At the Geneva Motor Show at the beginning of March, the Polo debuted with a completely new look and technology. After its celebrated world premiere, this latest Volkswagen is now entering the market. Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn: "The new Polo fulfills the highest standards of the automotive present and goes a step further. Its extremely efficient drive technologies, best possible active and passive safety systems, a level of quality never before attained in this car class and impressive design all set new benchmarks in the fifth generation of this bestseller that has sold over 10.6 million units." The Chairman of the Board of Management of the Volkswagen Group continues: "The Polo is clearly the right car at the right time, and that is born out by the latest advance sales figures. Here we have created a Volkswagen that takes the unparalleled success of the Golf concept and effectively transfers it to an independent segment – the Polo class."

"It is already clear that the Polo will redefine the benchmarks in its class, especially when it comes to preserving natural resources," says Dr. Ulrich Hackenberg, Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Brand, and responsible for technical development. Dr. Hackenberg continues: "As a 90-PS TDI with a BlueMotionTechnology package, the new Polo moves with 3.6 liter fuel consumption. Even our new 105-PS TSI only consumes 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers. We have succeeded in improving fuel economy between 8 and 20 percent over the entire gasoline engine lineup, and between 5 and 15 percent among the diesels. And that is really good."

Another key fact: No other car in its class has such a mature and high-end image as the new Polo. Comfort, quality and safety have all taken a considerable leap forward. One example: among other things, the Polo was specifically designed to attain the recently established, stricter and more comprehensive, 5-star EuroNCAP rating. The greater structural rigidity of the Polo’s bodyshell contributes to these results. In the footwell area alone, intrusion – related to the car body’s resistance to deformation in a frontal crash – was lowered by 50 percent! In the case of a side impact, the intrusion value was reduced by 20 percent.

In addition, the European version of the Polo now being presented is equipped with standard ESP electronic stabilization program with Hill Hold Control, and it has a highly effective network of airbags on board, including combined head-thorax airbags (integrated in the front seatbacks), belt tensioners and belt force limiters plus seatbelt warning indicator and head restraints that counteract the risk of whiplash injury (both front seats), three rear head restraints and Isofix preparation for child seats.

Volkswagen has rearranged the line structure of its equipment lines since the previous model: "Trendline" still represents the entry-level variant, and "Comfortline" still refers to the mid equipment level. New to the lineup – and bringing the Polo in line with the Golf here – is the top version called "Highline". Convenience features that are already standard features of the Polo Trendline include: electro-hydraulic power steering, power windows in front, central locking, cargo area lighting and tie-down points, warning buzzer if lights are left on, height adjustment for driver’s seat, illuminated make-up mirrors in the sun visors and green tinted windows. Meanwhile, "Titanium black" trim and "Metric" fabric give the interior a perceptibly high-end ambiance.

Facts Summary

Equipment lines

• Polo Trendline
• Polo Comfortline
• Polo Highline

Engines offered at sales launch in June 2009

• 1.2 MPI with 44 kW / 60 PS
• 1.2 MPI with 51 kW / 70 PS
• 1.4 MPI with 63 kW / 85 PS
• 1.6 TDI with 55 kW / 75 PS
• 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS
• 1.6 TDI with 77 kW / 105 PS

Gasoline engine-transmission pairings and equipment lines they may be combined with over the long-term

• 1.2 MPI with 44 kW / 60 PS, SG-5* / Trendline
• 1.2 MPI with 51 kW / 70 PS, SG-5 / Trendline, Comfortline
• 1.4 MPI with 63 kW / 86 PS, SG-5, DSG-7* / Comfortline, Highline
• 1.2 TSI with 77 kW / 105 PS, SG-6, DSG-7 /Comfortline, Highline

Diesel engine-transmission pairings and equipment lines they may be combined with over the long-term

• 1.6 TDI with 55 kW / 75 PS, SG-5* / Trendline
• 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS, SG-5, DSG-7* / Comfortline, Highline
• 1.6 TDI with 66 kW / 90 PS at 96 g/km CO2, SG-5 /
  BlueMotionTechnology package for Comfortline, Highline
• 1.6 TDI with 77 kW / 105 PS, SG-5 / Comfortline, Highline

Key changes compared to the previous generation

• New TSI and Common Rail TDI engines
• All engines fulfill the Euro-5 emissions standard
• Up to 20 percent improvement in fuel economy
• BlueMotionTechnology version sets standards with 3.6 liter fuel economy
• Innovative 7-speed DSG appears in the Polo for first time
• First vehicle in the A0 class that should fulfill the new, more stringent EuroNCAP 5-Star standard
• Body weight reduced by 7.5 percent; gross weight reduced by 2.5 percent
• ABS is standard – worldwide
• ESP is standard – on all major European markets
• Head-thorax airbags are standard – on all major European markets
• Static turning light, integrated in the front fog lights
• Audio and navigation systems from higher vehicle classes (Golf, Passat)
• Completely new level of quality in the A0 class
• Best insurance ratings in the A0 class