Volkswagen Polo value sharpened as runout nears

The new-generation 2018 Volkswagen Polo is on the horizon, so the company has sexed-up the outgoing current version for one final hurrah.

Volkswagen Australia announced this week its intention to dump the familiar Polo Trendline and Comfortline variants and replace them with new models called the Urban and Urban+.

Both new variants retain the same relatively aggressive drive-away pricing as the Trendline and Comfortline, but sweeten the deal with between $1500 and $3000 worth of extra stuff.

The Trendline-replacing Polo Urban adds 15-inch ‘Tosca’ alloys; a leather steering wheel, parking brake and gear shift knob; Multi-Function Display trip computer, illuminated vanity mirrors and some badging that says ‘Urban’. Ooooh.

The Urban+ adds more than $3000 in value including 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloys, front fog lights, dark tinted windows, automatic headlights, driver fatigue detection, rain-sensing wipers, and badging.

The “enhanced” interior treatment includes heated comfort sport front seats with Alcantara trim, climate control air-conditioning, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, front footwell lighting and chrome and silver decorative trimming.

Additionally, a new Driver Assistance Package ($1800) available for the Urban+, features Front Assist with City Emergency Braking, Adaptive Cruise Control, Discover Media satellite-navigation system and parking distance sensors front and rear.

It’s worth noting that the related Skoda Fabia gets AEB standard.

Metallic or pearlescent paint adds $500. The palette now includes Flash Red from the Polo GTI. (See gallery for images.)

Both variants use Volkswagen’s 1.2-litre turbo four-cylinder petrol, tuned for 66kW/160Nm in the Urban and 81kW/175Nm in the Urban+, both matched to six-speed manual or DSG automatic transmissions.

As you can read here, the brand new Volkswagen Polo touches down in Australia around March 2018, with the Polo Urban and Urban+ to continue until then, alongside the hotted-up GTI.

Sales in the Polo’s Light Car segment — determined so by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries’ VFACTS sales data — are down 13 per cent this year, The Polo has managed 3316 sales, down 18 per cent, but enough for 8 per cent market share.

Speaking plainer, the VW is  fifth in-market behind the Hyundai Accent, Mazda 2, Toyota Yaris and Honda Jazz, but ahead of the Suzuki Swift and Kia Rio.

Volkswagen Polo drive-away prices

Polo Urban manual — $16,990

Polo Urban DSG — $19,490

Polo Urban+ manual — $19,990

Polo Urban+ DSG — $22,490

Driver Assistance Pack (Urban+) — $1800Metallic/Pearlescent paint — $500

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