VW South Africa has just updated its popular Polo Vivo range with the facelifted GT model – the sportiest offering in the entry-level hatchback series.
The Polo Vivo GT has a new starting price of R332,800, meaning it is now just R1,600 cheaper than the base model Polo, its more luxurious counterpart, which retails for R334,400.
With the new price gap being as narrow as it is, interested buyers will undoubtedly be making a tougher decision than they always had to.
Engine
Both these VW hatchbacks are front-wheel drive and pushed along by a 1.0-litre, turbocharged petrol engine, though they boast noticeably different outputs.
The standard Polo has 70kW and 175Nm at its disposal, but the Vivo adds to this with another 6kW and 25Nm for a total of 81kW and 200Nm.
Unfortunately, Volkswagen has not provided an official 0-100km/h time for the GT so it’s unclear how the power difference is reflected in its acceleration, though as a reference the Polo is able to reach 100km/h in 10.8 seconds.
What we do know is that the Vivo has a higher top speed of 196km/h, compared to its sibling’s maximum of 187km/h.
The GT also comes with a six-speed manual transmission – one more gear than the Polo’s five-speed setup – and its fuel consumption is pegged at 4.6l/100km compared to the Polo’s 5.3l/100km.
Features
It may not be apparent at a glance, but the two hatchbacks do have noticeably different proportions, with the Polo being the larger of the two.
| Specification | Polo Vivo GT | Polo |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3,972 mm | 4,074mm |
| Width | 1,682mm | 1,751 mm |
| Height | 1,447mm | 1,451mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,470mm | 2,552mm |
| Ground clearance | 128mm | 106mm |
| Boot capacity | 280 liters | 351 liters |
The Polo’s bigger dimensions translate to more cabin room and a more sizable boot, though one advantage the Vivo has is its improved ground clearance.
Both VWs are then fitted with a multifunction steering wheel, fabric upholstery, manual air conditioning, and an infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but that’s where the similarities end.
The entry-level Polo comes with 14-inch steel rims, body-coloured bumpers, mirrors, and door handles, LED headlights and daytime running lights, and a total of four speakers.
The Vivo, in contrast, offers a more elaborate aesthetic package on account of its sporty persona. This includes silver mirror caps, a chrome exhaust, a black boot spoiler, 17-inch “Mirabeau” alloy wheels, and a host of GT stickers and badges on the exterior.
It’s a similar story inside, as the Vivo has sports seats, aluminium-look pedals, GT-branded floor mats, and a two-tone red and anthracite colour scheme.
It also comes with cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, six speakers, and a larger 7-inch media screen.
Pricing
The updated VW Polo Vivo hatch 1.0TSI GT has a South African starting price of R332,800.
The VW Polo hatch 1.0TSI has a local starting price of R334,400.
Both vehicles come with a 5-year/120,000km warranty, though the 3-year/45,000km service plan is an optional extra on the Vivo and standard on the Polo.
2023 VW Polo Vivo GT
2022 Volkswagen Polo
