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Volkswagen Polo review: drive impressions, prices, specification

Volkswagen Polo review: drive impressions, prices, specification

Hatchbacks used to be the default option for city drivers, but the compact SUV has put a huge dent in the market.

Volkswagen’s Polo is one of few remaining choices for buyers.

VALUE

The days of the sub-$20,000 hatchback are long gone.

The price of admission into Volkswagen’s new Polo is about $29,400 for the manual 70 TSI Life variant, while our 85 TSI Style test car will set buyers back more than $35,000. That’s a fair chunk of change and is more than many hatchbacks and SUVs a full size bigger.

Our test car has flash 16-inch alloy wheels, LED head and tail lights and an in-vogue LED illuminated grille strip.

It’s aimed at younger drivers, so connectivity is front and center.

An eight-inch touchscreen and a fully digital instrument display with crisp readouts and hi-res satnav is standard, as are Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, several USB-C charging points and a wireless device charger. A $1900 Sound and Tech pack adds a Beats stereo and wireless smartphone connectivity among other items.

VW backs its cars with an industry standard five year/unlimited km warranty and capped price servicing will cost $2200 over five years.

COMFORT

Despite its small size the Polo has plenty of room for long-limbed drivers.

Manually adjustable cloth wrapped seats are firm but supportive and a movable steering wheel makes it easy to find the right driving position.

The cabin is a mix of hard wearing plastic surfaces and premium glossy inserts. There are easy to use climate controls in the center dash and essential functions can be managed via steering wheel-mounted buttons.

Rear-seat legroom is above average for its class and there are two USB-C charging points. Disappointingly at this price point, there are no rear airconditioning vents.

The Polo has firm suspension that can crash over larger bumps but it does a decent job of managing pockmarked city streets. It’s quiet, too, keeping most of the outside noise at bay.

SAFETY

The Style grade comes with seven airbags including a center airbag to prevent head clashes during an accident.

The Polo will automatically brake if it detects a potential collision with a car, pedestrian or cyclist.

An array of sensors will warn you if a car is in your blind spot and sound an alarm if a car is approaching from the side as you reverse.

Radar cruise control and lane-keep assist make highway cruising a cinch.

DRIVING

The 1.0-liter three-cylinder engine proves that good things come in small packages.

It makes just 85kW of power but ample torque delivered early in the rev range means plenty of oomph off the mark.

VW has persisted with a seven-speed dual-clutch auto that can feel a little jerky at lower speeds and can hesitate on takeoff.

Once up to speed, it’s a hoot to drive thanks to quick, accurate steering and excellent body control through corners.

It feels agile in traffic and stable on the open road. Its compact size means it’s adept at tackling tight car parks and inner city streets.

VW claims it’ll drink 5.4L/100km of more expensive premium unleaded petrol, and it’ll do close to that figure in the real world.

ALTERNATIVES

Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo, priced at $37,990 drive-away

A hatch that shares its underpinnings with the Polo, but with a bigger engine and price tag.

Toyota Yaris ZR Hybrid, from about $36,000 drive-away

Smaller inside, but benefits from amazing fuel economy and low-cost servicing.

Mazda2 GT, priced from about $30,100 drive-away

Once a class leader that now feels too small inside and underpowered. Packed with safety kit, though and much cheaper.

VERDICT

three and a half stars

Price will scare buyers away, but it’s a classy little hatchback that boasts some impressive tech features and crisp drive experience.

VITALS

PRICE About $35,500 drive away

ENGINE 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol, 85kW and 200Nm

WARRANTY/SERVICING Five years/unlimited km, $2200 over five years

SAFETY Seven airbags, auto emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, radar cruise control and driver fatigue detection.

THIRST 5.4L/100km

SPARE Temporary

LUGGAGE 351 liters

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2022 Genesis GV80 Luxury review

2022 Genesis GV80 Luxury review

Hyundai is one of a horde of makers trying to ruffle the feathers of the German establishment by creating its own luxury brand.

We sample the top flight Genesis GV80 SUV that is packed with luxury features.

There’s a different level of customer service

Genesis is in its infancy as a brand. The luxury arm of Hyundai can’t match the badge appeal of a BMW, Audi or Mercedes-Benz, so it differentiates itself by offering more ownership perks.

The first five scheduled services are free and Genesis will pick up and drop off your car when a service is due, provided you live within 70km of a Genesis studio.

They’ll also leave you a courtesy vehicle while the service is completed.

A complimentary five-year roadside assistance program provides some icing on the cake.

The cabin feels plush

Our test vehicle had the optional six-seater luxury package, which costs an extra $13,000 over the GV80 starting price of $92,000 plus on-roads. More seats costs less – the seven-seat version’s luxury pack is only $10,000.

For the extra spend, there’s quality Nappa leather throughout, a big 12.3-inch digital display in front of the driver, suede finishes on the roof and pillars, heated and ventilated seats in the first and second rows and power adjustable seats and sunshades in the back.

The extra $3000 in the six-seat version buys individual, reclining second-row seats with airline-style winged headrests, a center console with a wireless charger and twin 9.2-inch rear entertainment screens.

It feels like business class.

Some of the tech feels like overkill

Genesis isn’t alone in having electric adjustment of all three rows of seats, but you’re left wondering if a simple manual lever to fold the seats would be a better solution.

It certainly would be quicker.

The automatic parking function is also something you tend to use only once to show off to the neighbours. The massaging seats switch on automatically after a certain time, which can be disconcerting if you’re not expecting it.

It’s a genuine luxury brand

The attention to detail and quality of materials in the cabin is up there with German rivals and there’s more bling for the buck in terms of gadgets and luxury items.

Highlights include the blind-spot alert that shows you a video feed of the road behind you when you flick the indicator. The ambient lighting adds an air of sophistication after dark, as do the puddle lamps that light the road when you open the door at night.

Genesis finished top of all the luxury brands in the respected JD Power quality and dependability survey.

The driving experience is a little off the pace, though

There are three engine choices for the GV80. It kicks off with a turbo four-cylinder putting out a healthy 224kW and 422Nm, then there’s a 3.0-liter diesel with 204kW and 588Nm and a 3.5-liter turbo V6 pumping out 279kW and 530Nm.

We had the diesel, which delivers an impressive blend of grunt and refinement. A silky 8-speed auto manages to pluck the right gear for maximum thrust and it’s reasonably efficient for its size.

The driving experience is let down, though, by suspension that struggles for composure on rougher roads. It tends to float a little over bigger bumps, while the big 22-inch wheels with low-profile rubber get fidgety on pockmarked bitumen.

The steering feels sharp but through corners you can feel the weight of the car as it pitches and leans. It’s fine for family freeway motoring, but lacks the poise of a BMW X5 or Audi Q8.

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