2018 Volkswagen Polo hatchback debuts for European markets

The Volkswagen Polo hatchback was retracted from the GCC market in 2010 and since then, the German manufacturer hasn’t even spoken about bringing it back. And VW has now revealed the sixth generation of its popular supermini for the international market.

VW’s new MQB platform underpins the 2018 Polo, so an increase in size is expected. The new car is 4,053mm long, 81mm longer than the model it replaces. The width and wheelbase have been increased as well, measuring in at 1,751mm and 2,564mm respectively. This growth liberates ample room inside the Polo, as the 71 liters of extra cargo volume in the boot proves, as capacity now stands at 351 litres.

The exterior of the Polo has been diligently worked on to give the car a new aura. It is based on the angular looks of the older model but the designers have done a good job in freshening up the dated design. A few bold lines, especially the Tornado line that cuts from the side indicators all the way to the rear lights, stand out. The chrome slats in the front grill bleed into the headlights as LED lamps.  At the rear, the tail lights are an adaptation of the older units, but with a bit more zing to it. Few more creases make their way on to the boot lid, accentuating the 7cm increase in the width of the car.

The interior, unlike the exterior, of the Polo has changed a lot. An exterior colour-coded panel spans the whole length of the dashboard and a portion of the door panels and center console. The 2018 Polo also offers the customers a huge option list for personalisation, which includes 14 exterior colours, 12 wheels, 13 different dashboard decorations, 2 interior trim options and 11 different seat covers. An 8-inch infotainment screen coupled with a 300-watt sound system sits in the centre console. Options like smart keyless entry and start, automatic cruise control, emergency brake assist and blind spot detection are offered.

The 2018 Polo will be powered by a variety of engines, starting from a 1.0-litre petrol unit with 65 hp to a brand new 1.5-litre petrol unit with 150 hp and cylinder deactivation. Customers can opt for the hotter GTI from day one, which produces 200 hp from its 2.0-litre turbocharged engine.

The current generation Polo is available in its Indian-made sedan guise. A re-introduction of the Polo hatchback seems unlikely at this point.