The new version of the compact hatchback Polo came out in classic Volkswagen style. Despite the fact that in total all the changes in the appearance of the new "Polo" do not even pull on restyling, in fact, the car has changed quite seriously and now it can be called "little Golf" without stretch. We also bothered to ride a 2014 Volkswagen Polo and evaluate all the changes.
It's very Volkswagen-style to update the car so that no one notices anything ... A bright blue test car was waiting for us right at Munich Airport - this color has become the hallmark of the restyled version and the Fresh package, which will be offered to customers only in the first year of sales . A car of this color will drive on all promotions of the model.
According to Volkswagen representatives, the new Polo is like a small VW Golf, not only in terms of design, but also in terms of technology, comfort and safety. Of course, this positioning also affected the price. But in our country, the new Polo starts with the same price tag as before restyling.
Tradition is extremely important to Volkswagen. The Germans never allowed drastic design updates and experiments. New generations of all models are carefully calibrated so that some conservative client will never turn away from the company.
Not in vain, oh not in vain, the designers added a new bright color to the Polo range - it is by it that buyers will be able to identify that they have a restyled car in front of them, and not the previous one. After all, you have to look for changes almost with a magnifying glass. Yes, the geometry of the front and rear optics has changed a lot, yes, new wheels have appeared, but the LED elements in the optics have become the main “chip”. However, cars with such headlights will go on sale a little later, but for now, ordinary halogens shine from there.
We advise future owners of new items to take a closer look at the new color, otherwise no one will notice that they bought a restyled Polo. However, the conservatism of Volkswagen design is no longer surprising: the Germans know better what their customers value.
There are no revelations in the design of the pseudo-SUV Volkswagen CrossPolo. It also has its own corporate color, which replaced the bright orange. As usual, the "off-road" car is distinguished by roof rails, moldings around the perimeter and chic seventeen-inch wheels. One minus - it will not be easy to pick up winter tires for such wheels.
As for the “civilian” version of Polo, in Ukraine it will be available with 15-inch wheels. An inch more will have to be ordered, and there are no 17-inch ones at all. By the way, they didn’t save on stock “rubber” in a regular and Cross hatchback: in the first case, Dunlop tires are used, and in the second, Goodyear tires. But the CrossPolo wheels are, of course, better.
The restyled VW Polo is in every way aspiring to the VW Golf. It is of interest to those buyers who do not want a Golf-sized car, but are willing to pay for close or similar equipment. Therefore, the new hatchback is equipped with a different dashboard, steering wheel and other nice options.
For tests, we were given a car with a light interior trim that looks very attractive. In practice, we've already found that the light-coloured plastics don't feel as good as they look, and the door cards feel a bit flimsy and cheap. But the complaints about the interior of the new VW Polo end there: in all other senses, it has evolved.
For starters, the Polo is now being sold with the exact same steering wheel as the Golf. The steering wheels are identical both in appearance and functionality. There is progress in multimedia systems. In the photos you see the top version with navigation software and a 6.5-inch screen. There is a simpler version with a five-inch screen and no navigation software: it is also found in different versions of the VW Golf and SEAT Leon. The lacquered gray plastic framed by the radio and climate control unit looks very good: the coating is pleasant and durable.
The dashboard was also “pumped”, and again in the direction of the VW Golf: even a color monitor with a 3D matrix is optionally available. In general, the interior of the new "Polo" constantly suggests analogies with the "big brother", the car has pulled itself up to its level, both in design and equipment.
Of the pleasant little things, the concern for passengers, that is, about their things, is immediately noticeable: roomy pockets appeared in the doors, deep cup holders, a folding armrest with a drawer and a deep glove box, as well as retractable trays under the front seats. There is even floor lighting, which creates a special coziness in the evening. The rear passengers have their own lights.
As usual with Volkswagen cars, driving a restyled hatchback did not have to get used to. The discreet design hides high ergonomics and standardization. On the one hand, it’s boring, because having traveled on one of the brand’s cars, you can assume that you drove all of them. On the other hand, in any Volkswagen model you begin to feel at home and no longer learn anything new.
In terms of overall parameters, the new VW Polo does not differ from the previous one: 2 mm differences in size did not affect anything. The front seats are spacious enough that even people with a height of 190 cm can comfortably accommodate here.
