Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Engine & Performance

Looks and interior apart, the biggest change here is under the hood. Gone are the 1.2 litre 4 cylinder and the 1.5 TDI engines and in their place comes a new BS VI compliant 1.0 litre three cylinder TSI which will be the sole engine option across the Polo and Vento model range. Volkswagen has said auf widersehen to diesels in the BS VI era. The new TSI motor makes 110 horsepower, that’s 5 more than the outgoing engine while torque remains the same at 175 Nm. Also, enthusiasts can rejoice, because the TSI now comes with a 6 speed manual gearbox and that’s the test car in today’s review. Another change is that the 7 speed DSG makes way for a 6 speed torque converter automatic gearbox. But that one is for another day. It’s the  today manual in this review.

Let’s get to the performance right away. It is just blistering. You don’t really feel much till about 2500 rpm but after that, there is huge surge of power and that stays till the 6000 rpm mark. It is a second faster than the 1.2 TSI to the ton and the manual gearbox makes things even more fun. The gear ratios are well thought out and the short throws add to the driving experience. However, the gearbox does feel notchy at times.  Refinement is not a virtue of a three pot and the 1.0 unit does make the absence of one cylinder apparent. There is slight vibration at idle and while its refined for a three cylinder engine, being a 1.2 TSI owner, I definitely miss the smoothness of that motor in this one.

The Polo feels great in city driving conditions too. Thanks to the taller gearing it picks up well in a lower gear from under 2000 rpm. The second gear speed breaker tests is passed with flying colours. And though not brisk, pulling from third gear at a low speed isnt much of a bother either. There is no judder felt.  The car is a delight on the highway too. You can cruise all day long in 6th gear doing 100 kph at 2000 rpm. Thanks to the nature of the gearbox, you don’t have to downshift much while planning a sudden overtaking move either, probably just one downshift to fifth.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 Ride & Handling

The ride quality though still on the stiffer side felt better than that on my car. I did not feel the thuds that I usually do when going over speed bumps and moderate bad patches of roads. It is only the sharp undulations that are still felt inside the cabin. Handling has always been a plus point of the Polo and the story is no different here. The steering has a great feel and is well weighted and precise. It will splash a grin on your face when attacking corners and body roll is well controlled. Grip is excellent from the 195/65 profile tyres.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI Verdict

So should you get the 2020 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI? Well, if you are looking at space and practicality, look in the other direction. There are better options out there. But if you love driving and are going to be at the wheel all the time, this new Polo will surely catch your fancy. Though the smoothness of the four cylinder is missing, this new TSI motor with that manual gearbox will give you all the thrills you ever wanted from a driver’s car. It might be the oldest out there in terms of age, but there is no doubt that it is the most fun to drive hatch out there today. So if you love European build quality, want a fantastic driving experience and are not too concerned about the lack of some features, the Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI should be the one to pick.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI photo gallery: