Models and specifications
The model range includes the norm for current Volkswagen models, from the Comfortline to the Trendline and Highline, whilst featuring an extensive list of extras that had now become norm in mid-sized small cars. Items such as ABS, power steering, front and side airbags and front and rear head restraints were standard on all models and ESP, brake assistance, air conditioning, satellite navigation etc. were optional on higher spec models.
It is the first Polo generation to use a semi-automatic air conditioning system, with automatic climate control, named Climatic, that adjusts the interior temperature automatically to the value set on the control panel, whereas the air distribution and air blower speed are adjusted manually. A fully automatic air conditioning system, named Climatronic, was also offered.[7]
It was available with a choice of a five-speed manual gearbox, a six-speed manual gearbox, only for the sporty 1.9-litre 130 PS diesel model, or with a four-speed automatic gearbox, used only in combination with the 1.4-litre 55 kW petrol engine.[7] A six-speed automatic transmission with manual gear select function (Tiptronic) was added from mid-2006, after the facelift, also available only with the 1.4-litre 59 kW or with the 1.6-litre 77 kW petrol engines.[8]
There was also a crossover version of the Polo, with off-road styling, named Polo Fun (Polo Dune in the UK, Polo Soho in Spain, CrossPolo in South Africa), released in 2003 - despite its appearance the car was never available with 4WD.
Engines
The Polo was available with several petrol and diesel engines: a 1.2 L three-cylinder petrol engine with 55 PS or 64 PS (depending on the number of valves per cylinder, two or four) and a 16-valve 1.4 L 4-cylinder with 75 PS or 100 PS petrol engine, the last one on the 16V-badged model.
Both turbocharged and naturally aspirated diesel engines were available such as the 4-cylinder 1.9 L SDI (Suction Diesel Injection) which also offered 64 PS but with 125 Nm of torque, slightly more than some petrol powered units. As well as the non-turbocharged SDI engine, newer TDI PD turbodiesel units were also available, these being a 1.9 L with 100 PS and a three-cylinder 1.4 L model (the 1.9 with one cylinder less) with 75 PS. A sporty 1.9 TDI PD model, named Polo GT, was launched in 2004, with 130 PS.
Sedan
A sedan version was launched in November 2003.[9] It was produced in Brazil, South Africa and China and exported to the rest of Latin America and Australia, as well as to Europe. With the introduction of the Polo Classic saloon in the Australian market in 2004, the Chinese version, has the distinction of being the first Chinese-built car to be produced in right-hand drive
