The Volkswagen Polo may have left India long ago, but it remains one of the most revered hatchbacks in the country. Polo was compact, zippy, and had a mighty road presence despite its size. Its proud owners
reminded you of its robust build quality, satisfying door thud, timeless design, top-notch safety, and the German engineering that had gone into it. It pierced through India’s hectic traffic, made other hatchbacks look less desirable, and held a special place in the hearts of automobile enthusiasts. So why did the Volkswagen group remove the beloved Polo from its catalogue?
Here we explore Polo’s entry, its remarkable run, and its upsetting exit from the Indian market.
Volkswagen Polo: “Puts A Smile”
Countless Polo owners swear by their sweet, compact hatchback, with glowing testimonials praising its charm and driving pleasure.
“The Polo was / is a great entry point into the VW family. A well engineered car with timeless design, robust build, fun to drive chassis with some good engine+ gb combos like 1.2TSI 7DSG, 1.0tsi 6TC, 1.6 TDI 5MT with 250Nm torque, active and passive safety, etc and its experience in motorsport (WRC, VW Polo Cup India etc) made it quite popular. It comes with a decent sized boot and prices started at as low as ₹6lacs (sic),” a part of a Reddit user’s response on Polo’s “honest” review thread read on r/CarsIndia Subreddit.
“Only car people would respect a polo. Less than 0.01 percent of actual drivers on. Road know what a polo is and what it is capable of (sic).”
The rave reviews do not stop.
“Gem of a car from another time.”
It was an enthusiast’s car, through and through.
“One of the best hatch ever.. Love driving this, odo clocked over 1L still no complaints.. (sic).”
Polo Had Its Drawbacks
VW Polo wasn’t immune to criticism by any means. Several owners complained of the lack of engine power, especially in MPI trims unlike the TSI/TDI engine offerings that were received far better by the community.
“Drove 60k kms in 5 years, perfect little car which never created any issues. However lack of engine power is frustrating at times (sic).”
“I have owned the same Polo with 1.2 MPI engine and i had good experience with it for 5 years. I agree on some points from your post like vibrations and lack of power. I sold it because MPI engine is not meant for quick performance like their TSI engines and i was longing for power during my highway trips (sic),” a second owner wrote.
Many also, and understandably so, criticised the expensive German spare parts that came at a price during the after-sales of Polo. Polo’s notoriously cramped rear legroom was one of the main reasons it was often regarded as a “two-person” car rather than a practical five-seater.
Why Did Polo Leave India?
VW Polo, launched in India in 2010, has been the brand’s highest-selling car in the country. Long before safety rating was a commonplace in India’s conscience, Polo became one of the first made-in-India hatchbacks in its segment to feature dual airbags as standard, boasting a 4-star Global NCAP safety rating in 2014.
However, in its fifth generation, the Polo did not make much sense for the Volkswagen group. Its declining sales and lack of tech features, along with the old platform build, put it miles behind its competitors in the same segment. Polo, fondly remembered for its timeless design, felt dated.
Polo, along with its sedan sibling Vento, were replaced by Taigun and Virtus, which were built on the MQB-A0-IN platform exclusive to the Indian market.
Before closing the chapter on the Polo in 2022, Volkswagen offered the Polo Legend in a GT TSI variant and capped the limited edition at 700 units. It was priced at Rs 10.25 lakh (ex-showroom) and powered by a 1.0-litre 3-cylinder TSI petrol engine.
“Should I Buy Polo”
The several tradeoffs— high maintenance and service costs, lack of practicality and space, and sub-par mileage delivered by TSi/TDi trims— do not deter Polo stans. In fact, potential buyers, often looking for a used VW Polo, are on the lookout for a steal deal on used-car platforms to date.
The car community, often supportive, advises buyers on performing the necessary checks, being mindful of Polo’s high upkeep, and factoring in the lack of rear passenger and boot space before bringing the compact beauty home.
“Polo is a good fun little hatchback. Do check with each model owners for maintenance costs because it may vary from year to year model make (sic),” wrote one in response to “Is it a good idea to buy a used polo?” question.
A second added that being behind the wheel of a Polo was worth it despite the hurdles of owning a German car.
“Just bought a 2015 1.5 TDi couple of months back. Ensure a thorough Pre Delivery Inspection. I had to go to the garage every now and then for stuff. Now its all fine (hopefully). But man kid you not, the joy of riding a Polo, the pickup its worth it. Its my first car as well (sic).”
The hot-selling German car continues to be on sale in the European market and will rule the streets till 2030.
