Premium quality at an affordable price: The VW Polo Hatch

The fifth-generation Polo has a chrome accent front grille, manually adjustable halogen headlights, front and rear fog lamps. PHOTOS BY AIDA SEVILLA-MENDOZA

Someone asked me last year why Volkswagen cars cost so much when the very brand itself is supposed to mean “people’s car” in German.   He cited as examples the VW Touareg, the diesel V6 SUV that retails for P4.29 million and the Beetle, the 1.2-liter, manual transmission variant of which costs P1.59 million.

Automobiles that carry a European badge, whether German, British, Italian, French or Scandinavian, are usually more expensive not only because many of them are luxury cars, but also because of the excise taxes and other tariffs their importers/distributors have to pay. Meanwhile, Japanese- and American-brand vehicles that are sourced from other Asean countries like Thailand and Indonesia enjoy zero tariffs.

The Polo Hatch’s rivals in the subcompact segment cannot match its solid build quality.

But going back to VW, if by chance I see that person again, I would tell him that Automobile Central Enterprise Inc. (Acei), the exclusive importer and distributor of VW vehicles and parts in the Philippines, responded to his concern recently by bringing in another car that costs less than one million bucks: the subcompact Polo Hatch.

ENTRY-LEVEL. The VW Polo is considered the brand’s entry-level model and is offered in other markets equipped with a range of TDI (turbo direct injection) diesel and naturally aspirated gasoline engines.  For the Philippine market, Acei chose the four cylinder-in-line, common rail TDI diesel engine to power the Polo Notch sedan, which was launched in 2014 in Manila with a P950,000 price tag.

A tonneau cover is standard equipment in the cargo area.

Last month, Acei came up with the Polo Hatch, which is also offered at P950,000 and also has a 1.6-liter, four-cylinder powerplant.  There’s a big difference, though: the five-door Polo’s engine is multipoint gasoline mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, while the Notch’s turbo diesel engine runs with a five-speed manual gearbox.

The Polo is one of Volkswagen’s most enduring models, having been introduced to the global market in 1975. The current model is the fifth generation Polo and is manufactured in Germany, Spain, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, India and China.

The cockpit is plain but well-built with top-quality materials and easily reached controls.

NOT HOT. The Polo’s race-prepped GTi version won the World Rally Championship twice. One look at the blandly designed  2014-2015 Polo Hatch road car, though, and you’ll sense at once that it’s no hot hatch.  The specs confirm the image: 104 brake horsepower, 153 Newton-meters max torque at 3,800 revolutions per minute, zero to 100 kilometers per hour in 11.1 seconds, 184 kph top speed.

Indeed, the Polo Hatch is not a fast or sporty car.  It won’t immediately impress you or get your adrenaline pumping the first time you see it.  Perhaps it wasn’t meant to.  Rather, the Polo Hatch is the kind of car that gradually earns your respect and subtly wins your affection with its quiet driveability, refined road manners, solid build quality and big car feel.

Like the Polo Notch TDI sedan, the Polo Hatch is Volkswagen’s entry-level car.

More than its sharper-looking rivals in the subcompact segment, the Polo Hatch feels  premium and substantial when you drive it.  The 1.6-liter engine is relatively quiet, the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly (and rapidly, when needed), the speed-sensitive electric power steering does not feel overassisted or vague. Linear power delivery peaks when the needle goes past 4,000 rpm.

The 1.6-liter, 104 HP, 153 Nm gasoline engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission.

BUILD QUALITY. Although the Polo Hatch is not as engaging to drive as some of its competitors, it beats them all in terms of impeccable fit-and-finish and build quality. Tightly shut lines and solid Teutonic steel attest to its superior quality.  Volkswagen’s legendary build quality adds value to even this, its entry-level model, such that the VW badge above the front grille and on the tailgate is what catches your eye and transcends the Polo’s benign exterior design.

The solid build quality and well-balanced suspension system result in a comfortable, fluid and serene ride with minimal engine, wind and road noise.  The ride quality is firmer than most, but the Polo Hatch smothers imperfect road surfaces with equanimity for a car of its size.

The exterior styling, while not exciting to behold, exudes understated refinement and class. The classic lines do not offend, rather they reassure a broader spectrum of people that this little car will remain steadily reliable for the long term and will go the distance as Volkswagen cars are known to do.

The 60:40 split rear seat folds to increase boot space to 952 liters.

BIG CAR FEELING. The Polo Hatch is well-built inside and out, making driving it easy and pleasant. With its neat, legible switchgear and gauges, good driving position (the nicely shaped leather-finished multifunction steering wheel is tilt and telescopic adjustable), high quality materials (except for the hard plastic dashboard) and spacious legroom and headroom up front due to the sloping dash, the Polo Hatch gives occupants a big car feeling, quiet and refinement that are rarely found in the affordable subcompact category.

Infotainment in the Polo Hatch, like its over-all design, is on the conservative side: an AM/FM radio with four speakers, single in-dash CD player, MP3, Bluetooth connectivity, SD card, AUX-in and USB slots.  The rear seats split 60:40 and increase luggage space from 280 liters to 952 liters when folded down forward.  However, the rear seats do not fold flat.

Dual SRS front airbags, anti-lock braking system (ABS), the Intelligent Crash Response System (ICRS) that automatically unlocks doors and turns on hazard lights in the event of an accident, a crash-safe body design, four-point rear parking sensors, antitheft system with immobilizer and interior monitoring system and Isofix-ready rear seats are listed as standard safety equipment.  The 15-inch Riverside design alloy wheels are shod with 185/60 R15 profile tires.

Summing up, the capable, well-built VW Polo Hatch’s fifth iteration deserves consideration by young couples and singles shopping for their first wheels or empty nesters looking for a small urban runabout.  It does not look spectacular or slingshot to top speed in less than 10 seconds, but it is premium quality Volkswagen offered at an affordable price.