It's one of the best selling superminis of all time in Europe and a huge success for Volkswagen, not to mention an icon with almost . However, the Polo hatch could be considered a fish out of water in Japan, home turf for some of the biggest car companies.
However, the local market has opened up hugely to European imports over the past few years and following Renault's launch of the Clio as the "Lutecia" and Ford's Fiesta, the 2014 Polo is now also available in Japan.
The same model we recently tested went on sale yesterday, with prices starting from a somewhat steep 2,239,000 yen, which is equivalent to €16.329. However, the standard car is a Polo Comfort Line with a 1.2-liter TSI turbo engine and a 7-speed DSG gearbox and a 5-door body. We specced a German market Polo to the same level and found it costs €17,650, so the Japanese are actually being treated to a bit of a bargain.
The 1.2-liter engine in question is a four-cylinder unit, producing 90 horsepower and 160 Nm of torque (16.3 kgm according to local standards). Not only is is fuel-efficient, requiring 22.2 km/l according to the LC08 combined cycle (4.7 l/100km), but it's also quite spiritedly. 0 to 100 km/h takes only 10.8 seconds and the top speed is 184 km/h.
From a cosmetic point of view, the "new Polo" is not much different from last year's model. Only a new lower front bumper and retouched headlights and taillights set it apart. However, the interior does receive the same steering wheel and infotainment as the larger Golf and you can order it with ACC adaptive cruise control and pre-crash automated braking.
The same model we recently tested went on sale yesterday, with prices starting from a somewhat steep 2,239,000 yen, which is equivalent to €16.329. However, the standard car is a Polo Comfort Line with a 1.2-liter TSI turbo engine and a 7-speed DSG gearbox and a 5-door body. We specced a German market Polo to the same level and found it costs €17,650, so the Japanese are actually being treated to a bit of a bargain.
The 1.2-liter engine in question is a four-cylinder unit, producing 90 horsepower and 160 Nm of torque (16.3 kgm according to local standards). Not only is is fuel-efficient, requiring 22.2 km/l according to the LC08 combined cycle (4.7 l/100km), but it's also quite spiritedly. 0 to 100 km/h takes only 10.8 seconds and the top speed is 184 km/h.
From a cosmetic point of view, the "new Polo" is not much different from last year's model. Only a new lower front bumper and retouched headlights and taillights set it apart. However, the interior does receive the same steering wheel and infotainment as the larger Golf and you can order it with ACC adaptive cruise control and pre-crash automated braking.