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Volkswagen updates Polo for 2014

 

Update: read our review of the 2015 Volkswagen Polo here.

Volkswagen’s Polo may be known for its conservative looks, but with punchy turbocharged engines and class-leading build quality mean that the Polo is one of the smartest choices in the city car class.

But that class is constantly growing more competitive. Volkswagen, not one to rest on its laurels, has rolled out a number of updates for the Polo to push their smallest model (rest in peace, Up!) back to the top of the pack.

You’d be forgiven for missing the updated Polo: restyled head and tail lamp graphics aside, this year’s updates are under the surface, beginning with the deletion of the frugal 66TDI diesel option, which is superseded by a more refined 66TSI turbo petrol that returns around 20% better economy than the motor it replaces.

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Interior upgrades see the Polo’s interior return to best-in-class status. All Polos receive the Golf’s MIB touchscreen in the centre stack—this will be the benchmark for city car interiors, at least until Mazda’s new 2 hatchback arrives in the near future.

The Polo debuts active city safety for this class on an optional basis—a package that also includes active cruise control—but all new Polos receive automatic post-collision braking systems, as well as upgraded electro-mechanical power steering that should also work to improve the Polo’s capable, if somewhat unremarkable, dynamics.

Stay tuned for the Chasing Cars review once we’ve sampled the new Polo.