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 Polo Life 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.
