2018 Volkswagen Polo | Full Review

The 6th-generation Volkswagen Polo has arrived and, according to a few dealers we've spoken to, the Wolfsburg-based brand's new compact hatchback is already flying off showroom floors.
This is an important car in South Africa for two reasons. Firstly, all right-hand-drive Polos for the entire world will be built right here in SA, which is great for our economy, and secondly, the Polo and its cheaper clone, the Vivo, are consistently the bestselling cars in the country. Yes, South Africans love this little thing. So, will this new Polo live up to expectations?
In this video, we explore the price of the new VW Polo, the three spec levels (Highline, Comfortline and entry-level trendline) discuss the four engines now available in the range, the boot space and take a detailed look at the interior.
0:00 Intro
1:05 Exterior Review
1:45 Price Point
3:04 Interior Review
4:40 Driving experience
6:36 Boot Space
7:00 Engine of 2018 Volkswagen Polo
8:21 Verdict
9:16 Outro

[@NickSoper]

I feel like locally produced cars should cost less where they are made compared to overseas. Let’s get behind local.

[@thabisor1880]

Saved up R150k, got me a 2008 BMW 523i A/T e60, 118k milage, @ R133k 2 years back. Got extended warranty and changed front shocks and tires for R20k. Have been to Durbs on numerous occations and Cape once from JHB, no fuss no complaints, only when I drop R912 per tank on fill ups. Other than that its more car than this Polo. R300K+, just why do people do this to themselves?

[@practicalgrowthacademy3189]

Thabiso Rakgajane ..mara why? Thabiso why do people self sebotage heyB-)

[@RonZSaavedra]

Its probably for the sense of accomplishment: 1) not everyone can afford a brand new car 2) driving around in the latest model says a lot

[@David-ej1ps]

Agreed, and the funny thing is the ride quality in the beemer craps all over any polo

[@nicovanheerden1477]

Hi , i have the pleasure driving a 5 year old Polo Vivo1.6 what a lovely car , the new Polo range great great great

[@corneldup]

I average 6.3l/100km without even trying in typical daily Gauteng (60% stop/go) traffic in my Fiesta Ecoboost 1.0, and I have averaged 5.8 for a month when I deliberately took it easy just to see what was possible. So 7.2l/100 is definitely not at the low end of the spectrum in my book, in fact, I'd be very upset with that figure as that's what my Hyundai i20 1.6 got without breaking a sweat. I sat in one of these new Polo's yesterday as they were on show in Irene Mall, and it's definitely a very premium looking car on the inside, I'll give them that, but there's no way I'll pay R300K+ for a polo, or for any car in that segment, unless it's the Hot Hatch version. MAYBE if it had all the extras as standard you could make a case for it at that price as some other brands come close to R300k, but then their cars are way better specced, but for me it's just not an option... With R300k you can get WAY better cars, that are almost new in the used market. It just doesn't make sense to me. I don't know why Polo's sell as well as they do, they didn't even make my top 3 last time I bought a car.... But each to their own I guess, and knowing South Africans, many people will be eating baked beans on toast... but a new Polo they shall drive... VW knows this, and will make LOADS of money because of it. Very nice review as always!

[@siyabongathembinkosimngome8869]

It's called brand equity, as he said, you pay for the reputation the badge has

[@releM15]

A normal aspiration 4 cylinder 1.5l Mazda 2 gives you 6.3l per 100km and it costs less too and you have an option to put leather.... not forgetting that it is imported

[@rajkalsi6453]

Great review

[@philipsnyman1407]

Love this car!!🙌🙌

[@raygreen2441]

I have just bought one of this and I don't know how to turn on the front low lights, those small sides blocks LED any help?

[@quintrisfortune7050]

Nice video...pls do a review of the 2018 vw polo vivo

[@digital-artz]

That’s much money for a car it’s going to be produced in South Africa 😳😳😳😳

[@tryphinatry1004]

Digital Artz lsibaya

[@sonkengema5823]

Can you please make a video detailing the difference between the trendline and comfortline

[@cartoonartist4316]

Great vid

[@ArnoBlignaut]

I simply cannot agree with the price. Honestly, this is getting out of hand!

