All the cons in the reviews of the owners of the Volkwagen Polo liftback
Volkswagen Polo Liftback car is relatively new on Russian roads, but some experience of operation is accumulated. Collected for you reviews of owners who have already tried the novelty on local roads.
Alexander, Voronezh, operating experience – 2 weeks.
Gasoline, 1.6, 110 hp, automatic car.
I used to drive the Lada Granta. Was initially aimed at Skoda Rapid with automatic, but it so happened that I bought Polo liftback. After our “autotazs” any foreign car seems like a spaceship. But with the lapse of time the problems begin to appear.
The first is just an annoying trifle – there is no place to put sunglasses. They do not fit in a standard place, it is too small. I had to buy the eyewear holder on Aliexpress and install it in the cabin.
Another problem – it was a little noisy, I thought that it would be quieter in Volks. I decided to make at least a partial noise isolation, to work out the arches. It cost me about 10 rubles, the full amount would be 25 rubles.
While working with the arches revealed a serious flaw of the Russian assembly. To do that sealant and sealant, you need to have hands grown out of the heel.
Decided to check it, maybe by accident, looked on the right. Same situation. Besides Volkswagen positions itself as the world leader in quality of automobiles.
But that’s not all. After the rain it turned out that this sealing is saturated with water, like a sponge. In other words, most of the year the body parts will be in contact with moisture, with quick and guaranteed corrosion afterwards. What to do with it, I have not decided yet.
And this joint is noticed in the first hundred kilometers. And how many other surprises are in the car?
- If not to look closely, it seems Volkswagen.
- It is the same Volkswagen as sewn in 90’s in clandestine shops clothes with labels “Abibas”. The fact that VAG officially supplies the kits doesn`t save the situation with the quality of the assembly.
Sergey, Budennovsk, the experience of operation 1 week
Gasoline, 1,4, 125 hp, robot.
Took Polo after Lada, while the overall impression: the same car junk, only twice more expensive. The interior is noisy, the suspension rumbles even on almost flat roads. At the speed over 120 km/h the car becomes “stormy” and one has to concentrate on driving completely, but not to fly out of the lane.
Suspecting suspension problems, I went to an official dealer. The car was examined carefully and stated that there was nothing wrong with the suspension. Not satisfied with the excuse, I went to my friends to the service station. They didn’t even look at the car there, advised just to drive over the curb with one wheel.
The body was bent as if all its parts were fixed by rubber bands. It is clear, that there is no sense to claim any suspension with such rigidity of the body. Masters have told, that the similar story happened in Mexico with Jetta.
The models developed for the countries of the “third world” with the main focus on super economy, and the local assembly by the hands of the natives is guaranteed to bury the quality of any car brand and it can’t be corrected – the repair is useless here.
But the car itself, as conceived by the designers, is quite good, and if you take the quality of assembly out of the brackets, I even like it. But how to take it out?
Specialists have suggested that the problem of insufficient rigidity of the obviously weak body can be solved by installing a rally frame and / or continuous welding of the body seams. But I am not morally ready for such radical actions with a new warranty car, and the price of the question is off the scale.
Now I sit and think, used used Polo of German assembling, in decent condition, to look through the ads, what?
- good dynamics;
- economy;
- pleasant, worked out in details interior.
- weak body;
- assembly quality.
Andrei, Grodno (Belarus), experience of operation for 2 weeks.
Gasoline, 1.6, 90 hp, manual.
Before that and now (the car was bought for the second family) there were various used European foreign cars. Bought because I wanted to “try” a new car. With all the above drawbacks are not faced, but our car is not Russian assembly.
The only significant disadvantage – rather high price of the car. There are a couple of minor drawbacks, about them below, but in general I am satisfied with the purchase.
- On first impressions, it is exactly what I expected from the new Volks.
- The heater mirrors are placed on a separate button. I got used to the fact, that it turns on simultaneously with the rear window heating;
- In rain, the water from the lifted fifth door runs straight into the trunk, very uncomfortable.
Alexey, Penza, 1 month experience.
