2022 Volkswagen Polo price and specs

The littlest Volkswagen on sale in Australia has new looks, new technology, and a new, higher price tag.

The 2022 Polo hatchback will hit dealers in May, with prices starting at $25,250 before on-road costs for the PoloLife manual and extending to $38,750 before on-roads for the Polo GTI.

That means the price of a base, 70kW manual model has risen by just shy of $5000 compared to the 2021 model, while the Polo GTI now costs more than $40,000 with metallic paint and its two options boxes ticked.

Volkswagen says the price hike has been offset by a more generous list of standard inclusions borrowed from its more expensive cars.

Even the base Polo now features a central airbag, lane-keep assist, front and rear parking sensors, LED headlights, wireless phone charging, and a digital instrument cluster.

Price

• 2022 Volkswagen Polo Life manual: $25,250
• 2022 Volkswagen Polo Life: $28,250
• 2022 Volkswagen Polo Style: $31,250
• 2022 Volkswagen Polo GTI: $38,750

All prices exclude on-road costs.

Engines

Power in the Polo comes from carryover engines in Australia.

The base Polo Life with a five-speed manual features a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine with 70kW of power and 175Nm of torque.

Moving to the Polo Life or Polo Style with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission gets you a more powerful turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine making 85kW and 200Nm.

The range-topping Polo GTI is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 147kW and 320Nm, mated with a six-speed dual-clutch transmission.

All models are front-wheel drive.

Fuel Economy

Both 70kW and 85kW models use a claimed 5.4 litres per 100km on the combined cycle, while the Polo GTI uses a claimed 6.5 litres per 100km.

All models drink 95 RON premium unleaded.

Dimensions

The Volkswagen Polo measures 4074mm long, 1751mm wide and 1439mm tall, with a 2564mm wheelbase.

Boot space with the rear seats in place is 351 litres across the range, including the GTI.

Safety

The Volkswagen Polo has a five-star rating from ANCAP, based on testing conducted in 2017.

It received an adult occupant protection score of 96 per cent, a child occupant protection score of 85 per cent, a pedestrian protection score of 76 per cent, and a safety assist score of 59 per cent.

A standard equipment boost means all 2022 Volkswagen Polo models come standard with the following safety features. New additions to the standard equipment list are in bold:

• Front, front-side, central, and curtain airbags
• Autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection
• Lane-keep assist
• Reversing camera
• Driver fatigue detection
• Front and rear parking sensors

Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are part of an options package on the base Polo Life, and standard on the Style and GTI.

Servicing and warranty

The Volkswagen Polo is covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty.

Volkswagen offers three- and five-year servicing plans for its cars.

Pricing for the 2022 range hasn’t been confirmed, but the 2021 model can provide a guide.

The Life and Style equivalents in the pre-update range cost $1050 to service for three years and $1900 for five, while the Polo GTI cost $1200 and $2300 for three and five years respectively.

Standard Equipment

Standard equipment on the Polo Life includes:

• 8.0-inch digital instrument binnacle
• 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, DAB+ digital radio
• Wireless phone charging
• Parking sensors, front and rear
• Reversing camera
• Cruise control (not adaptive)
• LED head- and tail lights
• 15-inch alloy wheels
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Comfort cloth seat trim
• Automatic headlights and windscreen wipers
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Front centre armrest

The Vision & Tech Package ($1700 on Life DSG) adds:

• Satellite navigation
• Digital Cockpit Pro (10.25-inch driver display)
• Voice control
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitor
• Rear cross-traffic alert

Moving to the Polo Style brings:

• Comfort sports front seats
• Digital Cockpit Pro
• Adaptive cruise control
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Automatic reverse parking assist
• Matrix LED headlights with adaptive high beam
• Premium LED tail lights with scrolling indicators
• Dual-zone climate control
• 16-inch alloy wheels
• Front fog lights
• Interior ambient lighting

The Sound & Tech Package ($1900) adds:

• Satellite navigation
• Voice control
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Keyless entry and start
• Six-speaker Beats audio

A panoramic glass sunroof is $1500 on the Polo Style and the Polo GTI.

The range-topping Polo GTI features:

• GTI body trim and metallic paint
• Tartan interior trim
• Alarm system
• Keyless entry and start
• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Adaptive suspension and drive mode selection
• Satellite navigation
• Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
• Voice control
• Sport seats
• Sport steering wheel and paddles

The Sound & Tech package ($1500) brings a 9.2-inch infotainment system with satellite navigation, and the same six-speaker Beats sound system as the Style.

MORE: Everything Volkswagen Polo

Overseas model pictured throughout.