containers for various things. Cup holders, bottle pockets in the doors are provided, the center console and gearshift are trimmed with metal inserts. The “family” shortcomings are also preserved: an uncomfortable joystick for controlling electric mirrors and an armrest that blocks access to the handbrake, invented by someone obviously at a moment of resentment to the whole world.
The space in the glove box is well organized - taking into account the containers for various things. There are cup holders, bottle pockets in the doors.
The armrest that covers the handbrake was clearly invented by someone in a moment of resentment for the whole world.
Otherwise, the ergonomics of the interior are on top: high-quality assembly, comfortable seats with good lateral support and height adjustment, the correct diameter of the steering wheel, which can be adjusted in two planes, well-read, albeit boring instruments. Between the speedometer and tachometer there is an on-board computer window with an electronic fuel level indicator and on-board computer data.
From the rear, the seats are again a class higher: there is room for the legs, and it’s not cramped in the shoulders, except that the ceiling is a bit low - at the level of an inexpensive sedan. Trunk volume is a significant 460 liters. The seats can be laid out almost to a flat floor, significantly increasing the loading space. The trunk opens with a key or a button from the passenger compartment. From the inside, the metal cover is covered with a solid fabric insert.
Trunk volume is a significant 460 liters. The seats can be laid out almost to a flat floor, significantly increasing the loading space. The trunk opens with a key or a button from the passenger compartment. Behind the seats, again, a class higher: there is room for the legs, and it’s not cramped in the shoulders, except that the ceiling is a bit low - at the level of an inexpensive sedan.
At the presentation of the Polo sedan, which took place in Moscow on June 1, it became known that the new product will be produced at the Volkswagen plant in Kaluga in a full cycle. So, as part of the first test drive of the new Polo Sedan, we went to Kaluga. A great option: to test the cars in action, and visit the native factory of Russian VW sedans.
The noise from the engine, the rustling of the wheels, the howl of the wind - everything penetrates the cabin. The suspension is rigid and not energy-intensive enough, the rear axle shudders noticeably on bumps, but it does not allow breakdowns (during pre-series Russian tests, it was decided to replace the standard rear semi-independent suspension with a stronger “beam” from the Golf IV).
According to representatives of Volkswagen, the novelty was tested in Russian conditions for a year. It's time to find out how cars will feel in ordinary operation. For the test, cars were provided in the most expensive Highline configuration: a 1.6-liter 105-horsepower engine, transmission - a five-speed "mechanics" or a six-speed "automatic", air conditioning, radio, heated front seats, power mirrors and power windows, ABS, etc. d. The cost of such cars starts from 534,400 rubles (578,800 for a car with an "automatic").
And it’s not difficult to find a perfect fit due to seat and steering wheel adjustments (only to adjust the mirrors, you will have to suffer with the joystick, as usual). Air conditioning on full - overboard more than thirty degrees of heat!
In a row of silver and red sedans roll out onto the track and pick up speed easily. The noise from the engine, the rustling of the wheels, the howl of the wind - everything penetrates the cabin. The suspension is rigid and not energy-intensive enough, the rear axle shudders noticeably on bumps, but it does not allow breakdowns (during pre-series Russian tests, it was decided to replace the standard rear semi-independent suspension with a stronger “beam” from the Golf IV). If this did not cause inconvenience on the Moscow Region highway, then discomfort was felt on imperfect Kaluga roads. Among the advantages - more endurance. And 170 mm clearance is the most for our roads.
1.6-liter engine with 105 hp pulls well on the bottoms, when overtaking it is better to switch down. With an increase in speed, the howl intensifies, with which the sound insulation finally ceases to cope. At a cruising speed of 120-130 km / h, the engine maintains about 3000-3500 rpm. The Polo Sedan holds the arc well, without forcing you to steer, it enters the turn perfectly, obeying the steering wheel predictably, and behaves steadily at high speeds in a straight line.
We got our first test Polo with a manual transmission. It is pleasant and quick to shift clear gears, the clutch pedal travel is too big, the car reacts cheerfully to the accelerator, although without haste.
Sedan Polo in natural Russian habitats.
You can turn on the speakers by using the magic button... turning off the air conditioner: the car becomes clearly easier to drive. However, in such heat, it is impossible to refuse this function, which is necessary this summer, besides, the air conditioning system copes with stuffy heat in the cabin quickly and maintains the temperature at a comfortable level all the time.
1.6-liter engine with 105 hp pulls well on the bottoms, when overtaking it is better to switch down. With an increase in speed, the howl intensifies, with which the sound insulation finally ceases to cope. At a cruising speed of 120-130 km / h, the engine maintains about 3000-3500 rpm. The Polo Sedan holds the arc well, without forcing you to steer, it enters the turn perfectly, obeying the steering wheel predictably, and behaves steadily at high speeds in a straight line.
