Volkswagen has issued its first official teaser image of its facelifted Polo. The revised compact hatch will break cover on 22 April, sporting a Mk8 Golf-inspired makeover that’s fit to take on fresher rivals such as the latest Renault Clio.
Volkswagen’s teaser gives little away about the facelifted Polo’s styling, other than that it’ll gain a fresh pair of LED headlamps which, like those on the Golf, feature daytime running lights that extend into the radiator grille, towards the car’s badge.
Shots of previously spied development cars give us a better idea of how the updated Polo will look. The Polo’s front end takes heavy inspiration from its larger sibling’s, with an updated grille design and a new front bumper with larger air intakes.
At the rear, the updated Polo will receive a pair of lamps and a new bumper that are pretty much identical to the Golf’s, with a new diffuser that borrows the larger hatchback’s fake exhaust tips. The overhaul will likely be completed with a refreshed paint palette for buyers to choose from and some new alloy wheel designs.
We’re expecting fewer changes to the Polo’s interior, if any. When it was launched back in 2017, the sixth-generation Polo received a substantial interior update over its predecessor, so we’re expecting this updated model to retain the same dashboard layout and eight-inch infotainment system.
The availability of Volkswagen’s 10.25-inch digital instrument panel should also stretch further across the Polo line-up, and Volkswagen could introduce more connected technology as part of the update. The firm’s press release promises the car will be “more digital” and embrace “greater networking.”
Volkswagen shouldn’t fiddle too much with the Polo’s engine range, as it already uses the Group’s most up-to-date powertrains.
That means a line-up dominated by the brand’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. The entry-level model will likely still feature a naturally aspirated version of this motor, with 59kW. Mid-range models will use a turbocharged TSI version of the same engine, offering either 70kW or potentially 80kW.
Volkswagen could look to electrify the Polo as part of the facelift, potentially introducing the 48-volt mild-hybrid 80kW 1.0-litre eTSI engine from the Golf. As the two hatchbacks are both based on a version of MQB platform, (and the engine uses the same mounting points as the Polo’s existing 1.0-litre powertrain), but it’s not a likely candidate.
Manual and dual-clutch automatic transmissions will be available.
The updated Polo won’t be the only new hatch from the Volkswagen Group in 2021, either. The next-generation Fabia will arrive soon, moving onto the same MQB A0 platform that the Group’s soon to be renewed Polo is based on.
Luke Wilkinson