The Loaner: Previous Generation POLO

The other day, when I took my Volkswagen Golf 7 in for its one-year inspection at the dealer, I was able to borrow a 5th generation 6R model POLO (1.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine) as a loaner, so I took it for a spin to the nearby supermarket and back. With that, I’d like to share my impressions of the POLO’s ride comfort and driving performance. (For details on the Golf’s one-year inspection, see the article below↓↓)

→【Reference Article】What Are the Running Costs of a VW Golf 7? — Total Cost of One-Year Inspection About 30,000 Yen

This POLO model was highly praised at launch for its safety that exceeded its class and advanced engine variations, and it won the 2010 European Car of the Year, as well as World Car of the Year, Japan Car of the Year Import Car of the Year, and RJC Car of the Year awards simultaneously.

The body dimensions are “Length 3,995mm × Width 1,685mm × Height 1,475mm”. The Golf 7 measures “Length 4,265mm × Width 1,800mm × Height 1,460mm,” so the POLO is noticeably smaller than the Golf. Compared to the Panamera, which exceeds 5 meters in length and nearly 2 meters in width, the POLO’s compact size really stands out again, haha.

The POLO is a hugely popular model worldwide, with total global sales exceeding 14 million units since the first generation debuted in 1975. That’s impressive. By the way, the launch price was about 2 million yen.

POLO Interior and Cabin

So, I’ll share my impressions item by item.

① Simple Interior

The POLO I borrowed was a pre-facelift model, so the interior felt a bit dated. That might also be because I’m used to the current Golf 7’s interior. Also, since it wasn’t a high-grade trim, the cabin was very simple, equipped only with the essential switches and buttons.

② Manual Handbrake

One thing that caught my attention was that the parking brake was manual, not electric (handbrake). However, I learned that even the new POLO models still use a manual handbrake, so this might be one of POLO’s distinctive features. Being used to electric parking brakes, it felt kind of refreshing, haha.

③ No Auto Hold Function

Given the car’s age, it probably didn’t have an auto hold function, so I had to keep my foot on the brake while waiting at traffic lights. …Well, technically, you’re supposed to keep the brake pressed when stopped anyway. My current Golf 7 has an “auto hold” feature that keeps the car stationary even after you take your foot off the brake pedal once fully stopped.

So, at traffic lights, you can relax your foot off the pedal, which is very convenient. …That said, just a few years ago, I didn’t have that feeling at all… Getting used to it is scary.

④ Doors Feel Solid and Weighty

For Japanese cars in the same class as the POLO, doors often feel lighter and sometimes fragile when you close them normally, but the POLO’s doors felt solid and well-built. My husband was particularly impressed that “the rear doors are also solid”. He said, “Japanese manufacturers often cut costs by making the front doors sturdy but the rear doors flimsy, but POLO doesn’t cut corners in that regard.”

⑤ The Car Feels Well-Built

By “well-built”… I know it’s a vague expression, but the body has a decent weight, no noticeable gaps, and there was a . I didn’t drive on the highway this time, but judging by the body’s solidity, I imagine it would be quite stable at high speeds.

⑥ Slightly Weak Low-End Torque

The low-end torque felt weaker than the Golf 7’s, so you need to press the accelerator more at takeoff to get smooth acceleration. It felt like pulling the engine to around 3000–4000 rpm. I never felt it was “powerless,” but being used to the Golf 7, the extra accelerator input was a bit noticeable. However, my husband said “a car with that kind of power that you can rev high and pull through the rpm range might actually be more fun to drive.”

⑦ No Driving Discomfort

Although I mentioned the torque felt a bit weak in ⑥, there was absolutely no discomfort while driving. The handling was solid, the brakes worked well, and there were no issues at all. In fact, I think the driving performance is more than sufficient for everyday use.

Overall Impression of the POLO

This time, I drove back and forth to a supermarket with a somewhat tight parking lot, and the POLO’s nimbleness made it very easy to maneuver, so I felt it’s a very convenient car for daily use. The rear seats also have ample space, so even on long trips, passengers in the back probably won’t get too tired. Considering the price was about 2 million yen, that’s amazing.

However, since I’m used to the ride comfort and feel of the Golf 7, this experience also made me appreciate even more how wonderful the Golf 7 is, delivering such driving performance for just 1 million yen more than the POLO.

What Does My Husband Think?

So, what’s my husband’s take? I didn’t ask him in detail, but he recently posted this on social media:

I’m driving a previous generation POLO as a loaner while my Golf is in for inspection. Even though it’s small, it’s amazing. It’s shocking. Compared to my mom’s same-generation ◯itz, it’s like night and day, heaven and earth, no, like a car and a bicycle. Ride quality, engine torque feel, rigidity, road contact, brake control, handling precision — there’s nothing to complain about. Ah, what a wonderful car… I hope Japanese manufacturers step up their game more.

Indeed… Compared to Japanese cars in the same class, the difference really is like night and day…

That’s all for my impressions of the POLO.