Volkswagen recorded one of its strongest performances at the 2011 Australia’s Best Car Awards, taking five category wins. For the second consecutive year, the Polo 66TDI took the ‘Best Light Car over $20,000’. Other Volkswagen Group Australia winners included the Golf 90TSI (‘Best Small Car under $35,000’), Jetta 118TSI (‘Best Medium Car under $50,000’), Tiguan 103TDI (‘Best SUV under $40,000’), and Touareg V6 TDI (‘Best Luxury SUV over $60,000’).

Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director, was honoured to receive these accolades: ‘2011 has been huge for Volkswagen, with awards such as these, it is really the perfect conclusion to what has been an overwhelmingly positive year. The Polo continues to impress, being recognised for the second consecutive year. One of our strongest and most popular models, the Golf 90TSI, has been judged as one of Australia’s best vehicles marking it the sixth time a Golf has appeared amongst the winners at Australia’s Best Cars.’

The Australia’s Best Cars judges were particularly impressed with the Volkswagen Polo: ‘The Volkswagen Polo has redefined the class with the German carmaker adding a touch of esteem and luxury to a sector of the market not traditionally known for above average levels of quality and refinement.’ Australia’s Best Car Awards are now in their eleventh year and are a co-operation between the seven State and Territory based car clubs of Australia. It is the nation’s most comprehensive and independent consumer vehicle testing and award program.

Australian motoring website Drive has named the Polo 77TSI as the Best City Car in its Car of the Year 2011 awards. The Volkswagen supermini took the overall title in 2010, and the car was an unanimous choice by the judges for 2011’s accolade, largely due to its ‘great engine, excellent road manners and classy cabin.’ Up against the Kia Rio Si and the Toyota Yaris (both newer rivals), the judges described the latest iteration of the Polo as ‘a little Volkswagen with big car credentials,’ stating that ‘the fifth-generation Polo’s 1.2-litre turbo engine delivers unrivalled performance and refinement for a car priced from $19,850.’

Another Australian website has also praised the Polo highly. Pitting the small VW against its 10 chief rivals in a Light Car mega-test, motoring.com.au stated that ‘There are ample reasons the Polo has won more trophies than the athletics champion at the school sports carnival. It’s earned almost straight As in a category dominated by B and C-grade students. You might argue it’s not fair that one of the richest kids in school gets all the kudos, but in this instance, the $22,350 Polo is worth every cent and has earned each of its accolades.’

The Polo BlueMotion 1.2 TDI won its class at the 2011 Total Economy Run in South Africa last weekend. Competing in the diesel engines up to 1400cc class, driver Natie Ferreira and his co-driver Christo Ferreira achieved a winning fuel consumption figure of 4.44 litres/100km. The duo were also placed second overall in the diesel category. The official quoted imperial fuel consumption figure for the Polo BlueMotion is 80.7mpg. The 35th running of the 2011 Total Economy Run took place in and around the Thaba ‘Nchu, Free State. A Volkswagen won the event overall, too – the winning team of Eddie Bielfeld and Brian Page squeezing 4.39 litres/km from their 1.6 TDI-powered Golf BlueMotion.

The Polo BlueMotion was launched in South Africa in December 2010, and features a state of the art 1.2-litre, 74bhp/55kW TDI engine with 133lb ft/180Nm of torque at 4200rpm, a top speed of 107mph (173km/h) and emissions of 91g/km. It has many aerodynamic body styling modifications which differ from the standard fifth-generation Polo hatchback and help cut fuel consumption including a larger rear spoiler, side skirts, blanked-off front grille, front and rear skirts, 5.5J x 15 ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels with low-rolling resistance tyres and special ‘BlueMotion’ badging. The Polo BlueMotion is available in South Africa from R178,100 and was first launched in Europe in 2007, in fourth-generation Polo guise.

In other news, Volkswagen’s BlueMotion range has won the inaugural Green Award from UK magazine Auto Express. A range of innovations that help to cut the cost of motoring by making every drop of fuel take you further, Auto Express stated that, ‘Simplicity is the key to the BlueMotion line-up, as clever technology such as stop-start and brake regeneration combines with measures like low-rolling-resistance tyres and optimised aerodynamics to bring fuel-sipping economy and low emissions to the mass market. The best thing about BlueMotion is how few compromises it demands. Sealing the deal is the fact it delivers genuine gains for business users and private buyers, as well as the environment.’