As for the automatic transmission, the VW sedan is equipped with a six-speed Aisin transmission with manual mode - the most advanced in the segment. That does not prevent her from reacting with a delay to pressing the gas pedal and thinking when switching. On kickdown, the howl of the motor becomes annoyingly loud. Moving the selector to position S increases the responsiveness of the accelerator and allows the motor to spin up to 6000 rpm, which slightly improves dynamics.
I didn’t like the brakes (front discs on the sedan, rear drums), or rather the setting of the brake pedal itself: it is wadded and uninformative.
By the way, the average fuel consumption of a sedan with an “automatic” in an unstable test mode was a pleasant 8.4 liters.
As for the automatic transmission, the VW sedan is equipped with a six-speed Aisin transmission with manual mode - the most advanced in the segment. That does not prevent her from reacting with a delay to pressing the gas pedal and thinking when switching. On kickdown, the howl of the motor becomes annoyingly loud. Moving the selector to position S increases the responsiveness of the accelerator and allows the motor to spin up to 6000 rpm, which slightly improves dynamics. By the way, the average fuel consumption of a sedan with an “automatic” in an unstable test mode was a pleasant 8.4 liters.
the most optimal version of the Polo Sedan costs 509,000 (553,300 for a car with an "automatic") rubles.
And the irony of the fate of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is that everyone, having got used to the German cars of the new era and having bought into a solid appearance, expect comfort and dynamics from a budget car no less than the Passat. Forgetting that it costs from 400,000 rubles. And perhaps this is the highest assessment of its merits.
For this money Polo Sedan must be compared with ...
Renault Symbol: from 464,000 rubles for a base with a 1.4-liter 98-horsepower engine. The most affordable Symbol with a 1.6-liter engine will cost at least 547,000 rubles, however, for this money there will already be air conditioning, full power accessories for mirrors and windows, radio, driver and passenger airbags, ABS and driver's seat height adjustment.
Peugeot 206 Sedan: from 424,000 rubles. Also, a 1.4-liter engine with 75 hp.
Hyundai Accent in the database is cheaper than Polo - from 387,700 rubles with a 1.5-liter engine, but in a poorer configuration, and the appearance with the interior is much more ascetic.
KIA Spectra is also cheaper - from 379,000 rubles for a car with a 1.6-liter 101-horsepower engine, power steering with height adjustment, electric windows.
Chevrolet Aveo: the most powerful engine is a 1.4-liter 101-horsepower. With it, the basic equipment costs 446,200 rubles.
Ford Focus is the standard of all comparisons. A sedan with a 1.4-liter 80-horsepower engine costs at least 459,000 rubles. True, the base is rich: ABS, front power windows, two pillows and power mirrors.
Unfortunately, in the basic version of the Polo Sedan for 399,000 rubles, the car, like the vast majority of competitors, does not have air conditioning and it cannot be delivered additionally. The back of the rear seat in the basic version does not fold out in parts - only in its entirety. There are front airbags, all power windows, driver's seat height adjustment, and steering wheel height and reach adjustment, electromechanical power steering. Radio tape recorder - surcharge of 8,000 rubles.
The Comfortline package, which costs 468,000 rubles for the version with “mechanics” and 512,300 for the version with “automatic”, includes ABS, electrically adjustable and heated mirrors, heated front seats and a rear seat that folds out in parts. There is no air conditioning and radio, for them you will have to pay 33,000 and 8,000 rubles, respectively. 4,160 rubles will cost the finishing of the controls with leather.
Top equipment Highline worth 534,400 rubles for the "mechanics" and 578,700 for the "automatic" is rich in 15-inch alloy wheels and front foglights. For 67,000 rubles, you can order the Premium package: a stabilization system, leather trim, climate control, a multifunctional steering wheel and an anti-theft system.
Top-of-the-line
The first Polo sedans for the Russian market left the assembly line of the Volkswagen car plant near Kaluga in the spring of 2010. Their main difference from the hatchback modification, which is not officially sold in our country, was an increased wheelbase (+82 mm), increased ground clearance (+15 mm), redesigned rear suspension and steering. Compared to the five-door, the Polo sedan also has a more tilted windshield and is slightly wider. Parts most susceptible to corrosion are galvanized, the windshield can be equipped with an electric heating function, a larger battery and a more powerful starter are used.
At first, there was only one engine, a 1.6-liter “aspirated” (today it is available in 90 and 110 hp versions), transmissions were a 5-speed “mechanics” and a 6-band “automatic”. However, recently a top-end version has also been offered, where a 1.4-liter 125-horsepower turbo engine is aggregated with a 5-speed “mechanics” or a 7-speed sequential “robot” DSG.
Polo for ladies
In a word, the developers squeezed the maximum of practicality out of the Polo project. But the female audience is not so willing to peck at naked utility: to attract lovely ladies, you need comfortable solutions and designer enticements. Realizing this, during the restyling of 2015, the designers added an external gloss to the Polo and seriously expanded the list of options, and a flattened bottom steering wheel and a more elegant center console were registered in the cabin. But is all this enough to make Polo the choice of women?
Eva Motornaya answers this question quite specifically: “It all depends on the level of equipment. The car that I was given for the test is very beautiful. What is the coloring alone worth, give or take - milk chocolate! We are talking about the “beige metallic” shade, which was added to the automaker’s palette after restyling. In the exterior of the sedan, Eva is most impressed by the brutal frontal part - the bumper splitter, faceted mirror and headlight housings with LED lights, chrome inserts and tinted body pillars. All this, in her opinion, perfectly disguises the budget basis of the sedan. And the elongated body again evoked associations with clothes in Eva - “it looks like a maxi skirt for long-legged coquettes.”
The salon, according to our expert, is simpler than the exterior. Nevertheless, it looks unbanal - the weather is made by a plump steering wheel with control keys and a cut off lower sector. “I also like neat air ducts that are easy and convenient to adjust, and the multimedia screen is simple, but somehow homely,” says Eva. - When parking, a clear picture from the rear view camera is displayed on it. You can’t find fault with the quality of the speakerphone, and the child is satisfied - the radio tape recorder sounds voluminous, the smartphone is connected via a USB slot or via Bluetooth.
She appreciated the motor and ergonomics, which the products of the German concern are famous for: “It was not a problem to get comfortable behind the wheel. The steering wheel is adjustable in two planes, the chair is comfortable. The most needed buttons are at arm's length, and multimedia control is intuitive. In the glove box I found a secret pocket for small things - it is quite possible to keep cosmetics, flash drives or, say, money there. I also liked the compact adjustable armrest, also with a comfortable box. And here are two mirrors in sun visors at once - for me and for a friend. The only thing that caused complaints was landing in the driver's seat: if the seat is raised high, you will definitely touch the arch of the door with the top of your head. And in terms of aesthetics, I would like the plastic to be softer and the central display larger - the car will immediately add to the status.
Oh, I'll ride!
In motion, Polo presents a pleasant surprise. “It turns out that this stretch perfectly obeys the steering wheel and, moreover, it is very frisky,” Motornaya exclaims after a few minutes of driving. “And if you turn on the Sport mode, then the car may well compete with much more prestigious and eminent models!” No wonder, a bunch of 125-horsepower turbo engine and a fast "robot" with two clutches accelerate the sedan to 100 km/h in just 9 seconds.
We also recommend test drives of competing cars Toyota Yaris
(hatchback 3-door)
Generation III Test Drives 5
(hatchback 3-door)
And what about comfort? “In the pits and joints, the Polo is a bit noisy and not as soft as we would like. But these settings suit me quite well, this is a very small price to pay for excellent handling,” says our test pilot.
But, perhaps, most of all, Eva praises the sedan for its ... utilitarian talents: “On the front row, from this point of view, in general, there are no revelations - it’s convenient, but without a margin in terms of volume. But behind ... If they told me that you sit in the back row of the compact, not resting your knees on the back of the front seats, I probably would not believe it. But in Polo it's real! Behind you can go three of us even for long distances. Well, the trunk. This is just a small hangar - not only packages from the supermarket will fit, but also large suitcases.
The advice that Eva gives in conclusion is quite predictable: “Girls, take it soon, before the price goes up.” Indeed, 794,000 rubles, which are asked for a test car, is quite a reasonable price. And the simplest Polo with an “automatic” will cost 726,000 rubles at all.
P olo - he is Polo, at least the basic version, at least GT. In 2017, it is absurd to describe with a serious look the main features of the appearance of the “semi-sedan” as for the first time, assuming that someone is really not familiar with one of the most popular and numerous cars on our roads, it is ridiculous ... Recognition of it among those who are at least a little - slightly interested in cars - absolute. At the same time, for some, he is a gray mouse, despite any facelifts, for others, he is a traditional example of restrained German design. And, in general, both of them are right ...
Gray mouse you say? But the Polo GT, from some angles, is no longer a mouse at all, but almost a “steel rat” (c). What in the shape of the car is responsible for the "GT-shnuyu" essence? After all, they buy such cars, certainly wanting others to know about it!
