By The word polo might be associated with extravagance and wealth but the Polo Vivo is nothing but. Volkswagen Polo Vivo has been South Africa’s top-selling passenger model with over 425 000 units sold across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa since it debuted in 2010. Volkswagen has refreshed the Polo Vivo with a new front-end design, new infotainment, new seat trim design and enhanced safety features to continue its success in the South African and Sub-Saharan markets and will be available for sale in South Africa in September 2024.
Affordability, German build quality, enhanced safety, space and comfort are some of the key legendary attributes that have come to define the Polo Vivo, setting an unparalleled benchmark in the segment.
Enhanced interior and exterior features
The new Polo Vivo has been refreshed with distinct interior and exterior enhancements. Visually, it can be identified in the front end by a 2D Volkswagen badge, a redesigned front bumper with Daytime Running Lights and new headlights. The rear end also spots a new 2D Volkswagen badge with the Vivo name in chrome centered below it and a new antenna. Additionally, the new model introduces fresh colours, new interior seat materials and a new equipment line naming convention.
New interior features
The Vivo, Life, Style and the GT have new interior trims which add an exciting ambiance and feel to the cabin of the car. Seamless connectivity and entertainment feature a new infotainment system with a 9-inch Mirror radio with four to six speakers (depending on the equipment line) and App-Connect. The seats have been updated with new materials and designs which include front-side airbags (standard on the Style and GT) for additional safety.
New exterior features
The black-painted mirror caps add a sleek & sophisticated touch to the GT model. New 15 and 16-inch (standard on the Life and Style models) wheels enhance the vehicle’s appeal and driving dynamics. The new headlights, from the Life models, offer improved illumination and a modern look. A fresh design element, including bumper skin, lower and upper grille with chrome accents, and integrated fog and cornering lights with daytime running lights. An optional Rear-View camera for convenience and safety with a clear view is available from the Life derivatives.
The new Polo can be differentiated by the new alloy wheels. The wheel line-up consists of the standard steel wheels for the Vivo (14-inch) and the optional 15-inch Tosa alloy wheel), the 15-inch ‘Ubomi’ alloy wheel on the Life models, the 16-inch ‘Portago’ for the Style and the 17-inch ‘Mirabeau’ alloy wheel which comes standard in the top of the range GT model.
Safety features
Active and passive standard safety features have been enhanced in the new Polo Vivo. Electronic Stability Control (ESC), hill start control, and remote central locking are standard features across the range.
Modern engines for driving enjoyment and fuel efficiency
The new Polo Vivo model range is offered with a 1.4 engine that from 3750rpm, the engine peaks at 130 Nm. This engine has an impressive fuel consumption of 5.5 l/100 km. The 1.4 MPI 63kW engine has 132 Nm of torque available at 3750rpm. Its average fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100km. This engine is offered with the Life derivative.
The 1.6-litre engine which produces 77 kW, is offered with a 6-speed manual as well as in 6-speed automatic (Tiptronic) transmission, the 153Nm of torque at 3800rpm. On average, it has a combined fuel consumption of 6.2 for manual (6.5 for Tiptronic) litres for every 100 kilometers.
The 1.0 TSI GT with a top speed of 196 km/h, offers exciting performance. The 200 Nm torque is available at 2000rpm. The performance has not compromised fuel consumption. The 81kW engine has an impressive, claimed fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometers. The TSI engine is offered in the top-of-the-range derivative GT.