The steering wheel extends decently enough and rarely anyone will not be able to choose the optimal configuration for themselves. But after driving 100 km, we still identified one weak point - an almost perfect seat at first glance is tiring. Perhaps it was still worth adjusting it better, but this shortcoming was already revealed on the way to the airport.
Not enough space on the back seat. A tall passenger will fit there and will not complain about the torment, but on a long journey he will prefer to take tickets to the reserved seat car of the train. Your knees closely support the back, you sit straight, fortunately, that you do not rest your head on the ceiling. What do you say, he is B-class and B-class in Africa.
The trunk in the European versions of the VW Polo is slightly larger, since it does not have a spare wheel. Therefore, in the test car, we found a raised floor, and even a decent size niche under the floor. In our cars, this space will be occupied by a spare tire.
In terms of equipment level, the Volkswagen Polo after restyling cannot be called a role model in the class, but the hatchback still has certain advantages over its competitors. While Korean offerings in this class focus on features (heated steering wheel, ventilated seats, etc.), Volkswagen is bringing other technologies to the masses: adaptive suspension, turbocharged engines, adaptive cruise control, and even a warning system. collisions.
The most noticeable innovation for the buyer will be adaptive cruise control and Front Assist collision avoidance system. The latter monitors all cars in front and, in the event of an unsafe approach, informs the driver with a sound signal, dampens the gas pedal and sharpens the brakes. Adaptive cruise control keeps a safe distance and is able to bring the car to a complete stop if necessary. The system will resume movement as soon as the vehicle in front moves off. The system works great and allows you to rest even on country roads.
Already the basic equipment of the restyled VW Polo has an ESP system (Volkswagen calls it ESC) and a vehicle retention system after side impacts, which helps the driver stabilize the car. Also in the database there is a set of four airbags: a pair of frontal and a pair of side airbags for the driver and front passenger. A set of side rear airbags is optionally available. As an option, there is also a rear-view camera, which was not previously offered for the Volkswagen Polo. The restyled hatchback “learned” to control tire pressure and recognize driver fatigue.
Immediately upon issuing hatchbacks, we were told not to get too carried away with diesel engines, since they would not be available in Ukraine. Of course, this did not stop us from riding them for fun, but we still paid more attention to the 90-horsepower 1.2 TSI engine. But before sharing our impressions, let's talk about the motor range.
The base VW Polo 2014 will receive a liter three-cylinder naturally aspirated unit with a capacity of 75 hp. As partners, he has only a five-speed “mechanics”. The motor is available only in the Trandline package.
It is immediately followed by a 110 hp liter turbo unit, which will be equipped with both Polo and CrossPolo. Two transmissions are offered for it - a six-speed manual transmission and a seven-speed DSG. Expected to be on sale in Ukraine only from November. From November, 1.8 TSI will also appear in the Polo engine range, but only for the modification of the VW Polo GTI. At the same time, a 1.4 TDI diesel engine will also be released in power modifications of 75 or 105 hp. For the latter, only one box is available - a five-speed "mechanics". These motors are no longer new, they comply with Euro-4 requirements. The Germans found it impractical to adapt the DSG for them, so only manual boxes, only for corporate customers.
The main bet in Volkswagen is made on 1.2 TSI with a seven-speed DSG “robot”. Importers expect the greatest interest among Ukrainians to 1.2 TSI 90 hp. and DSG.
The new 90-horsepower TSI unit behaves perfectly. It cannot be said that it is more than enough - you should be careful when overtaking. But when compared with the atmospheric 1.4, which was used in the pre-styling Polo, in any case, progress is on the face - the new Polo rides well. In the city, the combination of this engine with a five-speed “mechanics” is also on the level, since the long shelf of the moment allows you not to switch too often. But on the highway, five gears are already not enough - at 110 km / h the tachometer already shows about 3,000 rpm, which negatively affects consumption. But with a seven-speed DSG “robot”, it’s another matter - even at 130 km / h the engine spins up to 2,000 rpm, and on the autobahn you can squeeze out all 170 km / h. Accordingly, the machine with DSG consumes 0.5 - 1 liter less. With a quiet ride on the highway, it is quite possible to get 5.5 liters of consumption and 6.5 - 7 liters in the city without traffic jams. The feeling of driving with a "robot" is very pleasant.
