Review: Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo (2017-on)

Overview

Production of the Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo five-door hatchback commenced in September 2017 and it was released in Australia in March 2018. Manufactured in Uitenhage, South Africa, the Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo range for Australia initially consisted of 70TSI Trendline and 85TSI Comfortline variants. Due in August 2018, the Volkswagen Polo GTi will have a 2.0 TSI turbocharged petrol engine that produces peak power of 147 kW (the same output as the Volkswagen Mk.5 Golf GTi ).

All engines for the Mk.6 Polo complied with Euro 6 emissions standards and, to reduce fuel consumption, had:

• A start/stop system which could shut down the engine when the Polo was stationary in traffic; and,
• A ‘regenerative’ braking mode which increased alternator output when the vehicle was coasting or braking to recharge the battery.

Body and dimensions

The sixth-generation Polo – also known as the 2G or Typ AW Polo – was based on Volkswagen’s Modular Transverse Matrix for compact vehicles (MQB A0). Compared to the Volkswagen Mk.5 Polo , the Mk.6 Polo was 81 mm longer (at 4053 mm), 69 mm wider (1751 mm), 7 mm lower (1446 mm) and had a 94 mm longer wheelbase (2564 mm). Boot volume for the Mk.6 Polo increased by 71 litres to 351 litres.

Suspension and steering

The Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo had MacPherson strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle. The Polo GTi will be available with ‘Sport Select’ suspension which utilises electronically-controlled dampers. Previously introduced in the 6C Polo GTi , the ‘sport’ setting provides firmer damper settings, increased steering weight, increase engine noise via the sound actuator and greater accelerator pedal response.

The Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo had rack-and-pinion steering with electric power assistance; its turning circle was 10.6 metres.

Safety equipment

Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo included dual front airbags, front seat-mounted side airbags, full-length curtain airbags (i.e. for front and rear occupants), ABS, electronic brakeforce distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control, seatbelt pre-tensioners and limiters for the front and outer rear seats.

As standard, the Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo was equipped with the following safety technologies –

• Front Assist with Pedestrian Monitoring: used a radar sensor to detect if the Polo was closing too quickly on the vehicle ahead. If this occurred, Front Assist 1) provided audible and visual warnings to the driver; 2) brought the brake pads into contact with the brake discs and increased braking assistance to prepare for an emergency stop; and, 3) briefly applied the brakes (a ‘jolt’) to alert the driver. If the driver failed to respond, Front Assist would apply the brakes automatically to avoid or reduce the severity a collision;
• City Emergency Brake: an extension of Front Assist, City Emergency Braking operated at speeds up to 30 km/h and used a radar sensor and front camera to monitor the area ahead for vehicles and pedestrians. If a collision was anticipated, the driver would be alerted via visual and audible warnings. If the driver failed to respond, the system would initiate autonomous emergency braking; and,
• Driver Fatigue Detection: operating at speeds over 60 km/h, Driver Fatigue Detection monitored steering wheel movements for signs of fatigue. If detected, the driver would be warned by a message in the multi-function display and an acoustic signal. Furthermore, the warning would be repeated after 15 minutes if the driver had not taken a break.

The Polo 85TSI Comfortline and Launch Edition could be specified with an optional, $1400 ‘Driver Assistance Package’ which consisted of the following technologies –

• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with ‘stop & go’ function: used a radar sensor to maintain a pre-set distance to the vehicle ahead by controlling acceleration and braking. For models with the double clutch transmission (Volkswagen’s DSG), the stop & go function enabled the Polo to accelerate up to its pre-set speed after coming to rest;
• Blind Spot Detection: active at speeds above 15 km/h, Blind Spot Detection used rear radar sensors to detect other vehicles up to 20 metres behind the Polo. If detected, an LED indicator in the door mirror would illuminate to alert the driver to their presence. If the driver indicated that they were intending to change lanes, the indicator would flash more brightly as a warning signal;
• Rear Traffic Alert: when the driver was reversing from a parking space, the Rear Traffic Alert system would use radar sensors in the rear bumper to detect traffic up to 50 metres away that may cross the vehicle’s intended path. If approaching traffic was detected, the driver would receive visual and audible warnings. If the driver did not respond to the warnings and there was an immediate collision risk, the brakes would be applied automatically;
• Proactive occupant protection system: when a potential collision was anticipated, the seatbelts would be tensioned and the side windows closed;
• Manoeuvre Braking (front and rear): operating at speeds up to 10 km/h during forward or reverse manoeuvres, ‘manoeuvre braking’ could initiate emergency braking in the event of a potential collision;
• Front and rear parking sensors;
• Optical Parking System (OPS): displayed the relative position of detected obstacles in the infotainment display;
• Park Assist: provided automated steering for bay and parallel parking manoeuvres while the driver controlled vehicle speed; and,
• Kerb view function for the passenger side door mirror when reversing.

