Volkswagen Polo is one of the longest-lived cars of the German company, in production since 1976. After 45 years and 6 generations, the sixth series gets a makeover for the first time since the launch of the 2017. Volkswagen Polo 2021 is the restyling of the small German, what time is it more and more Golf. The aesthetic is more mature and incorporates the stylistic features of the new Golf 8. Inside there is an injection of tech with new systems for infotainment and the safety, with the arrival of Level 2 autonomous driving. But the engines remain unchanged: let's find out everything you need to know about the new Volkswagen Polo 2021.
A successful sixth series, but in need of a refresh
Volkswagen Polo is one of the most successful models of the House of Wolfsburg, second in sales only to the immortal Golf and Beetle. Polo is therefore the basis of the offer of the German manufacturer, which for years has been in second place in the internal ranking of the best-selling cars globally, and always in the first places among the compact cars. Thanks to amature and transversal aesthetics, of a reference build quality and a really important amount of space. In fact, think that the sixth series of Polo, known as AW1, is long 4,07 meters, as much as the third Golf series, and it offers 351 liters of trunk, as much as a fifth series Golf.
Polo has therefore grown increasingly in size, space and practicality, offering golf quality in a more compact package. If, however, since the launch of the sixth series, in 2017, it had always remained on the podium among the best-selling compact cars in Europe, in 2020 Polo slipped out of the top positions. Thanks to the new compact cars that are increasingly technological and equipped such as Renault Clio, Peugeot 208 and Ford Fiesta, which offered more modern technology, greater connectivity and more complete safety equipment. There was therefore a need for Polo to change, modernize and return to the most accurate and technological Segment B on the market.
From the outside, Volkswagen Polo 2021 is more and more Golf: Full LED headlights and more maturity
And Volkswagen have worked hard to achieve this result, "churning out" the restyling of its historic compact. Volkswagen Polo 2021 is now more technological, more modern and aesthetically more mature. And it is precisely the external aspect in which Polo has changed the most. Already the starting point of the sixth series was very "Golfesco", with a square, rigorous and serious line, but a little more youthful and friendly than Golf. The very large, brightly designed front headlights and large square rear headlights (which made it look a lot like the second series of BMW 1 Series) were pleasant, but now hardly keeping up with VW's new design course.
And then that they change the front and tail, now much more similar to Golf and other cars of the House. The muzzle of Volkswagen Polo 2021 becomes sharper and more dynamic, with new headlights, full LED as standard on all versions, connected by an LED light strip interrupted only by the Volkswagen logo, now the signature of all the latest Wolfsburg cars. The headlights themselves have a new design, more modern and with daytime lighting signature on two levels, taken from that of the Arteon sedan-coupé. And precisely the headlights hide a further novelty: the fari Matrix LED IQ.Light, the first car in this segment to offer them.
Al back Polo's appearance changes a lot. A new bumper, but above all gods new headlights. The old square headlights are replaced by projectors with elongated design which continues on the tailgate, just like on the Golf and ID.3. This new design gives a more mature, sportier look and emphasizes the width of Polo. Also here, the optical groups are LED as standard, with on request the dynamic direction indicators and dynamic stops, with a change of design that emphasizes braking to those who follow you.
Aesthetically, Polo looks bigger, and that's how it is. If length, width and height are unchanged (4,07m long, 1,75m wide and 1,44m high), Volkswagen Polo 2021 has a step, i.e. the length between the front and rear wheels, extended by 2 cm: from 2,54 to 2,56 m. A very particular and unusual change in the restyling, but in this way the proportions are different, and the space for the rear passengers increases.
Inside there is continuity: Volkswagen Polo 2021 has larger screens and (on request) touch controls
Outside, therefore, Volkswagen Polo 2021 is more mature, a little bigger and more technological. It's inside? Contrary to the outward lines, Polo does not revolutionize the appearance of the dashboard, which remain very German, rigorous, precise and elegant like the outside. Compared to the past, however, it is now there more technology. Now it is the digital Active Info Display instrument panel is standard on all versions, with 8-inch screen as standard and 10,25 ″ on request.
Then the infotainment changes, which now reaches up to 9,2 inches. The MIB operating system is an older generation than that of Golf 8 and ID.3, but for good reason: Polo still has separate climate controls, as well as many other controls for lights, on-board equipment and security and so on. So we have a system that is very easy to use, even more intuitive than the current Golf 8 system e equipped with Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto. Then there is the pad for wireless charging of your mobile phone, and finally, the dashboard is now softer. On the versions prior to the restyling, Polo offered the upper part of the soft touch dashboard only on the Highline and GTI versions, while it is now soft on all versions.
