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04/10/18
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Agile, economical and networked

Voted best city car – the new Polo

Efficient engines and outstanding safety combined with the latest generation of driver assist systems and comprehensive networking make for the full package and have won the new Polo the accolade of World Urban Car of the Year 2018. This is the second time that Volkswagen's subcompact car has won at the coveted World Car Awards.

The World Car Awards are amongst the most distinguished awards in the automotive industry. Launched as a global contest in 2004, the first World Car of the Year (WCOTY) was selected at the Canadian International Auto Show in 2005 – awarded to the best new car around the world launched that year. The World Performance Car, World Green Car and World Car Design Of The Year categories were to be added to the accolades in 2006. Ever since, the awards ceremony has taken place annually in spring at the New York Auto Show.

Since 2014, the international jury has also awarded a prize for the World Luxury Car. 2017 saw the introduction of a sixth category: World Urban Car. Following a thorough test drive, the members of the jury (82 motor journalists from 24 countries) honoured vehicles which were particularly well-suited to the challenges of traffic congestion in cities and surrounding areas. The key demands of this category are small dimensions, low-emission powertrains and intelligent connectivity, and this year there was a clear winner: the new Polo from Volkswagen.

The sixth generation of the successful model
The comprehensively networked, sixth generation of the successful model is one of the most modern subcompact vehicles around the world thanks to its pioneering safety assistance features. Based on Volkswagen’s modular transverse matrix (MQB), the new Polo has outgrown its predecessor in all respects. The real-time Internet route planner allows drivers to skip traffic, and the infotainment system obeys every command it receives via voice control. In addition, Car-Net offers online access and Polo owners can use special apps (and additional devices) on the go to see who is standing at their front door.

The high-resolution Active Info Display can be ordered in place of the classic instrument display. This innovative instrument cluster can, amongst other things, display the entire navigation map. The 26-centimetre thin film transistor LCD display is one of the biggest of its kind, and all major smartphones can be connected and mirrored with the infotainment system.

The number of functions and driver assist systems set the benchmark in this segment. The Front Assist feature with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring can help to avoid accidents at lower speeds. In addition to the electronic speed limiter and Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, the area monitoring system comes fitted as standard. The lane change system, Side Assist, together with the Rear Traffic Alert function and manoeuvre braking are also available as optional extras.

As well as powerful and efficient petrol and dieselpowertrains, the completely renewed engine range now includes a variant with natural gasdrive for the first time. The Polo TGI uses the high energy density of natural gas (CNG) to move forward with great efficiency and economy. The combined fuel consumption is only 3.1 to 3.2 kg/100 km. The most powerful model is the Polo GTI with 147 kW (200 PS).

A regular spot in the German Top 5
More than 14 million vehicles sold – The Polo is one of the most successful subcompact and compact vehicles across the world. Since its première in 1975, it has been one of Volkswagen's best-selling and most important models. It boasts a regular spot in the top 5 German new registrations.

Its selection as the world’s best urban car in 2018 is the Polo’s second triumph at the World Car Awards: its predecessor won World Car of the Year in 2010. The Golf was awarded this prize in 2009 and 2013, while the up! also received the accolade in 2011. The year before, vehicles featuring BlueMotion won the World Green Car of the Year award. Having scooped the top prize six times, Volkswagen is one of the most successful manufacturers at the World Car Awards.

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The specified fuel consumption and emission data have been determined according to the measurement procedures prescribed by law. Since 1st September 2017, certain new vehicles are already being type-approved according to the Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP), a more realistic test procedure for measuring fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. Starting on September 1st 2018, the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) will be replaced by the WLTP in stages. Owing to the more realistic test conditions, the fuel consumption and CO2 emissions measured according to the WLTP will, in many cases, be higher than those measured according to the NEDC. For further information on the differences between the WLTP and NEDC, please visit www.volkswagen.de/wltp.

We are currently still required by law to state the NEDC figures. In the case of new vehicles which have been type-approved according to the WLTP, the NEDC figures are derived from the WLTP data. It is possible to specify the WLTP figures voluntarily in addition until such time as this is required by law. In cases where the NEDC figures are specified as value ranges, these do not refer to a particular individual vehicle and do not constitute part of the sales offering. They are intended exclusively as a means of comparison between different vehicle types. Additional equipment and accessories (e.g. add-on parts, different tyre formats, etc.) may change the relevant vehicle parameters, such as weight, rolling resistance and aerodynamics, and, in conjunction with weather and traffic conditions and individual driving style, may affect fuel consumption, electrical power consumption, CO2 emissions and the performance figures for the vehicle.

Further information on official fuel consumption figures and the official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars can be found in the “Guide on the fuel economy, CO2 emissions and power consumption of new passenger car models”, which is available free of charge at all sales dealerships and from DAT Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH, Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, D-73760 Ostfildern, Germany and at www.dat.de.