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Not to say that the GT was just so "out of the ordinary" of other Polo, but, in principle, you can recognize it without even getting close. First of all, the cheerful “racing” stripes on the hood and trunk, which look like the stripes of sports pants on our cheered up “summer resident”, as well as the “daring cap” of the black roof, are striking. This decor is made with a vinyl film, it looks good, but, alas, it is optional, not standard.
Then bumpers lightly spiced with aggressiveness, a honeycomb grille, a small spoiler tail on the trunk, a double muffler bell, "GT" door sills and numerous nameplates of the same name everywhere enter into the recognition process: in place of the side turn signals, on the trunk, on the radiator grill and on the lower spoke of the steering wheel.
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By the way, it will not be so difficult for fans of external styling to give the appearance of the most ordinary Polo the main features of the GT modification ... In principle, vinyl, a couple of nameplates and a muffler nozzle are enough “for the district” ... Well, the owners of true Polo GTs, as usual, after a while time you will have to frown, answering questions like “is it real or has it weighed itself?”
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Inside
At the end of 2015, when the Polo underwent a second minor update that added a Kaluga engine to it and practically did not affect the interior, one very old and authoritative auto magazine wrote: “This interior is more than five years old, but it is still interesting! Finishing materials, no doubt, the best in the class!”
The phrase is, of course, advertising-sly. Today, this interior is actually seven years old, but it was not particularly interesting either then or now. Restrained-succinct-utilitarian - yes ... Actually, the GT version is exactly the same: the “sporty” Polo has not found practically any significant and noticeable changes in the interior (do not consider the GT stickers on the thresholds as such!) not a single part of elastic plastic, the armrest between the front seats damnably interferes with the use of the handbrake, the instrument panel is boring, and the tiny screen of the multimedia system looks frankly modest. Seats with high-quality textile upholstery - yes, they are somewhat more “collected” and resilient than in a regular Polo. Not "ladles", of course, but conditionally sporty.
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Despite some texture and detail, the door skins are still made by a single array of solid and rather “scratchy” hard plastic…
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But the steering wheel of the Polo GT is comfortable and quite adult, with leather trim and multi-keys for controlling audio, telephone and trip computer. It’s not a shame to put this on a car of a higher class!
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The lower spoke of the branded GT steering wheel, looking at "6 o'clock", is very convenient in long-distance hauls. One or two fingers fit into the “forked” spoke, and the steering wheel is very comfortable to hold.
The dashboard accompanies the Polo in this form for 7 years. During this time, it has changed slightly, but not significantly. The changes were hardware (the red display between the two arrow scales turned white) and software (new displayed functions were added: for example, one of the last ones was a display of the current manual transmission gear and an arrow hint on which gear to switch to).
The climate control unit is made as a separate module and designed in the style of older brothers in the VW line. He looks good, neat, even cute. That's just the tiny buttons of the blowing modes are not easy to find in motion, and you also need to make out the small icons on them, if the mechanical memory has not yet formed. Unlike older models of the brand, the Polo mode buttons do not have an LED on indication: the display is responsible for displaying the activated functions - also tiny and eye-straining. Apparently, the manufacturer expects that the "auto" mode will be turned on most often, and frequent manipulations with the climate control unit will not be needed ...
The standard armrest can change the angle, but cannot change the reach (forward / backward). At the same time, it is comfortable for the elbow, but inconvenient for using the handbrake.
The velvety-lined interior compartment is perfect for smartphones up to 5.5 inches. More charging there ...
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The electrochromic rear-view mirror in the cabin is dimmed from the light of other people's headlights, but the side mirrors do not have such smart glasses. At the base of the mirror is a rain sensor, which, it should be noted, works quite adequately.
The rear sofa is moderately spacious by the standards of a budget sedan, but only if both the driver and passengers are compact. With the front seat fully moved back, even a child will feel cramped on the sofa. And the only elements of comfort for rear passengers are pockets in the covers of the backs of the front seats and a cup holder at the end of the floor tunnel lining.
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Trunk volume
460 liters
The declared trunk volume of the Polo is 460 liters. This is quite an average value, most classmates have a similar hold. In seven years of production, none of the updates to the car, including the GT version that appeared, did not affect the internal space of the trunk, but for the sake of completeness, we measured the volume.
With factory measurements of the volume of the trunk, the manufacturer practices filling it with test briquettes with a capacity of a liter, but real things fit, eating up more space for nothing than "tetrapacks with juice." We checked the volume of the Polo trunk by filling it with ten-liter canisters that mimic household luggage: 30 canisters entered - 300 liters.
If we divide the promised 460 liters by 300 real ones, then we get a conditional trunk fill factor of 1.53. This is a very good indicator (the unattainable ideal is 1, and the result is slightly less than 2 is quite good). And it would be better if it didn’t interfere with loading the deep hinges of the cover and a large “cube” protruding down from the top shelf, in which the inertial mechanism of the middle passenger’s seat belt is hidden.