[@tredfxman]

How bout an "Up!" ? ;)

[@1Steph]

Which has a GTi lol

[@mandlakazibikitsha9873]

Too expensive

[@comedyman112]

you can always buy a Dacia Sandero if you don't have the money. Same goes with iPhones

[@hunadimakgatho3403]

@@comedyman112 🤣 sir!

[@rnburley]

What is the point of such a high sprung 3 cyl 1.0 turbo motor if it isn't that efficient? I have a higher output 1.6l that gets the same consumption (combined)

[@nickduplooy8845]

You guys need your own tv show I think

[@marcothepolo1991]

I absolutely love mine!

[@bontlelethetsa]

I can see from your profile picture and your name

[@SherwinR89]

POLO NATION. OWNERS ARE A BUNCH OF UNIMAGINATIVE IDIOTS WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS OR HOW TO DRIVE. HATE THIS POS CAR 💩🤬😒🖕😂

[@pologolfpolott1096]

Nice car - great review. The specs and prices for the Australian model have just been released and the car here will be around about 20% cheaper here than in South Africa. Cannot quite work that one out.

[@simpslayer7839]

Like the guy said South Africans are willing to pay 20% more for the badge

[@Preyser123]

As a blind person from Bergvliet, Cape Town I would like to share some of my opinions on this. I honestly think that for a hatchback like this the price is way too high. in terms of the engine and transmition I would stick with petrol as fuel for small cars like this (I believe diesel should be used in buses like the Kombi/Caravelle and bakkies like the Isuzu KB and Toyota Hilux), and I would stick with a manual (I tend to be old-school, although I was born in 1994), although there are some cars out there that I would prefer with an automatic. In terms of engine size and number of cylinders I'll never go with an engine that has less than 4 cylinders and an engine size of 1.6 litres, I could push it to 1.4 l and 1.3 l in some cases. My favourite modern hatchbacks from Vw will always be the Golf 4, 5 and 6 with the 1.6 litre petrol engine and the 2002-2009 Polo (before it was called the Polo Vivo) with the 1.6 litre petrol engine (I especially like the pre-facelift versions).

[@TehMr]

Joshua Preyser nigga how do you see this shit

[@practicalgrowthacademy3189]

Cough your language bruh..

[@Preyser123]

No need to be negative, idiot! It's sound, touch and people describing everything.

[@Preyser123]

And, language has nothing to do with this, idiots!

[@TehMr]

Joshua Preyser ayt,dope to get a different perspective you know? this isn't highlighted in the mainstream at all

[@SoloVentureExplorer]

Thanks for the fantastic review Ciro!

[@chrwl007]

7:58 Reminds me of when I took my one colleague for a drive in a VW with a 110kW 1.4TSI engine and 6-speed DSG. I asked the colleague to guess what capacity the engine is, and the guess was a 2.0.

[@hwleitner2009]

Brilliant review. Can you just include a brief moment where you mash the pedal in your reviews.

[@rolivhuwa]

LOL its only a 1.0L should we not leave that for when he gets his hands on the new GTI?

[@hwleitner2009]

Rolivhuwa Muelelwa no I love the 3 cyl thrum. Wonder though if it would endure 100 k km of hard driving

[@nkhethenintsieni2550]

I want one Looks fun to drive

[@SDav21]

Lol. Was the guy driving past at 5:18 taking a picture or video?

[@philipc7801]

Can you turn off start/stop?

[@chandraalexandro7431]

Nice car.i love vw. I hope after sales and sparepart in my country indonesia

[@tapen678s6]

Did it have easy light steering?

[@delboy2596]

Did I miss the bit about the gearbox options?

[@agentmonde1]

Could you please review the Polo Beats edition

[@Niju06]

Ridiculous price tag for a locally produced car.

[@ernstlombard8336]

Niju James Yes I agree, the stronger Rand needs to push the price down.

[@AristotelisMitsiou]

Indeed, the entry level version in Greece is 50,000 rand cheaper, at 195,000 rand. I'm shocked that it costs so much more in South Africa, because the 17000€ that they ask for there can get me an entry level car from the class above the Polo here.

[@katlehonkoe8502]

I agree..2016 Polo GTi, with 55000 kilos, panoramic sunroof is R309 999. If one wants a polo, that's the polo to buy at that price.

[@ernstlombard8336]

I think we should petition VW SA to reduce their prices. I mean they have zero transport cost to sell the car here compared to greece.

[@89fab]

Niju James The rand is still very week, and most raw materials come from abroad...

