When you’re out looking at the latest new car deals, you can’t help but be enticed by the VW badge.
Volkswagens
Volkswagen is the third-largest auto manufacturer in the world and has been producing top-quality motors for more than 70 years and in Germany – the land of the well-engineered car – the company is king.
In German, Volkswagen is so ubiquitous that its name means ‘people’s car’ while the current slogan – Das Auto – simply translates as The Car. Three VW cars are on the top ten list of best-selling cars of all time compiled by the website 24/7. The Volkswagen Golf, the Volkswagen Beetle and the Volkswagen Passat are the popular models but as Volkswagen ranks first in spending the most money of any automaker on research and development as of 2011, its popularity may continue for some time to come.
Two of the most popular current models are obviously the Golf and the Polo.
Here we will look at what makes them favourites of the car-buying public and compare and contrast key features of the two models.
Price
The Polo is cheaper. If you have a strict budget, you will find that you will get a hell of a lot of car for your money with the Polo. However, although the Golf may be more expensive, it is the bigger brother of the two, so if you have a growing family then it may be the best choice and most cost-effective option for you in the long term.
Drive
The latest versions of both cars are a dream to drive. All that German engineering and precision has produced a smooth ride and one that does not deteriorate with age. The current Polo configuration has been around for four years and is slightly less planted in bends than the Golf, but it is hardly noticeable and remains calm and comfortable on all but the roughest of road surfaces.
Throughout its history, the Golf has been one car that people just enjoy driving and nothing has changed in that regard.
Engine options
The Polo’s basic engines include the 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol units, although the 84bhp 1.4-litre is a better fit for the car. There’s even the option of plonking a turbocharged unit under the bonnet that rather cleverly turns off cylinders to save petrol when they’re not needed. This type of engineering is what helps VW stand out from the crowd and is one of the most advanced engines available in a car of this size from any manufacturer.
If you are after economy and big mpgs, then diesels engines are on offer with a choice of 1.2 and 1.6-litre units.
A similar array of options are on offer in the Golf, but again, everything just has a bit more oompf. A cylinder-deactivating 1.4-litre with 138bhp is the pick of the entirely turbocharged line-up.
Interiors
Here there is not much to choose between the pair with the choice being great or great. Volkswagens are a class act when it comes to interior quality and you’ll find lavish amounts of soft-touch materials and a well-thought-through layout in both models.
Bluetooth, air-conditioning and a DAB radio come as standard.
You can check out the latets VW new car deals here.
