Diesel-powered baby: Volkswagen’s Polo Notch is not your typical subcompact sedan

The Volkwagen Polo subcompact sedan. (CDN PHOTO/BRIAN J. OCHOA)

With Volkswagen set to open its Cebu dealership soon, expect more of its vehicles to roam the city’s streets.
Among the Volkswagen vehicles figured to click in Cebu is the diesel-powered Polo Notch subcompact sedan.
The Polo is Volkswagen’s only sub-million vehicle in its current lineup and it will go up against tough subcompact bets such as the Toyota Vios, Honda City, Mitsubishi Mirage, Nissan Almera, Mazda 2, Kia Rio and Hyundai Accent.
The subcompact segment is one of the most competitive in the country so Volkswagen knows that it’ll take a lot to gain a slice of the pie.
While competing against tough foes like the Vios, Mirage and Rio seems like an uphill climb, Volkswagen can keep its hopes high since the Polo does have some tricks under its sleeves.
The Polo’s biggest plus factor is its reliable diesel engine.
There is one other subcompact in the market with a diesel variant but the Polo may have an upper hand knowing that its powerplant is made by one of the leaders in diesel engine technology.

The rear may look plain but it is that simple elegance that separates the Polo from other subcompacts in the Philippine market.
CDN PHOTO/BRIAN J. OCHOA

The Polo is powered by a 1.5-liter common rail turbo direct injection (TDI) diesel engine that produces a maximum of 103 horsepower and a whopping 250 newton meter of torque.
Flooring the pedal gives it quite a boost. Even when filled with five adults, the Polo can still conquer steep climbs with ease, especially with its engine paired with a trusty 5-speed manual transmission gearbox.
With the power of a diesel engine and the playfulness of a manual tranny, driving the Polo can be very exciting.
The suspension is decent—not too soft and not too stiff. Paired with the engine-tranny combo, the suspension completes the Polo’s sporty side.
Being a Volkswagen is also a major plus for the Polo. The huge VW badge it its cleanly designed front grille will already set it apart from its competitors.
Volkswagen is among the world’s top selling automakers, ranked second (year-to-date) behind Toyota, according to Jose “Jojo” Eustaquio IV, general sales manager of Iconic Dealership, Inc. that handles Volkswagen Bonifacio Global City and Volkswagen Cebu, in a previous interview.
But being a Volkswagen doesn’t only sound good but also feels good.
The quality of the Polo has a bit more punch, from the materials used in the interior trims to the sound of the trusty turbo diesel engine.
Since it’s a European car, some interior features may be a bit different from the usual subcompact. The headlight switch, for example, is embedded in the lower left side of the dashboard.
The dashboard is neatly designed, there’s not much fanfare compared to its Japanese and Korean counterparts. But it is so simply designed that it doesn’t take an auto genius to operate the controls and switches.
The exterior, just like the interior, is also beautifully simple. Not too much drama, just no-nonsense beauty.
The Polo is one of six models that will be sold by Volkswagen in Cebu. The others are the Jetta compact sedan, the Beetle, the Touran MPV, Tiguan compact SUV and Touareg midsize SUV.

WHERE THE FUN’S AT. The 1.6-liter common rail turbo direct injection engine of the Volkwagen Polo. (CDN PHOTO/BRIAN J. OCHOA)