[@neokgatla]

No country buys more Polo's than RSA.

[@zanokuhlemabuza3762]

What songs are used in this video?

[@t.fleepile6164]

Am buying this car next year

[@WaseemKhan-iu4bh]

at 300k? Rather just get a used polo GTI or Golf 7 GTI

[@keruamg]

The price is nothing short of nuts. VWSA is not being a day light robber, they just exploiting the market which S.Africans will buy in because of the VW badge. For S.Africans, it is okay to be in debt for a life time to have a car that has a premium badge on. Look close enough...you will find specials that dealers are offering to push sales of brand new Polo GTI's for the price of this car all optioned out.

[@Kavi4GP]

Have to wait for May for Rline, LEDs headlights and Sunroof

[@shamilricob4503]

it's fantastic

[@jeanorban9540]

Pricing on the Radio is wrong. That R12000 is for a Satnav unit

[@tshepopaul338]

he's.,.. really good

[@wyndts4]

Seems VW has kept boosting Polo strata global wide. And where would Golf be....?

[@simpslayer7839]

Think most people gonna buy the Golf 8R or GTI 8

[@BruceLeedar]

One thing I would say about this car is that the 1.0L turbo has absolutely nothing going on before 2000 RPM, unlike with naturally aspirated larger engines (and some other turbo engines). If you are below 2000 RPM in any gear besides 1st, the car won't accelerate, even with your foot to the floor.

[@DavetheCarGuy]

Rubbish. Having driven this car for the past week, you're mistaken.

[@BruceLeedar]

I drove the car yesterday and on multiple occasions I was stuck going nowhere in 2nd gear, when in a Mazda2 (for instance), the car easily moved at low RPMs in 2nd. I have never driven a car with so little torque at low RPMs. The Polo has a lot of good things going for it, but this is one of those things that makes me less interested in buying it.

[@beflames2479]

EVERY CAR HAVE ITS OWN DISADVANTAGES SO ITS ALLL ABOUT YOU LOVE IT OR NOT

[@herremilkanter]

7,2 l/100km? How the heck are you driving? Our 2015 Octavia station wagon, with the 1.2 TSI motor, averages 6.1 (after around 20-30 min from cold start) in the middle of swedish winter!

[@BernardVisagie]

Frustration for me is not being allowed to chose a different set of mag wheels on the Highline, you may not say for example "can I please get the R-Line wheels (but not the body-kit) as I want a tow bar.."

[@rednessmkoto54]

Uzalo today

[@rednessmkoto54]

Uzalo 20/2 /2018

[@nosibulelegonongo5843]

1

[@WeAreLegend]

Song 4:39?

[@katlehonkoe8502]

At that price I can probably get a decent POLO GTi...hmm

[@nafeesebrahim9879]

Katleho Nkoe That would be an excellent buy, will also have more re sale value because it's a GTI

[@modernbrainbox]

Hahaha a GTI is twice the price 😋

[@Chif_GT]

Those day time running lights looks like something you can buy at Auto Zone or Midas.

[@sonic4urmind722]

Ridiculous that there's no leather option even in 2018!

[@rnburley]

Funny you mention "even in 2018", as years go one we will see less and less leather and more environmentally friendly options.

[@khayalethukuphu5818]

Still no leather option in 2023 😂

[@rolivhuwa]

The price is way too high, they need to cut it .. I mean, assembled in South Africa after all. :/

[@practicalgrowthacademy3189]

Rolivhuwa Muelelwa cut it screech...cut it *singing*

[@davidirvansithole2630]

Nice csr

[@sisandamrali9080]

" POLO! A BETTER LIFE FOR ALL" they should pay you for that

[@FunFunFun8888]

You can buy a New Mazda CX5 6 speed auto for the same price and it does 6 litres per 100km.

[@Braselton21]

So then I'm guessing The Polo GTI will then be pushing +400K :(

[@nigelnonyane9417]

Not to bad but eish the price. Could we possibly get a review on the Tuscon Sport (SA version)

[@Preyser123]

Greetings from Bergvliet, Cape Town. The price is way tto steep and I don't like these 1 litre engines either. I would rather take either a Golf 4/5/6 or a Polo (before being called the Polo Vivo) with the straight-forward 1.6l petrol engine and a straight-forward manual gearbox.