If you opt for the Climatronic dual-zone automatic climate control, then, i touch controls, similar to those of Tiguan. Scenic of course, but perhaps a little uncomfortable especially seeing the low position of the platform. The steering wheel finally becomes that of T-Cross, or with a sportier design and physical buttons on the spokes.
Volkswagen Polo 2021 now also offers Level 2 ADAS
The new Polo is not only more technological in terms of connectivity and entertainment. Volkswagen Polo 2021 had a very important one injection of technology regarding active safety systems. In fact, now there are ADAS systems that guarantee one level 2 autonomous driving.
We are talking about Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop & Go function, automatic emergency braking, blind spot sensor and active lane maintainer. The big news, however, is the debut of the Travel Assist, so far only seen on larger VWs such as Golf and Passat. This system allows Polo to brake, accelerate and steer in complete autonomy from 0 km / h on versions with automatic transmission and from 30 km / h for cars with manual transmission, without the driver having to do anything other than keep his hands on the steering wheel and his attention on the road. A very rare complete system on a car of this size, which represents a real added value.
Hybrid? No thanks: for now Volkswagen Polo in 2021 remains with petrol and methane
There were therefore many stylistic, internal and technological innovations, with new on-board and safety equipment. However, where Volkswagen Polo 2021 has not changed much is on a mechanical level. La platform remained the modular MQB in A0 version, shared with SEAT Ibiza, Audi A1 and Skoda Scala to name a few. In contrast to the new Volkswagen products, however, the available engines are available with only two feeds.
With the 2021 model, Polo abandons diesel engines: understandable, given that the 1.6 TDI mounted on the Polo is gradually giving way to the larger 2.0 TDI with reduced power, but that on a 4-meter compact would be definitely excessive. No more diesel then, like most of the rivals, but surprisingly we do not find any hybrid engines, neither mild nor full or plug-in.
Volkswagen for Polo has thought of a range based on petrol and methane engines that we have already seen on the Polo range, and for now it welcomes the only one 1.0 three-cylinder in different declinations. The range opens with the 1.0 EVO naturally aspirated: the 65 bhp version disappears, but that remains da 80 CV us 5-speed manual gearbox. Then there is the appreciated 1.0 TSI turbo, available with 95 o 110 CV and with manual transmission 5-speed (6-speed on the most powerful) or automatic 7-speed dual-clutch DSG.
For those looking for maximum savings, there is also the beloved version 1.0 TGI, equipped with the 1.0 turbo with 90 HP, 6-speed manual gearbox and monovalent methane fuel. What does it mean? Polo TGI has a small ten-liter auxiliary petrol tank, flanked by the main methane cylinders. The engine range ends here for now: we do not have the mild hybrid eTSI engines seen on the Golf, nor a more complete hybrid system, full o plug-in.
The future: the GTI version with 207 hp will arrive, and maybe a mild hybrid. The price? In Germany it starts at 16.000 euros
However, this does not mean that they cannot arrive in the future. The presence of a mild hybrid engine should be ensured in the near future, with both the 1.0-horsepower 110 and the 1.5-hp 150 candidates to sit under the hood of the Polo. There will also be the renewed sports version GTI, loved by those looking for sportsmanship and maturity. The engine should remain the 2.0 TSI which also equips the larger Golf GTI, but with a few more CVs. In fact, from 200 you should go to 207 CV, to overcome the bottlenecks caused by the particulate filter and the Euro 6D Final homologation.
The Italian price list has not yet been formalized, and the first deliveries should arrive by the summer. Volkswagen Polo 2021 will be available in 4 versions: base, Life, Style and R-Line, with serial for all front and rear Full LED headlights, Lane Assist, 8-inch digital instrument panel, climate and 6,5-inch infotainment system. As for the price list, in Germany the new Polo starts at around 16 thousand euros.
Volkswagen Polo has it renewed to return to being the most complete and mature compact on the market. It combines a more modern and even more “Golf” aesthetic with a very complete technological equipment, for entertainment and safety. The competition is very tight, with the fierce French and German players who do not discount. Polo however offers maturity, completeness and the ability to safely be the first family car. And you? What do you think? Do you like this Polo restyling or are you more inclined towards some rivals? Let us know in the comments and on our social channels!
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Tags volkswagen polo volkswagen polo AW1 Volkswagen Polo 2021, with restyling it is more Golf than ever: new headlights, infotainment and safety systems