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Multimedia
The head unit is a typical economy option. With a touch screen, but so tiny that the empty space around it on the radio panel is very conspicuous. However, the multimedia system plays MP3s from a flash drive and SD card, has an AUX input and Bluetooth for working with a phone and, again, playing music, is responsible for indicating front and rear parking sensors, broadcasts an image from a rear view camera (with dynamic markings) and muffles sound when reversing and other dangerous parking maneuvers. The rear view camera gives an excessively spherical image, but you can get used to it. In the end, such a camera is clearly better than the Chinese crafts from Aliexpress, and even more so its absence.
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4 inexpensive paper broadband speakers in the lower parts of the doors are responsible for the sound, like all Polo modifications. Their sound is very mediocre.
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Iron
"Traditionalists", who prefer classic simplicity, at one time warmly welcomed the appearance of the Polo Sedan thanks to its almost "Zhiguli" oak and simple CFNA aspirated with the good old timing chain and without the delicate and vulnerable phase regulator. True, it had hydraulic compensators, an electronic throttle, a double thermostat and heating of the afterburned crankcase gases. That is, "unnecessary complexities" that created bottlenecks. However, it was not they who spoiled the impression of the owners of the Polo Sedan in the first years of production, but the sensational story with the sound of pistons dangling in the cylinders ...
Then the lovers of a simple folk motor were waiting for the next "blow" named CWVA - the chain in the engine was replaced by a belt, a "fazik" appeared - the golden simplicity and oakiness in the eyes of many faded away.
And here is the logical finale - a modern TSI engine with a turbine and direct injection from a fairly fresh EA211 line in 2013, known from Jetta, Tiguan, and younger Audi. The motor is wonderful while it is new and is still fed with impeccable quality fuel (and even better 98th) and selected oil (better every 8-10 thousand, and not recommended by the manufacturer 15). But he is unlikely to please those who buy Polo as a budget car "for life" with the hope of repairing it in an open field with a sledgehammer and a mount if necessary.
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The recommended gasoline, which is natural for TSI, is the 98th. But the 95th will do. The officially declared average consumption in the combined cycle is 5.7 liters per 100 km, in fact, 6.2 liters were noted during a quiet ride, and about 9.5-10 liters if you drive "with a slipper on the floor."
The gearbox in our case is a classic “handle”, but already a six-speed one (which, again, is not a personal feature of the GT, but is also available for regular Polos in the Highline package). The box is impeccable, the moves are clear, “tasty”, there are no complaints about it. The pedals are trimmed with stainless steel overlays in a "sporty" style.
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In move
We start the engine and enjoy its work for a while: the engine hums muffled, “with a mute”, quite like an adult. In contrast to that very good old chain CFNA, which “in Zhiguli style” sang simultaneously “in several octaves”, making it possible to feel the chain rumble, exhaust rattling, and purely mechanical vibration. The merit of silence in the GT is a modern engine and improved sound insulation.
The first thing that was felt after starting off was a noticeably greater elasticity of the engine at low speeds, compared again with the same CFNA, which is still the most common in the Polo fleet and has given way to a fresh brother relatively recently.
Acceleration to 100 km/h
In dead traffic jams, and when the “inflow” from the side also flows into the main “river” and a chaotic mass shift forward and into the left lane begins, the movement is so slow that on the previous Polo with a manual gearbox, you had to constantly squeeze and release the clutch in order for the engine to didn't choke. With the TSI engine, this has to be done twice as rarely: even on a light climb, the car crawls confidently in first gear with the accelerator released and the brake applied, without making attempts to stall.
We crawl out of traffic jams and accelerate on a straight line. Damn, but where is the dynamics of the GT?! Where are far from the records, but still noticeable in comparison with the ordinary Polo 9 seconds to a hundred ?! Ahhh, here they are - "hiding" in high speeds! There is no need to switch from gear to gear at two thousand here - this motor loves to be twisted to the fullest! We spin up to four thousand before each switch - and the car confidently rushes forward. Fast and consistent upshifting briskly accelerates our summer resident in sweatpants. However, if you linger on any of the middle gears for a minute or two, the next time you actively press the pedal, the response is no longer felt: the electronic pedal blunts, the agility disappears.
Having played a bit in an aggressive urban style with a quick alternation of spurts and braking, I practically did not leave second gear, occasionally switching to third. And GT willingly supports such a game!