On the suspension and steering wheel, the VW Polo did not present any unpleasant surprises after restyling. This is in every sense a typical Volkswagen: obedient, collected, comfortable and without sports excesses. That is, it is an excellent everyday companion that will not give you unpleasant surprises and will not tire you.
Video | Euro NCAP Volkswagen Polo crash test
To protect the driver and passengers in the Volkswagen Polo model, passive and active safety systems have been introduced.
They differ depending on the chosen configuration, the effectiveness of the measures taken can be judged by official crash test data.
In the design and production of the Volkswagen Polo, we were guided by the requirements of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - UNECE. They regulate the protection of the driver and passenger in the event of a frontal and side impact, the fastening of child seats, the operation of warning systems when leaving the road, and emergency braking.
Based on these requirements, the manufacturer has provided the following basic protection measures that each Volkswagen Polo sedan is equipped with:
- The ABS system, operates in emergency and normal braking modes, controls the pressure of the brake fluid;
- Airbags - one each for the driver and passenger in the front seat;
- Three-point belts on all seats, front can be adjusted in height;
- Headrests with height adjustment - 2 in front and three for rear passengers;
- If the driver's belt is not fastened while the engine is running, an audible and indicator alert is triggered.
For better controllability of the car, which directly affects safety, the Volkswagen Polo is equipped with front disc brakes and anti-lock braking system ABS in the basic configuration. The car is protected from theft by an electronic immobilizer.
Additional options
In addition to the basic means of ensuring protection and better controllability of the machine, the manufacturer has provided additional measures. They are conditionally divided into two types - the first are installed depending on the selected configuration, the second can be purchased as a separate package of options. Important: Changing the security options is not possible.
Additional protections for Trendline, Drive, Comfortline, Highline and GT:
- Installed rear disc brakes;
- ESP stabilization for better directional stability, steering control during maneuvers, only for 7-automatic transmissions (Drive, Highline and GT equipment);
- Front fog lights with turn signal (Highline and GT only).
The additional package of options "Safety" has rear and front parking sensors, side airbags, but only for the front passenger and driver.
Its cost is 20,990 rubles.
Volkswagen Polo crash test results
The most objective data on the degree of safety of the Volkswagen Polo are presented in the results of the Euro NCAP crash test. This particular vehicle model has not been tested by the US Insurance Institute for Safety IIHS.
Volkswagen Polo sedan assembled in Kaluga was crash tested by ARCAP (Russia) only in 2010. Results may differ from the actual results of the latest model. Therefore, only official data from Euro NCAP can be considered.
The speed of the car in a frontal collision is 64 km/h, two types of obstacles - monolithic and deformable. The maximum impact spot does not exceed 40% of the machine width. Side impact occurs at a speed of 50 km / h. The degree of impact on a pedestrian is also checked when a car is moving at 50 km / h
Driver and adult passenger
Most of the results were good. During a head-on collision, the impact energy was compensated by belts and pillows. In the event of a full-width frontal impact, the driver is not injured, but minor damage may occur if a deformable obstacle is encountered.
Test results:
- Deformable obstacle - 7.6;
- Head-on collision - 7.8;
- Side impact - 16;
- Rear impact - 2.4.
The indicator of the emergency braking system in urban conditions is good.
Rear passenger and child
No damage to the dummies of a six-year-old (in a child seat) and a ten-year-old child. The seat belts worked well, there is protection of all parts of the body. The data was confirmed in a frontal and side collision. When the front passenger airbag was turned off to install a rear child seat, the driver was notified.
Results:
- Front kick - 15;
- Side collision - 8;
- Holding a child seat - 12.
In the tests, two types of child seats were used - for a child of 6 and 10 years old.
Collision with a pedestrian
When hitting the front of the car, damage to pedestrians is minimal. There are some problems when colliding with the edges of the windshield. The most dangerous areas are at the exterior rear-view mirrors.
Pedestrian damage assessment:
- Head - 15.9;
- Pelvis - 4.8;
- Legs - 6.
Damage to the car was not global. During a frontal impact, the doorway shifted by 2 mm, there were no deformations of the welds. The front part is completely crushed, the engine has not gone beyond the subframe.