The latest version of the Volkswagen Polo GTI has scooped Australian car magazine Motor’s fiercely-fought ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ award. According to Motor, the performance Polo was the ‘hands-down performance bargain of the year. We pumped its Bang and Buck scores into our formula for the last five years and it won, every time,’ the judges wrote. ‘When we set up our formula, you were never supposed to be able to buy this much performance for just $27,990,’ the judging team continued.

The annual ‘Bang For Your Bucks’ winner is decided by the competitor’s ability over categories such as dynamics, handling, performance and speed. One of the key attributes in the Polo GTI’s success is the clever 1.4-litre, 178bhp/132kW engine which uses a supercharger to provide boost at lower revs, before a turbocharger kicks in at higher engine speeds. Add a trick seven-speed DSG twin-clutch gearbox to the package, and Volkswagen have clearly created a technology-packed winner.

‘We are pleased the judging team at Motor magazine appreciated the Polo GTI’s all-round potential and obviously its affordable performance,’ said Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director. ‘With the larger Golf GTI winning last year’s Motor “Bang for Your Bucks Award”, the 2011 Polo GTI definitely lives up to the legendary badge with its superior handling properties combined with uncompromising engine responsiveness and impressive safety and economy figures’.

[Image: Motor magazine]

The Polo has once again been crowned ‘Best Small Car’ at the 2011 Fleet News Awards, with the larger Golf retaining its ‘Best Lower Medium Car’ title from last year. Presented at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, honouring the fleet industry’s top achievers for the past 12 months, the judging panel was made up of fleet industry experts, in addition to senior members of the Fleet News editorial team.

Commenting on the winning cars, the judges said: ‘A broad range of engines with low-CO2 choices and a choice of three door and five door models make the Polo appealing to fleets and drivers.’ Cars were judged on a range of criteria, including operating costs (depreciation, fuel, servicing, maintenance and repair, lease rates, tax liability), suitability for their use as business cars and the level of support from the manufacturers and their corporate sales teams. For more information, visit Volkswagen’s fleet website.

The Polo has been announced winner of the 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year, a title it shares with the BMW 530d. Both cars were declared winners at a gala dinner in Midrand on Tuesday 8 March. The Volkswagen Golf won the honour in 2010. ‘Volkswagen Group South Africa is delighted to have the new Polo named as the winner of the 2011 South African Car of the Year. This is an immense recognition of the Volkswagen brand following Golf’s win in 2010,’ said David Powels, Managing Director, Volkswagen Group South Africa (pictured centre, in photograph above).

‘We would like to dedicate this accolade to our employees at the Uitenhage plant where the Polo is produced for local and international markets. Their commitment to producing world class quality vehicles has been acknowledged by the South African Guild of Motoring Journalists,’ Powels added. The Uitenhage factory builds Polos for all global right-hand drive destinations such as Australia, Cyprus, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, New Zealand, and the UK. The Polo adds the 2011 South African Car of the Year award to its extensive trophy haul, which also includes the 2010 European Car of the Year, 2010 World Car of the Year, and 2010 Japanese Import Car of the Year.

The Volkswagen Polo has been announced as Wheels magazine’s Car of the Year 2010, beating 21 other finalists from a total of 16 manufacturers. The Australian publication’s shortlisted top three included the Nissan Micra and Renault Megane alongside the Polo. A back-to-back win for Volkswagen, the Polo’s larger Golf sibling took the Wheels prize in 2009. Bill Thomas, Wheels editor, commented: ‘Volkswagen has elevated Polo’s quality, safety, performance, efficiency, refinement, practicality and value to the top of its class. Polo feels like a bigger car, and is also a great all-rounder. Spacious, safe, efficient, easy to drive and easy to live with, the Polo is a very worthy winner of Australia’s most coveted motoring prize.’ The Wheels judging panel thought that the Polo range represented outstanding value for the motorist, starting at $16,690 for the base-model Trendline, through to the performance-orientated GTI at $27,790.

