There are four major sales performers in the local B-segment hatchback category. Last month the Volkswagen Polo Vivo accounted for 1,634 units, followed by the Toyota Starlet with 1,607 units. Suzuki sold 1,313 units of their Swift. The regular Volkswagen Polo sold 1,186 copies. This puts this quartet among the top 10 most popular new models in the country.
The latter vehicle is of particular interest to us this week. It has direct competitors, obviously, but none come close to eclipsing its supremacy as a best-seller. The Polo has no shortage of similarly competent sparring partners, including the Mazda 2, Hyundai i20, Kia Rio, Citroën C3, Opel Corsa, Renault Clio and Honda Fit. Ford quietly axed its Fiesta, while Toyota no longer offers the Yaris.
Victory goes to the French car from a displacement metric, with a 1,199cc heart, compared to the 999cc unit in the German peer. That translates into more grunt: 74kW and 205Nm, while the Polo delivers 70kW and 175Nm. Shifts via its five-speed manual gearbox are a tactile pleasure, slipping into each gate with a relatively close throw. Its steering is light yet assured. Ride quality errs on the stiffer side of the spectrum, though not uncomfortable. The boosted triple motor has a refined thrum about it. Its 175Nm comes in at 2,000rpm. There is sufficient vim in town settings provided you work the shifter. Drop a cog when overtaking on the freeway for best results.
Perceived quality in the Peugeot is easily on par, if not superior in certain regards. The door panel material, for instance, is of a softer texture. Faux carbon fibre elements enliven the cabin, as do the elegant green accents. Overall, the German car is bigger in each metric. It is 4,074mm long, 1,751mm wide, 1,451mm tall and with a wheelbase of 2,552mm. The French car is 4,055mm long, 1,745mm wide, 1,430mm tall and has a wheelbase of 2,540mm. Both vehicles are on par with safety kit. Anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control, dual front, side and curtain airbags, as well as ISOFIX mountings, are part of the deal in both vehicles.
Our test unit sported a few options: a panoramic sunroof ; uprated IQ lighting system with matrix LED headlamps ; the Discover Media package which adds navigation, voice control and inductive charging ; reverse camera ; keyless-start and locking added R5,900. All that takes the final tally to R411,800, a sum most would describe as pricey.
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