REVIEW: Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.6 Life auto has quality feel, evergreen appeal
To say that the Volkswagen Polo Vivo is an extremely popular vehicle would be understating the very obvious.
Volkswagen sold 24,000 of them last year, making it South Africa’s most popular passenger car. But I don’t really need to tell you that. Unless you live in Koggelsfontein, in which case you’re probably only used to seeing Hilux and Land Cruiser bakkies, you just need to look around you - Polo Vivos are everywhere.
But with the current version having been around since 2018, itself closely based on the fifth-generation Polo introduced here in 2010, Volkswagen South Africa (VWSA) knew it had to do something to keep its evergreen budget hatch fresh, particularly in light of increased competition from newer compact crossovers entering the market.
And so the local development team devised a subtle but aesthetically pleasing facelift that is distinguishable mainly by its fresh front bumper with ‘boomerang’ elements, and “Vivo” lettering across the rear tailgate, among other detail changes - which you can read more about here.
After attending the local launch in Gqeberha in August, I recently spent a week with the 1.6-litre Life automatic model in Gauteng, where its normally aspirated engine has to face the wrath of altitude that saps up to 17% of a vehicle’s power.
What’s it like to drive the 2024 Volkswagen Polo Vivo?
At this lower end of VWSA’s line-up you’re not going to get the same driving refinement and performance as you would from the German brand’s more modern TSI turbo engined products with DSG transmissions.
But then again, from a longevity point of view, I’d be more inclined to trust this “good old fashioned” normally aspirated Vivo, with its outputs of 77kW and 153Nm, and its six-speed torque converter automatic gearbox. Simple but effective in my book.
Performance is not exactly effortless at Gauteng altitudes, particularly if you have a heavy right foot, and it can get a little noisy under hard acceleration, which will often be required to overtake or steal a gap into the fast lane on an incline.
But driven calmly at a fairly average pace, it feels perfectly adequate. Economy is reasonably good, with our on-board readout showing 5.5 litres per 100km after an 80km freeway stretch at around 120km/h.
And being a Polo, you can feel its solid engineering shine through. There’s a certain solidity and accuracy to the steering, a neatness to the road-holding and a refinement to the ride quality. It is quite satisfying to drive.
What’s the Polo Vivo’s interior like?
The cabin is not quite as comprehensively specced as some rivals, like the Toyota Starlet and Suzuki Baleno for instance, but it has a high-quality look and feel to it.
It does feel a little rudimentary in places, however, as the mirrors have to be manually adjusted using stalks, as do the rear windows - yes manual winders!
Ergonomics are relatively simple and old-fashioned, although the facelifted Polo Vivo does come with a redesigned 9.0-inch infotainment system with wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The graphics of this model-specific system are somewhat improved, although we don’t like that it’s lacking a volume knob.
Other standard features in the Polo Vivo Life include cruise control, multi-function steering wheel with height and reach adjustment, height-adjustable driver’s seat, reverse camera and a front centre armrest.
Is the Polo Vivo practical?
Cabin space is par for the course for a compact hatchback. As an average-sized human being, I could sit behind my driving position without too much of a squeeze, but there wasn’t much room to stretch.
The Vivo has a relatively deep 280 litre boot, which is once again in line with expectation in this segment.
VERDICT
The Polo Vivo is a tried-and-trusted, high-quality product that’s also proudly built in Mzansi, with some local flavour also having been infused during the recent subtle facelift. It’s still somewhat stylish in our book, despite its age and partly due to VWSA’s efforts to keep it fresh.
The Polo Vivo is quite rewarding to drive too, but some of its newer hatch and SUV rivals are perhaps a little more practical and better equipped, so if you’re shopping in this league, be sure of what you want from a car and shop around a bit, of course.
The Volkswagen Polo Vivo 1.6 Life auto is priced at R320,200 (in October 2024) and comes with a three-year or 120,000km warranty, with the engine covered for five-years or 150,000km. Service and maintenance plans are optional.
IOL Motoring