Viva La Vivo – We Drive Volkswagen’s latest Polo Vivo

New Polo Vivo Driven

Go to any city or town in South Africa and get a sense of the people, places and cultures, it will soon become very obvious that the place in which we live is unique. While doing this,  you will most definitely spot a VW Polo Vivo in the background – another one of South Africa’s unique flavours.

Nando’s chicken is a perfect example. Those new to the spicy chicken brand can opt for the lemon and herb flavour, allowing them to get a feel for the food and sit in the restaurant and take in the vibe.  Similarly, Volkswagen have targeted the Vivo for those new on the roads, it may not offer all the spice a Polo or Golf may offer, but it’s a great starting point that gets you from A to B, while being trendy in the process. In a country like ours to the Vivo makes sense, especially for city dwellers who need something small, but comfortable enough for a weekend away. Speaking of weekends away, I headed down the coast to sample the latest flavour – the new Polo Vivo.

A swift flight down the coast landed us in the home of VW Port Elizabeth, where we would take a beautiful coastal drive to “Plett” in the Polo Vivo. While this car is based on the previous generation Polo, changes to the front lights and grille, as well as a sprucing to the rear lights are just one of the reasons why the new Polo Vivo is an attractive option.

Volkswagen also offer a new version of the flagship Polo Vivo as well, which goes by the name Polo Vivo GT. If looking cool is your aim and standing out is your game, the Polo Vivo GT will have you covered. Better styling and the latest 1.0 3-cylinder engine, makes it the pick of the bunch. Inside you will find an 8-inch infotainment system which will keep your varsity friends impressed, especially as it features App Connect, or in other words Apple CarPlay. If there is one feature vehicles aimed at the youth must have, it’s this. Thankfully, the GT doesn’t just look the part, it drives it too. The 81kW on offer provides “pokey” performance that will impress bae, while covering your pocket with reasonable fuel bills.

Our road trip only got better as we enjoyed the beautiful scenery provided the Tsitsikamma region – a personal favorite location of mine. It was at this point that we chose to jump into the 1.4 Comfortline, instead of attempting the highest bungee jump in Africa – something the Tsitsikamma region offers. This model is the younger brother to the high-flying GT model, so it offers you less but you also pay less, which is music to any young persons ears. If you are a first-time buyer on a budget, this variant will be well suited for you. The equipment list may be sparse when compared with the GT, but it still very much looks the part – I mean the Vivo is based on the previous generation Polo, how can it not look good?

The 1.4 model features no fancy turbo but rather a bigger displacement which provides adequate performance, especially in the coast. Yes, the Vivo is a little bare compared to a Polo and road noise is more prevalent, but when your hustling city traffic on your way to varsity, while playing your tunes and debating with your S/O about whether to play Big Shaq or Distruction Boyz – you’re not going to notice it.

After our driving was done for the day, we enjoyed an actual game of Polo (The one with Horses) and many of us did stints on Volkswagen Blue Bike to really get the heart going.  There is nothing like a hearty meal after a workout, and our evening dinner was very welcomed with a South African style braai to really fit in with the theme of our trip.

Waking up for a beautiful Plettenberg Bay sunrise the next day, this was followed by breakfast and heading back to PE – another chance to sample a different Vivo. This time we would be eating up the road ahead in the Polo Vivo 1.6 Comfortline. Offering more power than its 1400cc sibling, slightly more features and a cheaper price-tag than the top of the line GT, it is definitely a good middle ground. A bigger engine means more power, 77Kw to be exact compared to the 1.4’s 63kW.

The original Vivo was previously a great option new to the market motorists. Thankfully the new model maintains the same appeal. Yes, it may not be dirt cheap, but you do get what you pay for. The new model looks better and offers better performance in the GT variant. With much more tech offered compared to the previous car, it is still very much suited for the entry-level motorist and offers a cool but reliable option.

New Polo Vivo Pricing In South Africa

1.4 55kW Trendline                     R179 900

1.4 63kW Comfortline                  R192 000

1.6 77kW Comfortline Tiptronic     R221 900

1.6 77kW Highline                       R214 900

1.0 TSI 81kW GT                          R245 000