Confidence all round

Review Talha Randeree

There is a reason VW is one of the largest car manufacturing companies in the world: they make excellence!

I have been a fan of VW for years on end. I own a VW myself, and I would never sell it. There is a reason for this. VWs have soul. They have a legacy to live up to. They have personalities. They are cheaper than most cars to maintain and they are undoubtedly some of the most exciting and fun cars to drive.

When I was given the keys to the new Polo TSI 81kW Highline with the DSG gearbox, my enthusiasm was positively oozing. I waited a long time to get my hands on one of these, and finally I could have a no-holes-barred session with it.

I was taken away and transported into motoring heaven with the car.

The 81kW may seem small, but still baffles the mind. It runs like Usain Bolt after a shot of adrenaline. It positively explodes forward.

The car goes from nought to 100kph in 9.3 seconds. From a stock standard budget car this is blindingly fast!

The seven-speed DSG gearbox is a dream. My only issue with it, is that VW kept the pedal shifts connected to the steering, meaning that every time you enter a turn, and want to change a gear, the levers are never really where you left them, but then again you can always just reach down and shift using the normal gear lever.

Naturally, VW has gone about making this car the right way. They did not just leave it with a powerful little engine. They made sure the car would handle just as well, brushing corners aside as if nothing.

Following VW standards, ABS, ESP and all those other mechanical witchcraft come standard in all models of the car.

The exterior of the car is also quite exciting to look at.

I have always felt that VW has found a formula shape and design that works with clients and new customers. It is quite difficult to tell the difference between models unless you know your cars.

The defining factor with the new model that really sets it apart is the lower grille. The little chrome strip cradling the fog lights is the cherry on the top of a lovely- looking car.

For once I feel that the new Polo looks different than its predecessors and I love it.

I’m sorry to harp on about this, but I need to spend a bit more time on the performance of the car. 0-100km/h in 9.3 seconds. Did you know that this is achieved with a 1.2-litre engine?

What a spectacular little engine it is! It just keeps on going, working to give you to best results. Coupled with the gearbox, the car does not run out of its leash anytime soon.

There is hardly any turbo lag at all. It is just smooth sailing or smooth driving with this car.

For me having driven this car it was pure torture. It was like being given a box of chocolates for your birthday as a kid, but having it taken away from you because you forgot to brush your teeth in your sugar-induced rampage.

In today’s economy, we can’t have money disappearing overseas, which is why all the Polos in South African are produced locally at VW’s Uithenhage plant, so if you want to spend R250 000 on a car, the Polo and the South African economy is waiting.