The Polo has added yet another prize to its Australian trophy cabinet, as Australia’s Best Car Awards 2010 named the Polo 66TDI the ‘Best Light Car Over $20,000’ at a ceremony in Sydney. Juries from both Carsguide and Drive have handed the Polo the Car of the Year 2010 award in their respective competitions last week. According to Australia’s Best Cars, the 89bhp Volkswagen Polo was a standout when it came to performance as well as smoothness and quietness, achieving 10 out of 10. ‘At our test facility the Polo proved to have the most responsive drivetrain of the trio,’ said Mark Borlace, Australia’s Best Cars Chief Judge.

Impressed, Borlace continued: ‘Volkswagen did well with the Polo winning the “Light Car Over $20,000” category and it was unlucky not to win both of the light car categories.’ Anke Koeckler, Volkswagen Group Australia’s Managing Director, expressed her delight at collecting these highly regarded awards: ‘After our very successful award season in 2009, we are particularly pleased to have repeated this success again in 2010,’ she said. ‘We obviously continue to hit the mark with our new models and in particular, the Polo has been embraced as another class leading product.’

‘Australia’s Best Car Awards’ are in their eleventh year as a co-operation between the seven State and Territory based car clubs of Australia. This is Australia’s most comprehensive and independent consumer focused vehicle testing and award programme. Alongside the Polo, the Volkswagen Tiguan 103TDI also took out a category win for ‘Best SUV Under $40,000’, while the Volkswagen Jetta 103TDI was awarded a trophy as ‘Best Medium Car Under $50,000’. The Jetta convinced Borlace with its features: ‘The judges were surprised that a model late in its life still had the right combination to win outright and we look forward to seeing the new model.’

[Image: Australia's Best Cars]

The Polo has been awarded the title of Best Import Car of the Year 2010-2011 in Japan by a committee of 60 Japanese motoring journalists. The 1.2-litre TSI model in particular impressed the judging panel, with the jury describing it as having a ‘high-quality interior and exterior’, ‘good fuel economy and powertrain’ and ‘no compromise on safety equipment.’ Adding to the fifth-generation Polo’s World Car of the Year 2010 and European Car of the Year 2010 gongs, the Japanese award is just one of a number the car has picked up in recent weeks on the far side of the globe. Other 2010-2011 winners picked by the Japanese panel included the Honda CR-Z (2010-2011 Japan Car of the Year) and the Peugeot RCZ (Special ‘Future Balance of Innovative Design and Driving Pleasure’ Award).

[Source: Paul Tan’s Automotive News]

Australian car website Drive have crowned the fifth-generation Polo their Car of the Year 2010. Also winning the Best City Car award, the Polo beat off competition from the Ford Fiesta, Hyundai i20 and Nissan Micra to take the tiddler title. Interior quality, an array of safety features, competent road manners and punchy turbocharged 1.2-litre 104bhp TSI engine, the judges from Drive agreed that, ‘In terms of being a city car, it sets so many benchmarks. The Polo is the first in this class to bring in six airbags, and it sets a standard the other city car competitors have to beat on both engine and gearbox,’ adding, ‘It’s in another land for refinement. It feels like a small car, not a city car.’

A best overall fuel consumption figure was only one of the values that made the Polo win the coveted Car of the Year 2010 title, though, the judging panel citing the ‘fun factor’ of the latest model and the way that, ‘the tiny Volkswagen Polo delivers so many rewards for enthusiastic drivers looking to reduce their carbon footprints.’ The newly-developed turbocharged engine was a major asset when the judges were considering their verdicts. Beating category winners from 14 other segments, the Polo and its larger stablemate the Golf fought for top honours, with the Polo securing leading votes from nine of the judges, who, according to Drive, ‘thought it shifted the goalposts of its class more than the Golf did – and for less of a premium over its competitors.’ Full coverage here.

In a similar prize, Carsguide has also awarded the Polo the ‘2010 Carsguide Car of the Year’, title, establishing itself as the benchmark in the light car class. It’s the second consectutive year Volkswagen have taken the award; last year’s winner was the Golf. Carsguide Managing Editor, Ged Bulmer, said the latest Polo was another example of the company delivering an extremely well-equipped and well-engineered small car at an affordable price. ‘Many of the attributes of the popular Volkswagen Golf have trickled down into the Polo, with the result that it looks like a scaled down version of that winning combination.’ Judging panel member Paul Pottinger said: ‘The Polo scored a convincing win, not because of its $16,690 starting price but because of its impressive safety, quality, comfort and driving enjoyment. The Golf’s little brother is the world’s best small car.’

