When talking about the car culture in South Africa, it’s difficult not to mention the Volkswagen Citi Golf. Produced as a small, affordable entry-level car from 1984 to 2009, it became an icon of success despite no major design changes during its 25-year run.
In 2009, VW pulled the plug on its Citi Golf, and two of its main motivations were that it was no longer commercially viable and struggled to meet newer and stricter emission standards, which further complicated its production.
That was the end of it. However, its successor came in the form of the Polo Vivo, which was introduced in 2010 as a model that had an identical ethos to the Citi Golf. Volkswagen was strategic with its move; it took the fourth-generation Polo as its starting point and added the ’Vivo’ suffix to denote its affordable orientation alongside the normal Mk5 Polo, which also launched in South Africa in 2010.
Like the Citi Golf, the Polo Vivo was produced at the VW Group plant in Kariega, and just like its forebear, it was aimed at those who needed a frugal, well-built vehicle from a reliable marque like Volkswagen. The Polo Vivo adeptly carried forward the legacy of the Citi Golf, embodying the same robust and economical qualities that had made its predecessor a household name.
Fast forward some time, and the second generation Polo Vivo, which was first introduced in 2018, has recently undergone a nip and tuck in the surgeon's room. While the overall design has remained largely unchanged, the recent revisions have introduced minor tweaks such as updated headlights, grille designs, and interior features. These modest improvements are likely what also contributes to its continued success as the preferred entry-level vehicle.
The interior has also benefitted from continuous improvements, and in this case, it continues to be the same sensible and conservative interior with a decent build quality despite having durable hard-wearing plastics. While it may not be visually striking, the cabin is impressive in its simplicity and straightforwardness, especially with the new intuitive infotainment system. That said, there are rotary dials you can twist, buttons you can press, and levers you can pull.
It is worth noting that there is only a single USB port, and the rear windows and outside mirrors are manually operated. Given the price point, this is understandable, as incorporating more modern features would have inevitably hiked the cost. There's 280 litres of boot space, which puts it in the same league as the Citi Golf, which had 260 litres.
One of the many features that distinguishes the Polo Vivo is how it performs its duties, even when powered by a naturally-aspirated 1.4-litre 4-cylinder engine with 63kW and 132Nm. The power output isn’t exactly overwhelming, and without a turbocharger, overtaking manoeuvres require a bit of strategic planning. But that doesn’t dampen its enthusiasm. A 5-speed manual gearbox that ensures seamless gear changes further enhances the Polo Vivo's smooth and comfortable ride.
It’s a satisfying driving experience that makes every journey enjoyable, even if you have to think ahead a bit when overtaking. Its average fuel consumption of 6.2l/100km also remains a factor of attraction, and if you drive with fuel economy in mind, it does, at some point, dip below the 5.0l/100km mark. Impressive.
With a competitive and attractive price tag of R288,500, it’s easy to see why the Polo Vivo is ranked amongst the best-selling models every month in the sales charts. In a segment where competitors like the Suzuki Swift, Hyundai Grand i10, and Toyota Starlet compete, it's a good all-arounder and definitely worth a look.
Of course, we cannot overlook the persistent concern about theft. According to the data from the South African Police Service, 66 cars are hijacked every day, and these include the Polo Vivo hatchback for several reasons; they are all relatively affordable, easy to maintain, and have considerable demand.
Given that it builds on and maintains the Citi Golf's accessibility legacy, the Polo Vivo is a worthy replacement. It’s truly a South African product, built in Kariega for South Africans, by South Africans, and backed up by VW’s long-term reliability; it’s a sensible choice and one you will likely not regret.
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