• Market Watch

Volkswagen unveils refreshed Polo Vivo

• 2 Months Ago - 2024-08-29 00:00:00

Affordability, German build quality, enhanced safety, space and comfort are some of the key attributes defining the Volkswagen Polo Vivo, setting an unparalleled benchmark in the segment.
These elements combine and make the Polo Vivo stand out with a unique and dynamic presence on the road. The revamped Polo Vivo, unveiled at Volkswagen South Africa's state-of-the-art assembly plant in Kariega, features a brand-new front-end design, a new infotainment system, new headlights for improved illumination, an equipment line with a new naming convention, a new seat trim design with updated materials and enhanced safety features.
Gina Handley, Volkswagen South Africa's head of product and volume, summarised the price points of the new Vivo. “We will be introducing the new Vivo at the same price as that of the current Vivo, which is R266 600. We have added a lot more value in terms of its offering going forward and it all comes at the same price as our outgoing model. The GTI will sell for R356 000.”
She added that the new Polo Vivo comes with a 320 000-kilometre warranty, which includes roadside assistance. The five-year, 150 000-kilometre engine warranty is now part of the package offering, with Volkswagen EasyDrive maintenance and service plans as options, she said.
The vehicle will be available for sale in South Africa in September and is expected to hit Namibian streets two weeks after that.

Award-winning car
The new Polo Vivo is offered with standard features, but there are functional optional extras for those who want to individualise their new baby.
The Vivo is the rightful successor of the iconic Citigolf, and has been South Africa’s top-selling passenger model with over 425 000 (and counting) units sold across South Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa since its market introduction in 2010.
“Next year, we will celebrate 15 years of having the Polo Vivo. It is an award-winning car. It is the most sold passenger car and the only locally developed and locally manufactured vehicle in the A0 hatch segment in South Africa,” said Martina Biene, the Volkswagen South Africa chairperson and managing director.
She also acknowledged the role Namibia and Botswana played in the success of the Vivo so far. “It is a best-seller in Namibia and Botswana as well with 8 846 units sold since its launch.”

Fresh look
Visually, the new Polo Vivo can be identified in the front by its 2D Volkswagen badge, redesigned front bumper with daytime running lights and new headlights. The rear end also sports a new 2D badge with the Vivo name in chrome centered below it and a new antenna. Additionally, the new model introduces fresh colours, new interior seat materials and a new equipment line naming convention.
The new headlights, from the Life models, offer improved illumination and a modern look. The exterior features fresh design elements, including bumper skin, lower and upper grille with chrome accents, and integrated fog and cornering lights.
On the exterior, black painted mirror caps add a sleek and sophisticated touch to the GT model. New 15- and 16-inch (standard on the Life and Style models) wheels enhance the vehicle’s appeal and driving dynamics.
The wheel line-up consists of the standard steel wheels for the Vivo (14-inch) and optional 15-inch Tosa alloy wheel, 15-inch ‘Ubomi’ alloy wheel on the Life models, the 16-inch ‘Portago’ for the Style and the 17-inch ‘Mirabeau’ alloy wheel, which comes standard in the top of the range GT model.

Infotainment at your fingertips
The Vivo, Life, Style and the GT come with new interior trims which add an exciting ambiance and feel to the cabin.
The new Polo Vivo now also features a new infotainment system with a nine-inch Mirgor radio with four to six speakers (depending on the equipment line) and App Connect. “The new infotainment system has a vibrant user interface and allows you access to your vehicle data at any given time. It supports Bluetooth connectivity, USB audio and USB video. You can scroll around on the screen and look at your fuel consumption, your average speed, the distance travelled, as well as the range that the vehicle has covered,” Tshepo Monene, Volkswagen South Africa electrical component engineer, explained.

Safety
The seats have been updated with new materials and designs which include front side airbags (standard on the Style and GT) for additional safety. Active and passive standard safety features have been enhanced too. Electronic stability control, hill start control and remote central locking are standard features across the range. An optional rear-view camera for convenience and safety with a clear view is available for the Life derivatives. “The importance of the Volkswagen brand is to have safe vehicles on our roads. So, this remains at the core of what we offer from our brand,” Handley said.

Engines
The MPI engine for the 1.4 and the 1.6 is also a proudly South African engine, locally manufactured in the Volkswagen South Africa plant in Kariega.
The new Polo Vivo model range is offered with 1.4 and 1.6 MPI four-cylinder and three-cylinder one-litre TSI petrol engines. The power output of the four-cylinder engines ranges from 55kW to 77kW.
These engines are available with five-speed manual transmissions as standard. The Tiptronic is available with the 77kW 1.6 engine in six-speed automatic transmission, while the top-of-the-range GT comes with the one-litre TSI 81kW engine in six-speed manual transmission.
The entry engine in the Polo Vivo model range is the 1.4-litre with 55kW power output available at 4800rpm. This engine has ample power and torque for dynamic and everyday driving. From 3750rpm, the engine peaks at 130 Nm. In addition to its lively performance, the 1.4-litre engine has an impressive fuel consumption of 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres. This engine is offered with the Vivo derivative.
The 1.4 MPI 63kW engine has 132 Nm of torque available at 3750rpm. Its average fuel consumption is 5.9 l/100km. This engine is offered with the Life derivative.
The 77 kW 1.6-litre engine is offered with a six-speed manual as well as in six-speed automatic (Tiptronic) transmission. With 153Nm of torque at 3800rpm, this engine delivers a lively performance. With the manual transmission, the 0 to 100km/h sprint is covered in 10.8 seconds and with Tiptronic in 12.6 seconds. Its top speed is 188km/h. On average, it has a combined fuel consumption of 6.2 for manual (6.5 for Tiptronic) litres for every 100 kilometres. This engine is available in the Life derivative for the Tiptronic transmission and Style for the manual transmission.
With a top speed of 196 km/h, the one-litre 81 kW engine offers exciting performance. The 200 Nm torque is available at 2000rpm. The performance has not compromised fuel consumption, either. The 81kW engine has an impressive claimed fuel consumption of 4.8 litres per 100 kilometres. The TSI engine is offered in the top-of-the-range derivative GT.