Sixth gear, in my opinion, is superfluous: saving fuel with it on long-distance direct routes can throw a pig, leaving you without a supply of traction under the pedal when it is suddenly needed urgently. Of course, the fifth gear here is also not a “bomb”, but still, at the very least, it manifests itself when pedaling at speeds over 120 km / h, in contrast to the sluggish sixth.
Consumption per 100 km
claimed / tested
5.7 / 6.2 liters
Pits in the asphalt the car passes elastically, muffledly slapping on them. Again, a pleasant feeling of a “more adult” car is created. Our GT has stiffer shock absorbers than a regular Polo, good standard Nokian Hakka Green R16 195/55 tires and an ESP system, which allows it to be much more nimble than a regular Polo, enter turns with minimal roll and make “checkers” almost without ordinary sexual roll. Even taking into account the fact that during the test period there were no conditions for a full burn-out, ESP worked quite often, helping to stabilize the car both during acceleration to the cutoff in lower gears and in corners.
In general, driving left a very pleasant feeling of harmony. In a good way, a motor with such characteristics would be optimal for the Polo, whose maximum weight is 1,700 kg, and in the most ordinary, basic version, and not only in stuffed trim levels or GT. Dreams Dreams…
Prices and money
If we discard dreams and return to reality, where the most common engine for Polo is a 90-horsepower “aspirated”, then over the past year and a half the cost of our people's car has grown by almost 20%: the basic equipment has risen in price from plus or minus 500,000 to plus - minus 600,000 rubles, other configurations - respectively.
Has the well-being of Russians increased by almost a quarter during this time? Rather, it fell by at least the same amount ... Therefore, such a significant increase in the cost of one of the most affordable foreign cars assembled for the Russian Federation, even if accompanied by some improvement in design and filling, is very upsetting. Against this backdrop, the GT, which is asking from 827,000, looks clearly overpriced, because even most of the comfort and safety options that were present in our test Polo are not included in the indicated price and require an additional payment. For example, a heated windshield, a rear-view camera and parking sensors, side airbags, an anti-skid system, cruise control, a security system with interior volume sensors, rain and light sensors, even an armrest between the seats ... All this will add about 150 thousand more to the price. . Another 70 thousand will be thrown by an automatic 7-speed gearbox.
As a result, we have, in fact, a Polo for a million, and even with a penchant for the most expensive 98th gasoline ... Those who do not feel sorry for a million will be somewhat offended by the fact that a turbocharged 125-horsepower TSI engine is not at all an exclusive for GT. It is also available for regular Polos in the Highline configuration, and has long been installed on the Skoda Rapid. This blurs the meaning of the GT version.
I assume that the Polo GT will be an infrequent guest on the roads. But its main role is still seen in adding the prestige of Polo to the classic by the very fact of its existence. This is a well-known method of promotion: at one time, the sporting success of a sports car under the same name helped sell civilian versions. In this case, the “big brother effect” can work, because not all competitors have a GT version, albeit a rather formal one. Although if he still had a TSI 1.8, be yellow, and give a ride on the occasion of the president ...
Model history
The history of Polo has been going on since 1975. He began to be produced a year later than VW Golf, becoming his younger brother (Golf - C-class, Polo - B-class). The first Polo hatchbacks and sedans came with a 0.9-liter 40-horsepower engine on 12-inch wheels, and looked very poor against the background of the Golf, which they faced in the product line. Although in general they were quite nothing by the standards of their time: front-wheel drive, a transverse motor with a timing belt, Italian body design.
Pictured: Volkswagen Polo "1975–79 Further, the car systematically developed, changing five generations to the present day inclusive. The power of the motors grew, technologies and options that were relevant for their time were systematically introduced. But that's all - with an eye on the Golf, of course, which the younger model was not supposed to surpass.
Already in the 80s, charged versions of the GT (with a “mighty” 75-horsepower engine, lowered suspension, sports seats, steering wheel and tachometer) and G40 (with a 115-horsepower supercharged engine, disc brakes and also external sports attributes).
Pictured: Volkswagen Polo G40 "1987–88 In general, no technical solutions about which we can say “appeared for the first time”, the model has not been noted over the years of production - a typical economy option, a “second tier” model.
Today, Polo uses many technologies and options from the VW arsenal, except, of course, premium ones: TSI engines, including those with a system for deactivating some of the cylinders at low loads, and DSG “robots”, and electronically controlled shock absorbers, and much more . Again - adjusted for the prevention of competition with the more prestigious and expensive Golf.
Over the years, the car was produced and produced in Germany, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Slovakia, Belgium, China, Russia, India and South Africa. It was produced under different names for regional markets (the Russian version of Polo in India, for example, is called Vento), sometimes differing significantly in hardware. Let's say that the current Polo GT in Europe is really a "hot" car, a hatchback with a TSI of 1.8 192 hp, which is very far in design and concept from the Russian GT sedan.
