Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Review: The Most Affordable German Car Is Here!

Planning to buy a Volkswagen? The new Polo 1.0 is the one which gives you looks, performance, premiumness, and much more! Read On.

These days hatchbacks are no longer just as a means of transportation or the entry point into car ownership. The rise of the premium hatchback segment is mainly for those who want looks, performance, and a sense of premiumness but do not want an SUV or take one hour to find a parking space. The premium hatchback is the perfect answer to the urban car buyer looking for all but in a compact yet appealing package. The Volkswagen Polo has been one such car for a long time. It has been on sale for long and pretty much established the Volkswagen brand all by itself. Still today the Polo sells in good numbers month on month with its own loyal fan-following. ALSO READ: IN PICS | Honda WR-V Review: How Good Is This Car And Should You Consider It? However, Volkswagen has updated the Polo range and changed the engine as well as the automatic on offer. Till some time back the Volkswagen Polo TSI was offered with a 1.2 TSI and a DSG gearbox. It had its own loyal fan-base and it sold well but Volkswagen has now changed it. So the Polo TSI now gets a new 3 cylinder turbo petrol plus it is now offered with a 6-speed manual and a torque converter automatic. What this means is that the Polo TSI is now a lot more affordable and with a manual- a lot more fun. Let us get straight down to the new engine and it makes 110 bhp and 175Nm of torque- that is more than other hatchbacks. When you start which is via the key and not a push button, there is some 3-cylinder noise and it is not as refined as the earlier 1.2 TSI but it is not really very loud. When you sit inside the Polo, you know where your money has gone. The doors still close with a heavy feel and you sit low but the steering adjusts for both rake and reach. The steering-wheel is superbly finished and is nice to hold with the same for the manual-gearbox, In the city, there is a tiny bit of lag and post that, you get the strong push of the TSI engine. Yet it is not completely lazy and actually much better than some hatchbacks, where you can drive around in 3rd gear with minimal gear-changes required. The ride is firm but feels secure and does not get bouncy. ALSO READ| Honda City vs Hyundai Verna? Which Of The Two Mid-Sized Sedans Is A Better Bet In Terms Of Looks, Features And Drive Quality The real fun of the Polo TSI is when you push the car as that is when the TSI comes in strongly. It feels quick and comes with a level of performance not found on cars costing below Rs 10 lakh. It is small and while heavier than other hatches, it is still light which feels quicker still. Again unlike say a Baleno, the Polo has the heavier and better steering while the clutch/gearbox requires some effort but is satisfying to use. There is a precise and a 'German' car solid feel to the driving experience. You get the idea here as the Volkswagen Polo TSI is aimed as a fun premium hatchback with the focus on its engine and performance instead of fuel economy. That said the mileage of the Polo TSI is around 12 kmpl which is not bad. While the Polo goes fast, it also looks good even after so many years. The interior sadly has not aged that well and simply lacks the features you get on a Baleno or i20 with even a rearview camera not there. It is also nowhere as spacious. But this is not a hatchback to buy for space or fuel economy or gadgets, as the Polo TSI is all about building quality, performance, and being fun to drive. At around Rs 8 lakh, the Polo TSI is value for money in terms of the engine and level of performance being given. It is the most affordable way to get a proper German car with performance.