[@th-l8936]

With this car, there's no need for the Golf.

[@leeroympumelelo615]

everything was going fine until you started bad mouthing the Beetle

[@leroyzwane2097]

I would never spend that much on a polo🤞

[@simpslayer7839]

You forgot to say mxm and the end 😂😂😂💀

[@kwaneleful]

Interior does feel more premium than my 1.2 tsi, but exterior looks boring.. Maybe the R-line will be better

[@samuelmakhetha7209]

I disagree with the pricing only.

[@Axel1058]

Or you can get a Focus ST mk2 for half the price...which has leather seats

[@rivoobagchi5245]

AVP • or a whole bunch of executive cars like a 3 series

[@1Steph]

My fiesta st get's 5.7/100km however the new Fiesta's coming up later this year are going to kick this polo crappies off the road.

[@mandlandofaya6082]

any new safety features against hijacking, theft?

[@TehMr]

Mandla Ndofaya yup,Don't buy it

[@maryjanemoagi7149]

skeemi sami

[@daneshangovindsamy3026]

Yoh top of the range with no sunroof

[@Mekker777]

its a polo, whats all the fuss about... still appealing to the worst drivers in GP?

[@SherwinR89]

POLO NATION. OWNERS ARE A BUNCH OF IDIOTS WHO DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT CARS OR HOW TO DRIVE. HATE THIS POS CAR 💩🤬😒🖕😂

[@bhekayaka8753]

2:48 he referred to a citi golf??🧐

[@cobus8870]

I can get a opel astra 1.4 enjoy for 341k with nearly all the bells and whistles. And a bigger car. Why spend this on a small vw?

[@sumendranpillay]

It's a very nice car but I would still get a 3 year old Volvo V40 Auto, cheaper than the top spec Polo.

[@tredfxman]

... Marco ?

[@justindutoit7360]

3DFX lol

[@jeanenyeka7074]

3DFX .*k

[@ronch550]

This or a Suzuki Ciaz?

[@kickorsidumain6140]

No leather? Magitsa fave

[@zwonaka95]

Have they started hijacking them yet? 😂

[@releM15]

Zwivhuya Sivhabu theives have already found willing buyers. Just waiting for the cars to populate 1st

[@rogernkosi8420]

😂😂😂😂 it's not popular yet

[@matthewsmalatji6682]

@@rogernkosi8420 fast forward to 2021..it’s real gentleman

[@SimonSays86]

thats one sexy looking car

[@manjunathgshetty3481]

please ...review....thar..off-road......drive

[@deanesau9106]

Where's the diesel engine in this Polo?

[@zouhairgad]

It's got drum brakes at rear!!

[@emmanuelmaphosa1070]

Paw patrol

[@francoisknoetze3919]

not in all models. Highline has discs front and rear

[@princendlela1070]

That Price is too much baba

[@omglol4483]

The front look like a Golf 7 a Mini version

[@kaytjethe]

Can someone pls put a object up my arsenal. I payed 20.000 euro for a used highline. And my mirrors dont even fold. Dont move to the netherlands guys😅🤣🤪

[@TheJudeza]

I wish someone would look into why VW cars are so overpriced considering they are made locally, This polo costs more than I paid for my golf 6 Gti, what a joke! Everyone is more than happy to just pay these massively inflated prices, and then when sales slow down they offer you R60k "trade in assistance"

[@darrylcombe2469]

No one needs to look at the price. They can charge what they want as long as sheep keep buying. Supply and demand.

[@MHBGT]

"Ciro, it looks good..." -Said no one ever XD

[@timmotsoeneng3422]

PDC - R31.50

[@lazoladali6822]

7.2l/100km is pretty high for a 1.0 engine...

[@practicalgrowthacademy3189]

Lazola Dali ..their price is way too high, they need to cut it...*singing;-)

[@edwardmazibuko3608]

A sunroof isn't a new thing, don,t understand why a highine doesn't have one

[@chrwl007]

It's probably an option. Not everybody likes a sunroof.

[@Whatsthepoint6667]

I had a look at this..and I've found too many design floors...not good at all

[@nauderetief283]

Good video, mediocre car and overpriced (personal opinion) but by far the worst is that hair on the lens during the first few shots of the car!

