VW’s Cheapest Polo Sedan – Driven (Part 2)

By NYC 1 year ago

Like many other family oriented sedans, there are plenty of storage areas throughout the cabin starting off with the rather large front door pockets which I recon able to hold a 1.5litre bottle. The centre console unit though commodious could do better with a lid to hide stuff from prying eyes. For longer items, the back seats spit 60/40 to a 454litre boot free from suspension intrusion.

Safety aspects are taken care of by a total of 4 airbags for front occupants on top of the usual 4 3-point and single-lap seat belts. Other active items include ABS coupled with EB and interestingly anti-pinch windows for not just the driver, but also on all of the remaining 3.

Powering the Polo Sedan is an inline-4 DOHC 1598cc engine mated to a conventional 6-speed automatic mounted to the front wheels. Though not forced induction like other stablemates, this is the same combination fitted to the Indian and Russian variants, places with conditions meant to wreak sensitive drivetrains. Output figures stand at a very decent at 105PS@5250rpm and 153Nm@ 3800rpm.

Out on the road, summoning those horses requires a bit of patience. Although it has a 1.6litre displacement, power delivery leans towards linear than gutsy. But as soon it gathers momentum, it settles down to a very relaxing heartbeat of around 2200rpm while running at our country’s maximum allowed speed limit of 110km/h. So this is a very suitable candidate if one travels frequently on open stretches of tarmac, made easier with standard fitted cruise control.

Speed factor aside, this sedan drives unlike any other similar classed contenders. Poised, sure footed and well insulated, this proves that continental-based vehicles still edges ahead in this department. Behind the wheel, I would have appreciated a thicker steering as it would be a better match with the nicely weighted electric-driven power steering. Push it harder into the corners and it tracks almost flawlessly with minimal body roll, even though suspension is a simple McPherson-torsion beam setup. In the back seat, road irregularities are soaked brilliantly without bouncing around like some express bus being hushed along the North South Expressway.

Sadly though the so-called cheapest People’s Car is marked as a premium entry at RM99888 excluding registration and insurance. To make matters worse, its birth place in India plus plastiky interior could work against its perceived pedigree. Despite that the Polo Sedan is a very likable car. It actually brings out the essence of motoring while being affordable and durable at the same time instead of some fashion statement which expires after awhile