Volkswagen has unveiled a facelifted version of its Polo small hatchback ahead of its arrival in the UK in the third quarter of 2021.
The enhanced version of the model incorporates styling changes that bring it in line with the rest of the Volkswagen range, including new front and rear bumpers, LED headlights, a redesigned tailgate and new LED tail light clusters.
According to Volkswagen’s head of exterior design, Marvo Pavone, the design tweaks “create a relationship with the Golf design language”. He said the new frontal design “makes the car clearly wider and more easily recognisable”.
Inside, the revised Polo adds the latest version of VW’s infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen offered as standard, while a larger, 9.2-inch unit, is available as an optional extra, while the model has adopted an 8.0-inch digital cockpit display from the larger Golf model.
Like the Golf, the facelifted Polo will adopt a three trim-level system, with Life, Style and R-Line grades being offered, replacing the existing Match, SEL and R-Line specifications.
Volkswagen’s Travel Assist is to be offered as an option on the Polo for the first time. First debuted on the Passat, the level-two autonomous driving feature offers semi-autonomous adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance at speeds of up to 130mph, while a regular lane-keeping assistance feature is fitted as standard.
As before, one engine – a three-cylinder, 1.0-litre petrol engine – will be offered in 80hp, 95hp and 110hp guises, with manual and automatic transmission options offered.
Responding to a question posed by Motoring Research at a virtual press briefing, Hendrik Muth, head of product marketing at Volkswagen, said there are no plans to add a pure EV powertrain to the Polo “as we have our own electric platform and the ID family is hitting the market. We are planning a model below the ID3 to be launched”.
However, he didn’t rule out the addition of hybrid or plug-in hybrid options down the line: “Depending on the market situation, we can look at offering hybrids market-by-market, but we will start with the TSI [petrol] engine.”
UK prices are yet to be revealed.
ALSO READ:
2021 World Car Awards: Volkswagen ID.4 is World Car of the Year
Volkswagen Group cuts CO2 emissions 20% – but still misses target