Reference Auto

The upgrade includes a refurbished styling and a new engine, the 1.5-litre diesel engine, which is a fantastic feat, one which would be attractive to hatch buffs.

The 1.5-litre four-cylinder car offers variable geometry turbocharger.

Volkswagen is also utilising the 1.6-litre diesel engine from the Vento with a shortened bore so that it gives it a small car status, getting the benefit of lower excise duty.

The engine will be available in two forms – one developing 90 PS along with 230 Nm torque in the standard model and the other with 105 PS power and 250 Nm torque in the Polo GT TDI.

The GT TDI has turned out to be the most powerful diesel hatchback in the country. And since it gets power from a 1.5-litre engine, it will qualify as a small car and come cheaper. Another car that would benefit from this is the Cross Polo. Even in the standard Polo, the power and torque rise is substantial. 

However, the petrol engines are ditto: 1.2-litre 3-cylinder petrol with 75 PS power and 110 Nm torque in the standard Polo and with 105 PS power and 175 Nm torque in the 1.2-litre TSI four-cylinder mill.

Changes in the 2014 Polo are: New front light housings along with grille and fog lamps. The refurbished Polo also has a revised rear bumper along with integrated reflectors and new alloy wheel designs in the exterior.

There’s a new steering wheel, which gets steering mounted controls on both sides. There’s a flat bottom that makes the Polo steering feel quite sporty.

So far as the interior goes, the fabric upholstery is a tad dark compared to the beige colour in the current model and the cabin has premium looking piano black plastic inserts. The new Polo gets ambient lights near the foot, which is probably a first for hatchbacks in the country.

Volkswagen raised the wheelbase of the new Polo by 1.3 cm and has improved the leg space substantially. 

The height of the Polo has gone up by 5 cm even though it has a 0.3 cm lower ground clearance.

There are also the static cornering lights, which jazz up the looks. These are basically the fog lamps with reflectors that turn at 30 degrees angle when you turn on the indicators – a judicious feature that can help while parking at night.

By not launching too many models and by only upgrading cars like the Polo, Volkswagen is following a different strategy, but will it work?