Gasoline, 1,4, 125 hp, robot.
The car was not bad at all, fast, comfortable, economical, but assembled with the obvious expectation to “rework it with a file”, or to blow my brains out with a service of an official dealer.
Only when I picked the car up, on my way home I noticed, that this copy of the steering wheel is not in the center, it is slightly “turned” to the left. All right, I made an appointment for service the very next day after purchase. On the agreed upon day, I arrive and leave my car; they promise to do everything in a day.
In the evening I arrive, am greeted by a master and told that the camber has been adjusted and I owe them 3,000 rubles, cheaper in cash. After looking at the still crooked steering wheel, I was a bit worried:
- Why does a brand new car, with less than 100 km history, need to have its camber adjusted?
- Why should I pay for it, where is the warranty?
- And why should I pay 3 thousand if the steering wheel, the problem I had, was not corrected?
Hearing all that, the technician became completely bored and announced that the steering wheel was not under warranty and that they had no time to deal with this nonsense; just complain anywhere. And he left. I obeyed the advice and sent half a dozen telegrams while I waited for answers. But I’ll still get them with the steering wheel.
Tinting I went to do in an unofficial service. There all much more adequate, in the afternoon chose the right material, in the evening I took the ready-made car. No noise, dust and scandals.
I was going to put a grid on my radiator for a long time, but the official service prevented me from communicating with them. After looking closely at the gaps in the finger between the headlight and fender, I decided that it will not be worse, so I did it myself.
In principle, there was nothing difficult, the bumper is removed elementary. The only thing is the wire to the front parking sensors is short, you must be careful with it. The grid itself was fixed with cable ties, it turned out quite decent. At the same time I remembered my grandfather, who was always rummaging in the garage with his Zhigulenok.
Conclusion: the car itself is very good, but the assembly defects and the quality of service reminded me of the Soviet period, when every driver was a mechanic himself.
Volkswagen Polo liftback – the main advantages and disadvantages
In 2010, the Volkswagen Polo Sedan was launched for Russia and several other developing countries. The car was built on the platform of the Polo hatchback and was a sedan with an extended wheelbase. The model became popular due to its relatively affordable price, modern design and other important features for car enthusiasts. In 2014, the Polo was updated, refining the exterior and interior design. And in the second half of 2020, Volkswagen introduced a new generation Polo for the Russian market. But only now it is not a sedan, but a liftback. What is the essence of the changes, as well as what pros and cons are available in the novelty, we will understand today.
Volkswagen Polo Liftback 2021
Despite the fact that the Polo Liftback is considered new, it is built on the former PQ25 platform. It decided not to use the new modular platform, which is used in most modern models of VAG group. Probably not to increase production costs. Note that the Volkswagen Polo hatchback of the sixth generation, produced since 2017, has a platform MQB-A0 and is sold in Europe.
PQ25 platform.
Compared to the Polo sedan, the liftback has grown on all fronts. Length increased by 79 mm, to 4,469 mm, width by 7 mm, to 1,706 mm, height by 4 mm, to 1,471 mm.
Polo liftback.
The trunk is now a competitive advantage. The volume is 530 liters versus 460 for the sedan.
The trunk of the Polo liftback.
The minus is in the strange mechanism of opening the trunk. You need to pick up the Volkswagen emblem on the trunk and open the lid that way. At the moment you catch the feeling that the emblem could break, but the company representatives assure that everything is made reliably.
Trunk opening mechanism
In addition, in the same mechanism there is a rearview camera, which is automatically pulled out when reversing.
By the way, the sympathetic Skoda Rapid has the same trunk, the same dimensions, and it is produced together with the Polo at the plant in Kaluga.
Opinion about design
Frankly speaking, at first the front part of Polo liftback I did not like. But gradually I got used to it and now the car is perceived as a solid and serious. Some reduced copy of the Volkswagen Jetta sedan, which will not be delivered to Russia anymore.
Headlights and lights
The car is equipped with LED optics. Lensless headlights reflector type in all versions, except for the top version. In the top version Exclusive lensed LEDs of projection type.
