The latest Polo 1.2TSI from
Volkswagen is proof that a well-engineered small petrol engine is
sometimes a better green solution than a diesel.
The car is a substantial revision of a model launched here in 2010.
But the thing you notice first is the eco-driving analyser, which gives
the most logical and visually pleasing live reading of how economical
your driving style is.
The new Polo 1.2TSI is tuned for efficiency but is still nippy enough
to keep most drivers happy.
Attaining a steady state of what the system deems as eco driving is
near impossible. You would need a perfectly flat road, and possibly a
tailwind.
Nevertheless, it is quite feasible to attain 70 to 80 per cent of
this ideal, which translates to an average fuel consumption of 7
litres/100km.
That is not quite the 4.7 litres/100km stated in the brochure, but
quite comparable to what the Polo's 1.2-litre turbodiesel twin manages.
The diesel car's stated economy figure is 3.3 litres/100km, but that
is obviously not attainable, not even with a flat road and a tailwind.
Not only that, it also proved to be a frustratingly laggy car when I
tested it in 2010.
The new TSI, on the other hand, is quite a pleasure to be in.
While it is clear the car is tuned for efficiency, it is still
possible to get up to a decent pace fairly quickly. It won't be the
first car to go off when the lights turn green, but it won't be the
last either - not by a long shot.
Throttle response is typically TSI - clean and crisp - but in this
case, you will detect a slight plateauing once the engine reaches
3,000rpm or so. Revving hard will, of course, get you past this flat
spot, but like in most small engines, it will entail a marked increase
in noise and vibration.
Thankfully, it is not often that you need to do that. The Polo
1.2TSI has enough low-end torque to keep things moving along quite
decently in an urban setting. On highways, it is fairly breezy once you
are up to cruising velocity. Just temper your expectations when it
comes to overtaking.
Slight gradients are overcome easily as the car's dual-clutch
transmission is responsive enough to drop two to three cogs to boost
leverage when necessary. But steeper slopes, such as those you
encounter in junction underpasses, may at times require manual
intervention of the gear lever if you want to maintain the exact pace.
Driving in Sport mode over sustained periods is not an attractive
proposition. The drivetrain sounds strained and unnatural. It is better
to selectively go to Sport or to change down when necessary.
But as mentioned, it is often not necessary. Unlike its diesel
counterpart, the TSI is nippy enough on most occasions to keep the
average driver happy. There is no gnashing of teeth, dental or
mechanical.
And being a petrol engine, it emits far less nitrogen oxides and
fine particulates than the diesel. Its CO2 emission level of 109g/km is
not too shoddy either. On this score, it is environmentally sound,
especially in the city, where street-level pollution is a major health
concern.
A comparable variant would be the Polo Blue GT, a 1.4-litre
efficiency champ that can shut down two of its four cylinders to
conserve fuel. But in Singapore, it is not commercially viable because
it will fall into COE Category B (it makes 138bhp).
But compared to the previous Polo 1.2 that was offered here in 2012, the new TSI is about 10 per cent more efficient.
It is better equipped too. It has digital climate control, full
touchscreen centre monitor, six airbags, automatic folding mirrors,
start-stop system, brake energy recuperation and cornering headlights.
It would be so easy to trade the folding mirrors and cornering
lights for more useful features, such as a keyless system, navigation
or even cruise control. Alas, that is not an option.
The car's main rival is the latest Ford Fiesta 1.0. It is slightly
roomier than the Ford but not as fun or funky. Still, Volkswagen
diehards should take comfort in the fact that it is sweeter than most
previous Polo's offered here.
Specs
VOLKSWAGEN POLO 1.2TSI BLUEMOTION
Price: $114,800 with COE
Engine: 1,197cc 16-valve inline-4 turbocharged
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch with manual select
Power: 90bhp at 4,800rpm
Torque: 160Nm at 1,400-3,500rpm
0-100kmh: 10.8 seconds
Top speed: 184kmh
Fuel consumption: 4.7 litres/100km