[@MrSly870]

I get 6.3L/100km out of my Fiesta 1.0L Trend ecoboost and 6.5 out of my 1.6 Vivo around my suburb in Durban (hilly)

[@alwicotheart7065]

02:22 Yes I want a manual polo, im not american, dont want any auto car.

[@SDav21]

A Clio 1.2 turbo 88kw automatic with sat nav and all other bells and whistles including LED lights even costs R50k less and its imported. The Polo is the very definition of overpriced and rip-off. Ridiculous. Will wait for new Fiesta pricing.

[@sumendranpillay]

SDav21 to be fair the Clio only has 1 variant in auto and doesn't even have rear electric windows, the infortainment system graphics also look a bit cheap

[@SDav21]

This isn't about an automatic variant only. The highest model Clio is R50k cheaper than a manual Highline. And it DOES have electric windows at the back. The Polo is overpriced. Period.

[@hwleitner2009]

I think the polo has drum brakes at the rear in Low spec models for cost saving. Back to the 80’s.

[@heinrichcoetzee8894]

Over priced, we can not pay for the mistakes you made in the past VW. Dont get me wrong I drive VW very reliable especially when new, but I dont agree with the pricing....stop blinding the people of SA with your cheap marketing strategies. You have failed us you are now entering the same game as Toyota. Show us the cost to manufacture one new Polo! I am sure it not even 200k.

[@321Mdav]

Absolutely! But as long as people keep it in the top selling car in South Africa VW dont have to change anything especially the prices, story of SA! Monopolies screw consumers simply because they can!

[@vincentmbuyane]

The next generation polo will be half a million rand..and the polo vivo will be R300k base..by that time VW would introduce a new entry level car with a price of the current vivo.. I'm no longer interested VW,I guess I'm no longer your target market.

[@takunda6087]

Predicted

[@vincentmbuyane]

@@takunda6087 bro just got goosebumps 😳, I don't even remember this ...thanks for bringing it to my attention...👊🏽👊🏽

[@darrenaronje8757]

I would rather stick with my 1.2 TSI high line. Looks much more better.

[@sydneythefitdr]

Great car. But it is a bit overpriced !

[@tblsg7435]

What do you recommend I buy ciro I’m at university right now 1st year @cars.co.za

[@DavetheCarGuy]

Polo Vivo

[@rogernkosi8420]

@@DavetheCarGuy so they can steal it?

[@SoftPorridge]

Used GTI 6 PRICE TAG .

[@WaseemKhan-iu4bh]

If you want a 10 year old car which will probably break very soon , sure get that! :D

[@SoftPorridge]

Waseem Khan lol . But 300k 4 a Polo is not worth it.

[@WaseemKhan-iu4bh]

Agreed, especially since it's a 1.0L 3 cylinder engine.. For 300k i would rather get a used polo GTI or golf 7 GTI

[@SoftPorridge]

hope the link opens . obvious you have to check the car but this is what 300k can get u www.cars.co.za/for-sale/used/2014-Volkswagen-Golf-VII-GTI-2.0-TSI-DSG-Gauteng-Johannesburg/2992109/

[@pietbarnard270]

Noko Mehale Pooh G6 H7

[@jacquesduplessis8944]

VW says there won't be a diesel polo due to our dirty fuel

[@cuberaba2095]

Ridiculous price its no way near what we anticipated what we saw on the internet(based in looks)...those headlights are ugly AF where r the led lights? The headlights that they review this car with in europe makes the polo unique but nooooo.. not in south Africa even if the car is produced locally with no led lights no leather so it means they still going to add more for that? Next thing you know booom 350k for a 1.0 mxm

[@calvinmacdonald9162]

that is ridiculous in price. whats this world coming to.

[@bosse641]

A two door would be nice.

[@nigelnaicker7948]

Rather get mazda cx3

[@otrubble]

This new Polo will appeal more to males between 30 and 40yrs, and females from 21 and up. It is not a funky weekend out for guys between 20 and 30 yrs of age.

[@paulthabo9576]

the price it's higher

[@Marechalkev327]

3rd comment!

[@neilvermeulen5283]

300+k for a 1 liter 3 cylinder car? It is not possible to care less about how good it is. If you buy this you should be committed to a mental institution. If you buy this, you are perpetuating VW's ability to charge stupid amounts of money for anything. Please do not.

[@mmgentertainmentsouthafrica]

You are kak funy bro. I will send you the check to your email 😂😂😂😂😂