The car in the simplest configuration
Even the most expensive version is distinguished by the presence of an additional chrome strip on the grille.
LED lensed optics
Fog lights are integrated into the main headlights. If you look closely, they are lenses located closer to the grille. When you turn the steering wheel, they light up, highlighting the turns.
Volkswagen Polo liftback, rear view
Rear lights in all configurations are LED.
The clearance, according to the company’s statements, is 170 mm. Almost as a crossover. Approached to the high curb, to the lower edge of the bumper was 10-20 mm.
Check clearance
The range of alloy wheels consists of 15- and 16-inch wheels. The test car has 15-inch wheels on it. You can see that the arches are not so small and it would be more harmonious to look 16-inch or even 17-inch wheels.
Interior
The interior of the maximum configuration reminds a car of a higher class. Especially the central panel with 8-inch touch screen and 10-inch digital dashboard. By the way, the same-platform Rapid has no digital “dashboard” in any configuration.
Torpedo
There is also keyless access and an engine start button
But the climate control is single-zoned, and the plastic is rigid, although it does not squeak and looks rich.
From minuses it is possible to note absence of high-grade cup holders on the central console. They are small and are located just under the climate control. It is not convenient to reach them. For example there is no place to put a smartphone.
You don’t feel the deficit of space behind you – it is enough.
Back seat
Exclusive version has cloth seats, but with inserts of suede and eco leather. There is a pattern on the central part. In the simpler versions there are ordinary cloth seats.
Seats
In motion
The car is pleasant to drive. Dynamics of turbo engine 1.4 TSI (125 powers) working together with 7-speed DSG DQ200 robot though does not amaze, but pleasantly surprises. For example, acceleration from a place up to a hundred is given for 9,2 seconds. It is the passport data. We have measured it and have come out 9,6 seconds. However, we had two grown-up people in the cabin. I think with one rider it is possible to reach the passport time.
1.4 TSI 125 hp. CZCA
Three versions can be equipped with a turbo-motor and a robot from 1,214,900 RUB, Football Edition from 1,255,900 RUB and Exclusive from 1,354,900 RUB.
The other versions are offered with an atmospheric motor 1.6 MPI CVWA, which can be combined with both 5-speed manual and 6-speed automatic Aisin.
1.6 MPI
The obvious disadvantage has only an atmospheric 1.6, which is designed so that it eats a little oil. The norm is 1 liter of oil per 10,000 km of run. Many owners don’t even have time to notice the consumption, as they already make the next replacement.
Thus, the given unit is very reliable and resourceful. For example, everyone has seen Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Polo in cabs. Just they are equipped with this motor and pass without overhaul 300,000 km mileage.
True, the turbo 1.4 TSI can also eat oil, especially if you often drive up to the cutoff.
Brakes and suspension
Front and rear disc brakes, but only in the maximum configuration. The other versions have drum brakes at the rear and disc brakes only at extra cost in the option package called “safety”.
When braking one feels that the car lacks brakes. Precisely, they cope with their task, but at dynamic driving one would like more powerful brakes.
One can’t call a suspension rigid – it is quite energy absorbing. At least with factory tires 185/65R15 one can drive comfortably in spite of Russian provincial roads quality.
Conclusions
It is safe to say that the new Polo liftback turned out better than the previous Polo sedan. It matured outwardly and internally. The only but important nuance that I would change would be use of the new MQB platform instead of the old PQ25. Then the car could become even better and more modern, but it would cost more. But the prices, taking into account a course of currencies, are far from being low. For example, the cost of the base Polo makes 1,003,000 rubles. And that’s without taking into account additional dealer equipment.
The competitors are the same – Hyundai Solaris, Kia Rio and Skoda Rapid. All of them are in demand and are in the top 25 most sold cars in Russia. But what to choose is still for you to decide.
With respect, Airat Kadyrmaev. We recommend you to watch our video about Polo Liftback.
We thank the company “Autocenter Kerg Sterlitamak” for the provided car.