In Russia, the Polo sedan has been on sale since September 2010, and is produced at the VW plant in Kaluga.
I didn't feel 10 years older in the car than I did in Logan
My world will never be the same. With this thought, I climbed out of the Volkswagen Polo showroom near the Volkswagen dealership on Moskovskaya. I did not think that in a B-class car the trip would turn into a relaxed journey, devoid of the feeling of inner humiliation, as happens on other Polo classmates.
Volkswagen Polo is strict and utilitarian. It does not have those elegant smeared lines that give the body an imaginary architectural value. For what? After all, these tricks are designed to divert attention. The Germans do not need to translate arrows.
The fact that the Volkswagen Polo belongs to the B-segment and is on a par with Solaris, Rio, Vesta, Logan and other cars is indicated by the head optics and the overall dimensions of the car. The headlights do not differ in the flight of design ideas and honestly perform the function of illuminating the road. Daytime running lights are removed from the headlight unit and unobtrusively indicate the dimensions of the bumper niches. I would like to have LEDs, but this is an additional maneuver for restyling.
Rear optics Polo — a separate story. It seems to the neighbors downstream that there are diodes in the lamps, but you and I know that nothing but halogens is hidden by ceiling lamps. Looks nice and modern.
A chair lift is a way to adapt the car for short drivers or for those who are taller. ABOUT! Yes, there is an armrest! This news caught me at the moment when I was looking for a backrest angle adjustment lever. It is also adjustable in height and with my ten minutes to two it was comfortable for me to lean on. As for the chairs themselves, the combined fabric does not slip and looks nice. It is clear that the upholstery is different in the basic configuration, but I liked what I saw in the test Polo. There is a little lack of lateral support, but not a single Volkswagen Polo classmate is distinguished by its expressiveness. Selector in "Drive", let's go.
At first it seemed to me that I was going to Logan. But this is in no way connected with the internal equipment of the machine. Pits are processed as in the most tenacious Frenchman. And even better. The car does not bounce or change its trajectory on potholes. Even strong blows to the wheels are not given to the body, which adds pluses to the Polo piggy bank. On the Kirov roads, the suspension is a sore point in the car and the most important thing.
Despite the energy intensity of the latter, in corners the car does not try to change the trajectory and does not require constant steering. Roll, there is, but not so noticeable.
After short trips through the city streets, having collected holes that I could not dodge, I went closer to nature. Polo is a family sedan for people over 28 years old. High demands are placed on him both in the city, and on the way to the country, on weekend trips to IKEA, or a water park.
The sound signal alerted me that the speedometer needle was approaching a hundred. The machine reads traffic signs and informs the driver about the speed limit. Here is the news! Moreover, in the sections I exchanged with a restriction, the car never played a trick.
Driving speed is not felt at all. I easily accelerated to 110 without noticing it. I drove down the road and enjoyed it. But remembering the letters of happiness that came recently, I decided not to go crazy on the Volkswagen Polo, especially since the car was not designed for this. Despite the complete unsportiness, even at around 80 kilometers per hour, the car picks up acceleration briskly. Of course, the “gazulka” must be heated, because the accelerator here is not so informative. Therefore, sometimes it is better to play it safe. Kick-down and start overtaking.
The smoothness of the gas is complemented by the softness of the box. With a sharp overtaking, gear shifts are felt, but their change is not accompanied by unpleasant jerks. And in the city, you can’t even notice how the machine clicked up to 4 gears. Still, the first two fly by so fast that you don’t have time to blink an eye.
With soundproofing in the car, complete order. Getting into the car for the test, I turn on the music, but in the Polo, my hand reached for the multimedia system already on the way to the salon, and then in order to see how it works. Nothing new. True, unlike the Amarok, the track scrolling buttons are shifted here and, having inserted a flash drive into the USB, there are no problems with switching songs.
In the car, only an unobtrusive rubber noise is heard. He does not interfere with talking, including on the speakerphone, with Taganrog, for example. Yes, and I paid attention to the noise only when I went to the track.
I was not too lazy and climbed into the back row of seats at the bus stop. Still, the car is suitable for family trips. I recommend that you go to the salon and do this trick yourself, first setting the driver's seat to your own needs. It’s not that my legs didn’t touch the back of the chair, I got the impression that while I climbed from one row to another, someone pushed the back forward. There is a lot of space and for a split second it seemed to me that even more than in the C-class.
The price of the car “in the base” does not say anything about how much popular modifications and configurations really cost. The price of "full stuffing" is also not an indicator. We tried to formulate what is the best version of a B-class car now (that is, we are talking about Vesta, Rio, Polo and their classmates) and which model is the best buy from this point of view.
