On first impressions, the 2020 Volkswagen Polo Style 85TSI may seem rather unremarkable, but dig beneath the surface and you’ll discover all the qualities the German brand is known for.
Volkswagen has been producing the Polo since 1975 and now in its sixth-generation, it is better than ever. Some models, like the Style, are so appealing that buyers could be swayed away from larger hatchbacks and even the Golf, as we recently discovered during a week-long test.
Good things come in small packages
In Australia, the VW Polo Style 85TSI sits at the top of the standard Polo range before you get to the GTI. It starts at a reasonable AU$25,390 (US$16,131) before on-road costs and slots above the 85TSI Comfortline and 70TSI Trendline.
As the name implies, the Style churns out 85 kW (114 hp) at 5,000 rpm and 200 Nm (147 lb-ft) of torque between 2,000 and 3,500 rpm from its tiny 1.0-liter three-cylinder turbocharged engine. We’ll discuss this engine in greater detail a little later on but first and foremost, it’s worth talking about what makes the Style distinct from lesser variants and its competitors. Technology. And lots of it.
Cheap, affordable hatchbacks often do without the glitzy new tech of their larger and more expensive siblings and that is the case with the Polo Trendline and Comfortline. By comparison, the Style has so many goodies that it’s hard to comprehend how VW was able to price it so competitively.
Sitting at the heart of the cabin is an Active Info Display digital instrument cluster. Yes, an all-digital display for a vehicle this affordable. The display is nice and responsive and highly-configurable, much like found in other VW models including the Golf R we tested recently. As standard, it displays a tachometer to the left, a digital speedometer in the center, and an analog-esque speedo to the right. Should you prefer, you can have media, navigation, and more displayed in the center.
Accompanying the driver display is an 8.0-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility as standard. The Polo Style also has a self-parking system, again another piece of tech you may not expect to find in a car at this price point. Front-seat occupants also have a wireless charger at their disposal as well as two USB sockets.
As the Polo Style effectively replaces the limited-run Polo Beats that was previously available in Australia, it sports an impressive 300-watt Beats audio system. The system is lovely to listen to and much better than you’d expect from such a cheap hatchback. Our test car also included the $1500 ‘Driver Assist Package’ that included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, auto parking, adaptive cruise control and auto-folding mirrors.
Surprising space
More broadly, the interior is a nice place to spend time. Sure, it has its fair share of hard black plastics as you would expect for any car like this but there are some more premium-feeling plastics, such as the Deep Iron metallic trim across the dashboard and around the door handles. Some of the Korean and Japanese hatchbacks the Polo compete with show one way to add appeal to such cars is with funky interior trimmings and features. VW looks to have adopted a similar approach with the Polo Style, in particular thanks to the seats sporting carbon fiber-esque material, for some added personality.
Those sitting in the second row will be surprised how much room is on offer and I could fit my 6’1’ frame in there without any headroom issues. Another nice addition are two USB ports in the rear. Cargo space is reasonable and sits at 351 liters (12.3 cubic-feet) with the rear seats in their upright position.
Refinement that won’t break the bank
Driving the VW Polo Style 85TSI proved to be quite a surprise. The first thing that struck me was just how nice the engine and dual-clutch transmission are.
With 114 hp (115 PS / 85 kW) from a 1.0-liter turbo three-pot, you’re not going to be scurrying off the line with any kind of frantic pace. Per the automaker, the 85 TSI clocks 100km/h (62mph) in 9.5 seconds and tops out at 200km/h (124mph).
On the other hand, the engine is smooth considering its small capacity and also relatively quiet and refined. Throttle response is good and the hatch has respectable power throughout the rev range. The DSG offers snappy gearshifts when left to do its own thing but you can control it yourself through a pair of tiny plastic paddle shifters.
The engine is efficient too, returning an official 5.0 l/100 km over the combined cycle, figures we came close to mimicking through a mix of urban and highway driving.
Not everything is perfect about the powertrain. When accelerating away from a traffic light, the throttle response is poor and the DSG seems to take longer than usual to respond. For example, you will depress the throttle for a second or two before anything happens and when it does start moving, the car can jerk off the line, meaning pulling away from a stop smoothly is difficult.
The ride quality is up to the usual VW standards. The damping is reassuring and offers you a good feel of the road beneath you. This translates into impressive handling abilities. However, the suspension setup comes at the detriment of comfort as it is quite stiff and prone to skipping across bumps.
Steering is light and progressive but offers reasonable feel. The brakes are also nice and bitey.
A VW Polo you can be proud to own
Throughout my week with the Polo Style, I had to continually remind myself that I was driving a car that’s available for a touch over AU$25,000 (US$15,882) as it feels more expensive than that. This largely comes down to all the nifty pieces of tech it receives and also the fact that it feels spacious and airy when behind the wheel, not something you can say about similarly-sized hatches. It’s an excellent option for those looking for an affordable and well-rounded hatch.
