Vehicle: 2010 VW Polo 5-doors 1.4FSI with DSG
Price as tested: CDN$22400 (Estimated)
Performance: Our tester comes with 1.4 liter 4-cylinder DOHC 16-valve with VW’s well-renowed direct injection technology called FSI and variable valve timing. It has 85hp and 93 lb/ft of torque which mated with 7-speed dual clutch gearbox. Its performance is simply underwhelming when pushed. There are better powerplant in Polo’s stable that has better delivery of power than this 85hp mill. However, we definitely hope our tester is the 1.2 liter turbocharged engine with 105 ponies. That’s because this 85hp little mill can only be describe as adequate if not as powerful as Polo’s arch-rival, Fit’s 1.5 VTEC. Without the help of its 7-speed DSG, which has to be the world’s best dual clutch gearbox. Its not only shifts quicker than any manual gearbox, its also a very economical gearbox. The extra 7th gear ratio is a welcome addition to this engine, which makes driving on the highway much more leisurely. Both the 6th and 7th are tall enough for excellent highway cruising. On the other hand, 1st and 2nd have set very low to improve Polo’s bottom-end acceleration. That makes Polo a far peppy car than one expects for such a tiny powertrain. However, its lack of paddle shifters on the steering wheel have made manual shifting redundant. Whether the owner would use the manumatic mode is beyond my knowledge without proper paddle shifters on the steering wheel.
Handling: Its always hard to fault VW’s chassis stiffness and rigidty, even for an entry-level hatchback called Polo. The Polo handles and rides surprisingly well through black-top twisties. Not only the chassis is rigid and solid, the well-calibrated suspension has enough suppleness to provide Teutonic ride quality through all the pavements. It absorbs all the expansion joints, expansion joints and patholes exceptionally well. In short, Polo is rated as one of the most comfortably riding subcompacts on the market. The electric power steering provides delightfully good road feel and feedback, while its also precise and sharp to driver’s input. There are some body rolls while safe understeer is expected in this class of small car. Despite of its entry-level status, Polo’s ESP doesn’t step in unnecessarily which is always been a good thing.
Brakes: With front discs, rear drums and standard ABS; Polo’s brake feel certainly live up to VW’s high expectations. It doesn’t surprise me at all, as the pedal feels alive at all the times. The pedal feel is solid and easily modulated. ABS acts at the right time at the right place is an added bonus.
Interior: With the low liftover and fold down rear seats, Polo’s cargo space is more than what you expect from this size of car. Its squared cut-off on the side does help the cargo space. There is also a privacy cover to keep all the items safe and sound in this compact space.
On the front, Polo’s use of materials and workmanship are best-in-class. All the plastic and velour materials are world-class and fit with utmost precision. On top of that, the climate control and stereo have placed in location that is easy reach for driver. On the other hand, all those knobs are large enough for driver to use with glove hands. All the instrumentation gauges are clear and analog.
Conclusion: VW has done a very good job on updating its Polo. The new Polo is a very balanced blend of perfomrnace, handling and interior features. All have done without losing the top quality build that is very much a VW.
OVERALL VERDICT FOR 2010 VW Polo 1.4FSI
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Performance: 3/5
Handling and ride/fun-to-drive: 4/5
Fit-and-finish/build quality: 4.5/5
Cargo/accessibility/layout: 4/5
Value-for-money: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5