I’m unlikely to reveal a secret if I say that class B + sedans are bought not because they are so good in everything, but corny based on their cost: only the “Chinese” are cheaper. Yes, and those are mostly old models: new - modern and high-quality - and are priced accordingly, with virtually no discount on origin. And the top versions of “state employees, meanwhile, are already storming the mark of a million rubles. With such input from the car, you want something more than just moving from point "A" to point "B". Is it possible to?
Times change. If a few years ago competition in the class of budget sedans was limited to a couple of models, now there are more than a dozen of them. Meanwhile, the “state employees” themselves are no longer the same as before. Typical design and overt savings are a thing of the past. Today, for relatively little money, you can get a completely modern car with an “edible” appearance and an optimal set of inexpensive options. Such as the Ford Fiesta, which returned to Russia as a three-volume sedan, the updated Volkswagen Polo or Kia Rio. But the presence of Renault Logan in their company until the last raised doubts: will the legislator of the budgetary movement pass the re-certification procedure? It seems like we turn our noses up from a veteran. Even a little awkward...
The Russian VW Polo sedan was successfully launched back in 2010 and since then it has been confidently holding its own in the stream of inexpensive foreign cars. Sales only grew every year, in 2013 72,565 cars were sold, which in the absolute standings provided him with fifth place (among direct classmates, only the Korean couple Solaris / Rio is ahead). Yes, in the nine months of 2014, sales decreased by almost 20% (44,558 vs. 53,368 in the same period last year), but given the intense competition, the car is still in seventh place, ahead of, for example, Nissan Almera (33 942 copies). In any case, VW Polo Sedan has long been an integral part of Russian roads, with its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's try to figure them out, especially since in four years the “average” mileage has reached significant values and the secondary market for this model has already been significantly formed.
Those who found themselves in Soviet times remember well that the now-familiar division into car classes did not exist then: Zhiguli, Volga, Moskvich, roughly speaking, and all the “classes”! Now, having opened the borders and tasted all the world's diversity, we began to understand well what a "crossover", "cabriolet" or "coupe" is, and also that our Oka belonged to the "A" or "SuperMini" segment according to the European classification. Moreover, classes have appeared that unite cars according to similar price and body positioning. So, for example, in Russia, "state employees" appeared and became very popular - numerous compact sedans, cheaper than which are only "Chinese" or Togliatti Lada. Today we will talk about these “budget” cars in the largest test in the history of Droma. So, we start "Holivar" ...
So, the official dealer passed TO-4, which was the subject of the previous report. A car with a mileage (at that time 50,200 km) is technically sound, the engine has brand new spark plugs and fresh, expensive synthetics, new original tips in the steering, the alignment-camber is adjusted, the 95th is put in the tank with a trustworthy gas station - in general, a great excuse to go somewhere far away from the city.
Stories about road trips in a Volkswagen Polo
We have never been to the sea, somehow it did not work out. And then there was an opportunity to go, and even on a new car. It only remained to wait for the next vacation, which was on schedule in August. I will not describe how we waited for this long-awaited August, I think that this is of no interest to anyone. And now he has arrived. There was no preparation of the car for the road. In addition to lifting the hood and inspecting the dipstick for oil in the engine. At the time of departure for our short trip, the car's mileage was 22,850 km. Decided to advance on 17 August.
A month has passed since we returned from a big road trip to the southern regions of Russia (see my report “Road to childhood or Road to Crimea 40 years later” on the website), but we saw an announcement on the doors of our Temple that a pilgrimage trip to Kronstadt was being organized and immediately decided: "Let's go!". There were no questions about what to ride either - although there was the option of “quiet sitting” in a comfortable Peugeot-Boxer bus, and even with excursion escort, we, without a doubt, chose our “white steamer” - this is how we “lovingly” call our Volkswagen Polo sedan (white). We "became attached" to him, and freedom of movement is a great thing!
Good afternoon, site readers! Going on vacation to Montenegro, I looked through all the reviews on the site for this country. There were very few of them, so there was a desire to write a short report about my trip along the coast of Montenegro in a rented car.
Crimea ... Having gone there for the first time and returning not very satisfied, I would never have thought that I would go for the third time. And I went. Again by car, again the South Coast. Why? There are several reasons. I really liked Crimea. I can not say that the rest turns out to be budgetary or hassle-free. For this money that we spend, you can go to some distant countries with better service, but I like to steer, 4-5 thousand km for me is also a vacation.
What goals were planned: to visit Madrid, Barcelona, Manya chose Mallorca as a beach holiday. Since our friend, Lyokha, is for "action", the trip was diluted with the Port Aventura amusement park and the largest water park in Mallorca - Arenal.
