VW Polo Sedan’s Global Comeback: Ist das Stufenheck der Zukunft auch für Deutschland interessant?

The 2024 VW Polo Sedan: A New Derby for the Global Market

Could this affordable sedan be a fit for our market, too?

Do you recall the older Polo models that featured a trunk? Back in 1977, the VW Derby, designed by Audi, hit the market, and in its inaugural year, it even outsold the Polo. However, sales started to decline afterward. Even the second Derby, launched in 1981 with a significantly larger trunk, couldn't reverse the downward sales trend.

In 1984, sales of the Derby plunged to just 5,044 units, leading to its rebranding in January 1985. It was renamed to align with its base model, concurrently with the Passat's sedan derivative, the Santana.

Consequently, the Derby was rebranded as Polo and reverted to round headlights. By August 1988, the Polo sedan was discontinued in Germany. Furthermore, the updated version of the VW Polo II (internally referred to as 2F), available from October 1990, was no longer sold as a sedan in Germany, but could only be acquired through re-importation.

Photo Gallery: Volkswagen Polo Sedan 2025

Starting in 1995, the third generation Polo offered a four-door sedan version called the Polo Classic, which shared its design with the Seat Cordoba. The sedan model of the fourth generation Polo, referred to as the Polo Sedan, was manufactured in Brazil beginning in October 2003 and then exported to Europe. By 2005, this model was discontinued in Europe coinciding with the Polo's design refresh.

Overseas, the story is different: In 2018, Brazil introduced the VW Virtus, a model developed from the latest Polo. An updated iteration of this series was unveiled in March 2022. Initially, it was launched in India, serving as a counterpart to the Skoda Slavia in June 2022. The refreshed version for the Brazilian market was first revealed in February 2023 and hit the market there in March 2023.

The images now display the updated version, specifically the right-hand drive model produced in the Kariega plant in South Africa. Notably, since the summer of 2024, this facility has also been manufacturing our five-door Euro-Polo. In this region, as well as in various other markets, the Virtus is simply referred to as the Polo Sedan.

Regarding its size, the latest Volkswagen Polo Sedan has increased to a length of 4.56 meters. While the interior resembles that of the standard five-door model, the trunk is the standout feature with a generous capacity of 521 liters.

Beneath the hood, there are two gasoline engines. The base engine is a 1.6 MPI naturally aspirated unit producing 110 horsepower, which can be paired with either a five-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic. When equipped with the manual transmission, it can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 11.2 seconds, reach a top speed of 190 km/h, and has a fuel consumption of 6.2 liters per 100 kilometers.

Volkswagen also presents the turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0 TSI engine, which delivers 115 horsepower and a torque of 178 Nm, an increase from the 152 Nm provided by the MPI version. This model, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, achieves acceleration in 11.5 seconds, matching the top speed of other models while consuming 6.3 liters of fuel.

The vehicle comes equipped with a variety of features including six airbags, wireless charging capabilities, cruise control, eco-friendly LED headlights, a digital dashboard display, a central screen that can be up to 10 inches in size, smartphone integration, and parking sensors accompanied by a rearview camera.

The revamped version of the Volkswagen Polo sedan is now available in various global markets. Let's take a look at South Africa, for example, where production of the sedan has been shifted. Over there, the price for the sedan model starts at R365,900, which is roughly equivalent to 18,900 Euros given the current exchange rate. Would this model attract a following in Germany as well? Those who have a penchant for affordable sedans now have the option of a unique Fiat Tipo, which offers a 130-horsepower diesel engine starting at 17,000 Euros.

Delving deeper into Volkswagen's history:

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