11-MILLION SOLD IN 34 YEARS - NOW IT'S MADE IN SA

+ Click to Enlarge A CAR WHOSE TIME HAS COME: The fifth-generation VW Polo may have arrived just at the right time, as the world's auto industry struggles out of recession.

November 25, 2009
By James Martin

Thanks to Mr Hamilton and now Mr Button, the Formula 1 World championship has been in British hands for two consecutive years.

That's pretty amazing - it hasn't happened since 1969, when Jackie Stewart took over from Graham Hill - and certainly makes a nice change from Schumie winning five years in a row.

I can't work out why we're not more excited about it. It's sport, it's engineering, it's glamour and it's Jenson winning in classic underdog fashion. I had the pleasure of driving a couple of laps with him in 2008 and, believe me, anyone who straps himself into one of those cars and takes it to the limit deserves our respect.

But instead we get armchair generals banging on about the unfair advantage from his diffuser, as if they could drive better. It's the same with football: thousands of men screaming about 'unfit' strikers over their beer guts, remote controls and pizza boxes.

All that abuse is one of the reasons I don't enjoy watching football - so, with an England "friendly" on the box that was likely to end in tears, I hit the road in the new Volkswagen Polo.

The Polo's been unfairly talked down in the past, too.

"A poor man's Golf," my mate called it when he saw it in my driveway. Almost 11-million people would disagree, as that's how many have bought one in its 34-year history - more, if you include second-hand sales.

Built at VW's South African factory and due for SA release in January, 2010, this fifth-generation Polo looks anything but cheap.

It has a lot more competition than it did in 1975: the small-car market is fast becoming the only one that counts. More than 6000 of us placed orders for the new Polo so they'd better get it right (you listening, Uitenhage?).

I don't think they need worry. As predicted, they've borrowed the styling from 2008's surprise hit, the VW Scirocco - which I loved, as much as I love the look of this. The narrow grille, hard and mean headlights and dead-straight mould lines suit it much better than the new Golf.

So what do you get for your £10-15 000?

Well, so far they're all five-door (the three-door will go on sale in December) but you can have it in S, SE, SEL and Moda trims, with a choice of five engines and an options list as long as an MP's expenses form. Mine was an SE TDI, its new 1.6-litre diesel pushing out a huge - have I read this right? - 55kW.

My lawnmower has more than that.

Seriously, if you've ordered this model, phone your VW dealer this instant and change it for the 63kW petrol or the 66kW diesel. This great little car deserves more than this underpowered diesel unit can muster.

GRADUAL INFLATION

It's extremely smart inside with a new digital fuel gauge and the optional touch-screen satnav adding class to a glossy fascia that's a nice balance of simple squares, back-lit dials and chromed surrounds.

I'm a big lad and normally when I drive a small car you have to crowbar me out of it - but not this. That was quite a surprise until someone told me that this "little" runabout is actually the same size as the Golf used to be. I wonder if that trend towards gradual inflation will last into the next decade? The Mark VII Polo could be the size of a Bentley.

Anyway, there's much more rear legroom than you ever used to get and a pretty large boot. With the seats down, I was able to stop by the garden centre and fill it with shrubs whose Latin names only an ancient Roman could pronounce.

Having unloaded them and two bags of manure at home, it was back out to see how the new Polo handled. There's a dual-clutch auto box if you want it but I swear, coupled with the 55kW engine, it would be quicker and more interesting to walk.

Luckily I had the five-speed manual so I was able to make the most of it. And, actually, the drive to and from London was pretty good. It reminded me of my first little car when I was 17 and all the fun I had.

The wider track, lower stance and all-new suspension on the new Polo will put the same smile on today's teenagers' faces but, unlike me, they'll have hydraulic braking assistance, speed-sensitive power steering and a stability system to keep them on the black stuff if it all goes wrong.

GREAT FUN

Electronic stability control is an amazing thing you once only found only on faster, posher cars - it senses the slightest loss of grip and applies braking to one, two, three or all four wheels, stopping the slide before you even know it's happening.

You also get traction control and an electronic differential lock on this model. 17-year-old me would have thought he'd won the lottery.

At the end of the day this car is great fun, its light steering giving great feedback. The ride is set firm, but not too firm for day-to-day journeys.

It's timely, too. I don't know if it was the recession or the scrapping scheme that did it but, as Land Rover and Bentley sales plunge, the market for small, cheap-to-run cars is going through the roof.

Returning less than 4.5 litres/100km, this is the perfect car to launch now and it looks like VW has pulled it out of the bag again. I loved it - but remember to give your dealer a ring and change that engine, otherwise I might pass you with a box of grass cuttings.

TECH SPEC

UK Price: £13 205 (R165 000).
(SA launch January 2010)
Engine: 1.6-litre turbodiesel.
Power: 55kW.
Max torque: 195Nm from 1500-2500rpm.
Top speed: 170km/h.
Fuel consumption: 4.4 litres/100km.
Transmission: Five-speed manual, front-wheel drive.

Standard items
15" alloy rims, stability control with electronic differential lock, traction control and countersteer support, anti-lock brakes electronic brake pressure distribution and emergency assistance, speed-sensitive power steering, radio/CD/MP3 player with six speakers and iPod input, power windows and mirrors, remote-controlled central locking, aircon, height and reach-adjustable steering column, three-year or 100 000km warranty.

Optional extras
Rear parking sensors, 16" or 17" alloy rims, cruise control, heatable front seats, 125mm touch-screen satnav, automatic aircon, alarm, multifunction leather-trimmed steering wheel.