Euro NCAP testing

In Euro NCAP testing , the Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo received a five star safety rating which included a 96 per cent adult occupant protection rating, an 85 per cent child occupant protection rating and a 59 per cent ‘safety assist’ rating. In the frontal offset test, protection of the driver’s head, thighs and feet were rated as good, though chest and lower leg protection was rated as adequate (i.e. a slight risk of serious injury). In the side impact and pole tests, maximum points were awarded.

Brakes

The Volkswagen Polo 70TSI had 256 mm by 22 mm ventilated front brake discs and 228 mm by 42 mm rear drum brakes. The Polo 85TSI, however, had 276 mm by 24 mm ventilated front brake discs and 230 mm by 9 mm solid rear discs.

Features: Volkswagen Polo 70TSI Trendline

As standard, the Volkswagen Polo was equipped with Volkswagen’s ‘Composition Media’ audio system which had an eight-inch colour touch screen, six speakers, AM/FM radio, CD player, SD card slot, MP3/WMA/AAC compatibility, two USB ports, jpeg image viewer, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and MirrorLink smartphone integration.

Beyond this, standard features for the Polo 70TSI Trendline included 15 x 5.5J steel wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres, air conditioning, cruise control, cloth upholstery, halogen headlights, LED daytime running lights, a rear fog lamp, a rear view camera with static guidelines, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and gearshift knob, 60/40 split folding rear seats, remote central locking, power adjustable and heated door mirrors, power windows, a height and reach adjustable steering wheel, height adjustable front seats, a 12 volt power socket (centre console), front reading lights, tyre pressure monitoring, a trip computer and an immobiliser.

Features: Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Comfortline

Compared to the Polo 70TSI Trendline, the Polo 85TSI Comfortline was further equipped with 15 x 5.5J ‘Sassari’ alloy wheels with 185/65 R15 tyres, ‘Comfort’ cloth upholstery, dusk-sensing headlights, rain-sensing wipers, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, a front centre armrest with storage compartment, illuminated vanity mirrors, front seatback storage pockets and rear passenger reading lights. Visually, the Polo 85TSI Comfortline could be identified by its chrome radiator grille highlights.

2018 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Launch Edition

The Volkswagen Polo 85TSI Launch Edition was released in March 2018 for the Mk.6 Polo’s Australian launch. Compared to the Polo 85TSI Comfortline, the 85TSI Launch Edition was further equipped with 16-inch alloy wheels, wireless (inductive) mobile phone charging, front fog lights and rear privacy glass. Visually, the Polo 85TSI Launch Edition could be identified by its dark-tinted LED tail lights.

2018 Volkswagen Polo 85TSI beats

Released in August 2018, the Volkswagen Polo 85TSI beats was based on the 85TSI Comfortline, but distinguished by its:

• beats audio system which had a maximum output of 300 watts;
• ‘Discover Media’ navigation system (included an eight-inch display);
• Volkswagen’s ‘Active Info Display’, a 10.25-inch configurable display in place of the instrument cluster;
• ‘Comfort Sport’ front seats;
• wireless mobile phone charging;
• matte Velvet Red decorative inserts for the dashboard, console and doors;
• ‘beats audio’ door sill inserts;
• 16-inch ‘Torsby’ alloy wheels;
• ‘beats’ emblem on the B-pillar;
• ‘beats’ decals on the roof and bonnet.

2018 Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo GTi

To be released later in 2018, the Volkswagen Polo GTi will have 17-inch alloy wheels (18-inch wheels available as an option), sports seats with a ‘Clark’ tartan pattern, a leather-trimmed sport steering wheel with red stitching, black rooflining and roof pillars, GTI gearshift grip and ambient lighting.

The Volkswagen Polo GTi will be identifiable by its unique front bumper with integrated spoiler lip and fog lights, radiator grille with red stripe, honeycomb air vent screens, side sill extensions, red-painted brake callipers, large roof spoiler in high-gloss black (and the underside in black matt), rear diffuser, dual tailpipes (left side), LED tailpipes and GTi badge.

Specifications

• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo (January 2018)
• Specifications: Volkswagen Mk.6 Polo Launch Edition (January 2018)

Related links

• Volkswagen Media: Volkswagen unveils the new Polo in Berlin (June 2017)