Cheap facelift for Volkswagen Polo

At the beginning of 2021, Volkswagen put the Polo on the cutting table. Among other things, it was fitted with a new front with new headlights that show greater similarities with those of its big brother Golf, complete with a spur at the bottom of the light unit. Higher positioned versions even got an LED strip that runs across the entire width of the front. The design of the European Polo was also overhauled at the rear. Here too, the biggest news was in the design of the lighting. Just like the Golf, the Polo now has taillights that dive into the tailgate. Why this repetition? Well now. Volkswagen has facelifted the Polo in Brazil, but it is really different from ours.

The Polo, which has been facelifted for the European market, has a more Golf-like buttock.

That Volkswagen would also update the Polo in Brazil is of course not news. As early as November 2021, Volkswagen do Brasil announced the Polo that has been tightened up for the local market and it has now actually been unveiled. Just like the renewed European Polo, the Brazilian version also gets new headlights, although you will not see the LED strip in between in South America. More interesting is the rear of the South American Polo. In it you will simply find the ‘old style taillights’, so the angular copies that have not expanded their territory to the tailgate. However, its content has been updated.

The renewed South American Polo retains its old rear, but with a different interpretation.

Inside the Polo, Volkswagen do Brasil – which manufactures the car in São Bernardo do Campo – installs a new steering wheel and a new gear lever. The seats will also be renewed and, depending on the version chosen, an induction charger will be installed in the Polo. Air con is standard. Behind the wheel is an 8-inch instrumentation, more expensive versions have a display with a diameter of 10.25 inches. Four airbags are standard. Higher-positioned versions have a 10-inch infotainment screen and cruise control, but the front airbag of the European Polo passes the nose of the South American version. The same goes for things like adaptive cruise control, lane assist and LED matrix lights.

The South American Polo will soon no longer be available with the 110 hp (120 hp on ethanol) strong atmospheric 1.6. Instead, Volkswagen do Brasil builds the Polo with a naturally aspirated 1.0 three-cylinder with 84 hp and with a 1.0 TSI that produces 110 hp (116 hp on ethanol). Shifting is done with a manual gearbox or with a six-speed automatic.

Fun fact: the Polo is certainly not the first South American Volkswagen that is slightly different than in Europe. For example, we previously wrote about the Brazilian Up, a version to which Volkswagen has already made special changes!