By Sala Masindane

Recently, we spent some time with Volkswagen’s updated Polo Life TSI that has subtle tweaks on the exterior and interior. The former sees head and taillight clusters with standard LED technology.

Interior

Inside, you’ll find a well laid out cabin in with some soft-touch and plastic materials used across the dashboard. It features a Discover Media infotainment system fitted with voice control, wireless mobile charging and it is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible. Optional features that are fitted in the test car include tilting and sliding panoramic sunroof, keyless entry and a rear camera view to mention a few. Passengers have the benefit of a roomy rear, and it offers good leg and headroom. Boot space comes at a respectable 351-litres.

Driving impressions

Powering the Polo 1.0 Life TSI is a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder turbocharged engine that produces 70kW/175Nm. Power is sent to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. The Polo 1.0 Life TSI is calm and responsive when required. It is well refined and ride quality is good whether in the city or on the open road. Our stint yielded an impressive fuel consumption return of 5.6 l/100km against a claimed 5.4 l/100km.

Final Words

The Volkswagen Polo has always been a firm favourite in the local scene but the price point has become a contentious concern. Our test unit is priced at R385,300 and there are other players at that range. Be that as it may, the Polo is still a solid offering and is sort out by first time car buyers.