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Bus drivers will understand: first you rush along the highway, and then suddenly a traffic jam of hundreds of cars grows. You “crawl” past a mangled “graveyard” of scrap metal with wide-open eyes in surprise. And when you see a crowd of unharmed owners of beat-up cars and their passengers, you feel a little relief. Of course, the outcome is different in this kind of accidents. Therefore, tens of thousands of cars, before getting on the industrial conveyor, undergo modern crash tests.
Already by the name of the concept it becomes clear what this procedure is. This is a real simulation of a standard accident in order to obtain information on the level of damage to the car, driver and passengers. Interestingly, mannequins imitating people began to be seated in the interior of a car only since 1966. Before that, human bodies or dead animals served as experimental subjects.
Crash tests - sounds sporty. No wonder, because for racing competitions this "ceremony" is an integral part of motorsport. Without passing it, the racing team will not receive a license from the motorsport committee to participate in competitions.
As for ordinary passenger cars, there is the same catch: no model will seep into the car market until the procedure is completed. If factories that produce cars off the assembly line ignore the crash test regulations, they will receive serious fines and other sanctions.
Features of the EuroNCAP test
There are enough international organizations involved in conducting crash tests. They are scattered all over the world. In Europe alone, there are as many as six laboratories conducting scrupulous car safety studies. One center each is located in France, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK. A couple more, which includes the famous ADAC automobile society, which has been leading its history since 1903, is located in Germany.
All European laboratories are united in one organization EuroNCAP, which stands for Russian as "European New Car Assessment Program". EuroNCAP experts conduct four types of crash tests:
For example, the doorway after a frontal impact was reduced by only a couple of millimeters. For the same one, it was 15 mm, and for the “first” Focus - 20 mm. In addition, the door, as it opened freely and without hindrance, is now in excellent health. All thanks to a cunning door bracket, which, even as a result of strong deformation, will not get stuck in the lock.
The steering column also responded excellently to impact. Instead of shifting back, as happened with the "Frenchman" and "American" mentioned above, the "steering wheel" moved forward by 52 mm.
The airbag allowed the Volkswagen Polo sedan to show a good result in terms of damage to the head and chest, evenly distributing and reducing the load on the bodies of the mannequins. The driver's indicator reached 583 units, and the passenger one - 414.
There were no problems with the belts either. Considering that the “green” zone of the crash test is at around 2 mm, the driver’s offset of the calibrated ribs by 25 mm and the passenger’s by 23 mm are only slightly away from the standard. Although the lower spar curled up into a “marine” knot, taking on the brunt of the blow, it fulfilled its main purpose, namely, the operational absorption of kinetic energy, with a bang. As for the upper spar, the high-strength steel alloy was only slightly deformed.
The massive subframe and the far from weak bracket of the bumper beam were crushed specifically, like the entire front part on the driver's side, but not a scratch on the bottom. The floor under the driver's mat was barely damaged, and the weld was as good as new.
There were no surprises with the battery either. The main brake cylinder did not reach the goal: "" only slightly "flew up", and even with the naked eye no deformations can be found on the body. With the wires the same story - nothing broke and did not close. As a result: even after a powerful blow at a speed of 64 km / h, the sedan left all its electrical equipment intact and intact.
Thus, here they are worked out 14.3 points: two “fours” for the head, hips and knees, 3.6 for the chest, 3.7 for the shins and feet. An extra point is uprooted from the sum due to the presence of dangerous metal structures behind the casing of the steering column. The total indicator of the sedan loses only half a point to the European hatch!
Interestingly, at the EuroNCAP test site, a prototype of the Kaluga sedan was first tested, the mass of which was 140 kilograms more than that of the "serial". But even he, with not quite the correct fit of the dummies, gave a result of 11 points.
The crash test carried out allowed us to conclude how the driver and passenger should sit in order to minimize the set of injuries in an accident. The most important criterion is the position of the back - the closer to the vertical, the more likely to get minor bruises in an accident. It is also recommended to tighten the upper belt anchor to the end.
Well, here it is - European know-how: the ability to conduct high-quality crash tests, design rigid bodies and adjust belt settings. Our "specialists" in this regard - as up to the moon.