The new Polo has been chosen alongside the Volkswagen Amarok Double Cab pick-up as a finalist for the 2011 Wesbank/SAGMJ Car of the Year competition in South Africa. The new Polo 1.6 TDI Comfortline 77kW will compete with the Amarok 2.0 BiTDI 4×2 Double Cab and eight other finalists for the country’s premier motoring award. Volkswagen is hoping that the new Polo or Amarok will make it two in a row for the brand, following Golf 1.4 TSI’s success in the 2010 competition. The winner of the 2011 WesBank/SAGMJ Car the Year will be revealed in March next year.

‘Volkswagen Group South Africa is honoured to have two of its cars as the finalists in this prestigious competition, especially the Amarok which has just been launched in South Africa and is the first Double Cab finalist in the CoTY competition. In the past three years, Volkswagen brands have made the final list of the competition. The nomination of our cars as finalists, is a strong endorsement of our brand strength,’ said Mike Glendinning, Director Sales and Marketing, Volkswagen Group South Africa.

The next step of the competition is a two-day test session in February 2011 at the Gerotek test facility near Pretoria, where the cars will be assessed independently by the CoTY jury members. In keeping with the broadened competition, the testing at Gerotek will allow the cars to be evaluated in conditions each vehicle would be expected to perform under. Jury members will pay close attention to the cars’ aesthetics, build quality and ergonomics, while considerations based on perceptions of value for money, cost of spares, safety features and environmental friendliness will be taken into account before scoring the top ten.

Willie le Roux and Hein van der Walt were the overall overall winners of the 34th annual Total Economy Run in Thaba ‘Nchu, Free State, South Africa, achieving a fuel consumption of 4.1l/100 km in a New Polo 1.6 TDI over a two-day 1100km route from 10-11 September 2010. The pair was also awarded for achieving the lowest consumption by a diesel car within Class J (diesel engines up to 1600cc). Second in the diesel category were motoring journalist Geoff Dalglish and Hendri du Plessis who achieved figures of 4.3l/100km in Class J with their Citroën C3 HDi. Roger Hills, a former winner of the Total Economy Run, and co-driver Gordon Stewart placed third in the Class J category in a Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCi, with a fuel consumption figure of 4.4l/100 km. Pieter Holtzhausen and Danie Fourie took second place in Class E for petrol cars from 1501cc – 1600cc in a New Polo 1.6.

The winners of the lowest consumption by a petrol-engined car were motoring journalists Wynter Murdoch, a former winner of the same award, and Automobil magazine colleague Leon Schnell. Their Daihatsu Charade returned figures of 4.6l/100 km and won the Class A category (petrol engines up to 1100cc). Runners-up in the petrol category and winners of Class E (petrol engines from 1601cc – 1800cc) were Total Economy Run veteran Willie Nel and his son Willem in a Toyota Prius with a consumption figure of 4.6l/100km. Third overall and second in Class A were former racing driver and radio personality Jeanette Kok Kritzinger and Riette Wannenburg who managed 4.6l/100km in their Citroën C1.

The 2010 Total Economy Run class winners were as follows:
Class A: Wynter Murdoch/Leon Schnell (Daihatsu Charade), 4.59l/100km
Class B: Wynand Volschenck/Machiel Viljoen (Fiat Uno Mia), 4.92l/100km
Class C: Stuart Williams/Lauren Smit (Daihatsu Sirion 1.5), 5.72l/100km
Class D: Harry Young/Manfred Hertz (Ford Fiesta 1.6), 5.63l/100km
Class E: Willie and Willem Nel (Toyota Prius), 4.62l/100km
Class F: Gordon Noble/Graham Bate (Mazda6 2L), 5.99l/100km
Class I: Ben and Isabel van der Westhuizen (Lexus GS450H), 7.46l/100km
Class J: Willie le Roux/Hein van der Walt (Volkswagen Polo 1.6 TDI), 4.11l/100km
Class K: Rod Kinsey/Huibert Phielix (Audi 2 TDIe), 5.07l/100km
Class L: Ernest and Gert van den Berg (Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI), 5.50l/100km
Class M: Roger Rouessart/John Smit (Jaguar XFS), 5.69l/100km
Class O: Pritesh Ruthun/Reuben van Niekerk (Daihatsu Terios 4×4), 7.24l/100km
Class P: Dan Esterhuyse/Pierre Jordaan (Tata Xenon 4×4), 8.11l/100km

[Source: Volkswagen South Africa]

The latest version of the Polo BlueMotion has been shortlisted for the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 award, which the organisers claim is the most scientifically-based green car prize in the UK. Now in its third year, WhatGreenCar uses unique ratings to rank the greenest new cars to come to market, and shortlisted cars are rated for environmental impact, value, driving experience and design.

