2024 Volkswagen Polo gets more safety equipment and physical buttons

Following feedback from customers about capacitive touch buttons on the steering wheel, the MY24 Volkswagen Polo goes back to buttons.

This only affects the range-topping GTI grade, though Volkswagen has also applied this change to T-Roc R-Lines as well as the facelifted ID.3 electric car following global boss Thomas Shafer's admittance that the tech had “frustrated” owners and “caused a lot of damage”.

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These capacitive buttons will be dropped for MY24

Additionally, the entry-level Polo Style gains safety equipment: blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and proactive occupant protection are now standard. The new models will become available later this year though there are still MY23 vehicles in stock.

“There remains strong MY23 stock in Volkswagen dealerships, and this will continue through 2023. The Polo GTI, Golf Life, Golf R-Line and Golf GTI remain with special drive-away pricing” (detailed below), a Volkswagen Australia spokesperson told Wheels.

Our original story, below, continues unchanged.

July 13: Drive-away deals for 2023 VW Polo range

With good stock on the ground, Volkswagen is offering drive-away deals on the Polo GTI.

Instead of paying $39,690 before on-road costs, VW will currently sell you an un-optioned 147kW/320Nm Polo GTI for $39,990 drive-away.

Our original story, below, has been updated with new information.

May 10: 2023 Volkswagen Polo pricing and features for Australia

The Volkswagen Polo arrived on local shores in May 2022, bringing with it increased spec over the outgoing model – but at a premium price.

While still a part of the same generation as the current MY21 Polo, the MY22 update features a large amount of equipment upgrades across the range, such as the inclusion of Digital Cockpit, wireless charging and numerous safety additions.

As well as the new equipment, Volkswagen is adopting a new sales philosophy, moving away from chasing sales volume in the pursuit of bringing a higher quality product to market, with brand director Michal Szaniecki saying: “We’ve moved the Polo still further from the sticker-driven rat race into its most premium form to date."

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Pricing

The Trendline and Comfortline variants have been dropped for 2023, with the Life nameplate, borrowed from the Golf, Caddy, T-Cross and Tiguan, now opening the Polo line-up.

The 2023 Volkswagen Polo can be had in three grades: Life, Style and performance GTI.

Since its May 2022 launch, the Polo has been subjected to several small price increases and the Life manual has been axed. Below is correct from 1 July 2023.

Pricing is all before on-road costs.

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Features

As standard, the entry-grade Polo Life includes equipment such as:

Life

Optional extras

On top of the base-level Polo Life, the Style variant adds:

Style

Optional extras

Beyond this, the range-topping Polo GTI gains:

GTI

Optional extras

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Engine, transmission and fuel economy

Both the Polo Life and Style share the same 1.0-litre, three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engines, with power and torque unchanged from the outgoing model.

The Polo Life is available with a six-speed manual or a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission – producing peak power and torque figures of either 70kW/175Nm or 85kW and 200Nm respectively.

The Style meanwhile is available only with the seven-speed DSG, producing identical power and torque, with a claimed fuel consumption rating of 5.4L/100km.

Moving up to the range-topping GTI means buyers are treated to a 2.0-litre, four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine, again with no changes to the current model Polo.

The 147TSI pushes out 147kW and 320Nm for a power-to-weight ratio of 112.8kW/tonne, boasting a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.7 seconds.

A six-speed dual-clutch auto remains as the only transmission available for the GTI, which achieves a claimed 6.5L/100km – 0.4L/100km more than its predecessor.

In all grades drive is sent to the front wheels.

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Safety

Carrying over from the outgoing Polo, the MY22 edition comes with a five-star ANCAP safety rating, with even more features such as a centre airbag and front assist with cyclist monitoring.

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Warranty and servicing

As with the rest of Volkswagen's passenger vehicle range, the Polo is covered by a five-year/unlimited-kilometre warranty, which also includes a one-year membership to its roadside assist program.

Each variant also falls under Volkswagen's assured service pricing, with the first five years/75,000km intervals and costs listed below.

Life (manual)

Life/Style (dual-clutch auto)

GTI

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Availability

The 2022 Volkswagen Polo range will be available from May this year across Australia.