He Volkswagen Polo It is living history of the motor world. It may not be as iconic as the Golf, but there is no doubt that this great little car has contributed to enhancing the legend of the German brand. At a time when small and economical models were being sought due to the oil crisis, an urban project was planned that could be the ideal vehicle for many families. In 1975, the Polo was presented, which was based on the Audi 50. With some modifications and production at the Wolfsburg plant, a success story began.
50 years have passed since its launch and we can now look at it with some perspective. There is no doubt about the value he has and how much he has contributed to Volkswagen. Are more than 20 million units sold in these five decades and it is a model from which no less than six generations have been concatenated. Although its future is in doubt due to the electrification that absorbs everything in the current market (and that will be covered by the Volkswagen ID.2) it is always a good time to give a review of its complete history.
Volkswagen Polo I (1975-1981)
When it was introduced in 1975, the Volkswagen Polo I was the smallest model that had never made the mark. It was barely 3.5 meters long and still had more than adequate space for four passengers. As we said, it was based on the Audi 50, although with some of its own modifications.
This three-door model stood out for its low weight (barely 685 kg) and moved easily thanks to a 900 cc and 40 HP engine that was ideal for dealing with the problems that existed with fuel at the time. There was also a sedan variant called Derby, which came out in 1977. From this first generation, 1.1 million units.
Volkswagen Polo II (1981-1994)
In 1981 the Volkswagen Polo II would arrive, a second generation that grew slightly up to 3.66 meters. Although its weight increased to 770 kg, so did its interior space and the capacity of its trunk, so it was able to reach more families. Not to mention, that new versions appeared like the Coupé, while the Derby was renamed the Notchback.
The range mechanics also grew with higher power gasoline variants, improving their performance. There was even a Polo G40 that reached 115 HP thanks to supercharging. On the other hand, diesel arrived in the small model, with a 45 HP engine that was the smallest in its class. The success of this generation was notable, so much so that they were sold 2.7 million units and that part of its production was moved to the Navarra plant (Spain).
Volkswagen Polo III (1994-2001)
Between 1994 and 2001 the Volkswagen Polo III was on sale, a generation that broke with the previous. Just look at its rounded design, which reached 3.71 meters. It improved in terms of safety, although it reached up to 915 kg in weight. It was the result of installing additional airbags or anti-lock brakes. The positive part is that they also arrived five-door variantand the family Estate for the first time to the range.
Not to mention that in this generation three letters would arrive that would also change everything. He first Polo GTI It came out in 1998 as a limited edition that sold very quickly. With its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that reached up to 120 HP, it gained performance and established foundations that remain to this day. Only 3,000 copies were made of that one, but the third generation was sold in total 3.5 million units.
Volkswagen Polo IV (2001-2009)
The Volkswagen Polo IV arrived at the turn of the century and had a design very similar to that of the little Lupo. Of course, it continued to grow and added another 15 centimeters more to its length. That made it more spacious than ever. exceed 1,000 liters of trunk space with the seats folded down. It improved safety with aspects such as front and side airbags, power steering and ABS as standard. ESC and HBA were optionally available. He also kept several bodies available.
The CrossPolo was new with its robust appearance. Not to mention that they already dared to launch the Polo GTI in series. In fact, this specimen It came with 150 hp and It reached 180 HP in its Cup Edition thanks to the 1.8-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Of the fourth generation of the Polo, 4.1 million units at a global level.
Volkswagen Polo V (2009-2017)
The Volkswagen Polo V arrived in 2009 for establish your legacy. It opted for a more refined design with sporty touches. Gone were the years of curved lines, while it continued to grow to touch the 4 meter barrier. Technology advanced significantly and it was still a vehicle suitable for most uses. took many systems of its older brotherthe Volkswagen Golf, although it lost some bodies along the way.
A version that has been the one with the lowest consumption What they would do in their story. The Polo Bluemotion had a three-cylinder diesel block that allowed it to achieve no less than 3.3 l/100km of consumption. The counterpart was an even more powerful Polo GTI, which would reach 192 HP. Also the Polo R WRC limited to 2,500 units that delivered 220 HP. In total, they were sold 6.3 million units of this generation
Volkswagen Polo VI (2017-present)
The Volkswagen Polo VI is the sixth installment of the model, which has been sold from 2017 to the present. It is about a more mature productthe result of experience and good sales levels that have always helped. It sits on the MQB platform, making it even larger. It sits at 4.07 meters and the increase in its battle allowed it to be more spacious than ever. Also that its trunk reached up to 351 liters. Of course, the three-door body was lost along the way…
Driving aids are very more numerous and advancedand may have adaptive cruise control, blind spot alert, automatic emergency braking or cross traffic warning; among others. Digitization and large screens arrived inside, while the mechanical range evolved. Diesel is dispensed with and a Polo GTI is maintained with up to 207 HP of power. It remains to be seen if it surpasses other generations in sales.