To be eligible for the award, new models must be commercially available for purchase direct from the manufacturer or order in the UK during 2010. City cars, superminis, small family cars, large family cars, MPVs, executive and sports classes form the initial selection. The judging and test drives of the 10 shortlisted cars takes place on Wednesday 30 June at Imperial College, London, a university specialising in technological innovation. This makes it an ideal place for the judges to assess the final line-up. The overall winner of the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 awards will be announced on Thursday 1 July.

The 10 cars shortlisted for the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 award are as follows:

• BMW 320d EfficientDynamics; WGC rating 31; CO2: 109g/km
• Citroen DS3 1.6 HDi; WGC rating: 29; CO2: 99g/km
• Honda CR-Z hybrid; WGC rating: TBC; CO2: 117g/km
• Kia Venga 1.4 CRDi; WGC rating: 33; CO2: 117g/km
• Mitsubishi i-MiEV 47kW synchronous/Li-ion; WGC rating: 10; CO2: 0g/km
• SEATt Leon 1.6 TDI Ecomotive; WGC rating: 28; CO2: 99g/km
• Toyota Auris hybrid; WGC rating: TBC; CO2: 89g/km
• Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX; WGC rating: 29; CO2: 98g/km
• Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion; WGC rating: 26; CO2: 89g/km
• Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe; WGC rating 29; CO2: 99g/km

(Note: WGC rating = WhatGreenCar rating)

Edit, 1 July 2010: WhatGreenCar have awarded the Toyota Auris Hybrid its Car of the Year 2010 prize, ahead of the SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI Ecomotive, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics and the Citroen DS3 1.6 HDi. A missed opportunity we think, as the Polo BlueMotion makes use of existing technology to get the ideal pairing of low emissions and high miles per gallon, while Toyota reportedly uses more harmful environmental processes to manufacture the NiMH battery packs for both the Prius and Auris Hybrid – coincidentally launched today – while posting similar CO2 and mpg values.

The new Polo SEL has been declared the most secure supermini at the recent British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards (BIVSA), presented by Thatcham, the Motor Industry Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire. Claiming honours in the City Car/Supermini category and beating off in-house competition from the SEAT Ibiza and Škoda Fabia, Volkswagen won a raft of awards as well as the overall accolade for the best car manufacturer.

The British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards are hosted by Thatcham and supported by the Home Office, the DfT, What Car? magazine and the AA. Since their launch in 2004 the highly regarded BIVSA accolades have recognised all that’s best in vehicle security, on the newest cars and vans on the market, applauding the work of vehicle manufacturers and raising consumer awareness. Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking, and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.

Rod McLeod, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen said: ‘It’s a tremendous achievement for the Volkswagen range to be ranked as the best on the market here and one of which we’re very proud. To win the overall award is proof that security and safety features should not be the reserve of an elite few. Increasingly we aim to extend the technology available on our flagship cars such as the Phaeton right down to the volume models such as the new Polo.’

The Polo has been named Best Small Car in the 2010 Fleet World Honours, presented yesterday at the RAC Club in London. The Polo is currently the European Car of the Year as well as the World Car of the Year, and also holds Supermini of the Year titles from What Car? and Fleet News. The award is voted for by a number of industry professionals – including the Fleet World editorial team – and is chaired by Fleet World editor, Steve Moody.

Collecting the award, Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services, Vincent Kinner, said: ‘We’re delighted to receive this award. Since its launch last October the Polo has gone from strength to strength. It epitomises the Volkswagen strengths of quality, practicality, safety and value for money and this award, on top of the many others it had already received, proves its appeal to fleet managers as well as private buyers and drivers.’

Chairman of Judges, Steve Moody, said: ‘The Volkswagen Polo is a small car with a big car personality. Downsizing customers will never feel shortchanged thanks to its excellent interior space and superb build quality. Add in a strong range of engines with excellent fuel efficiency, and never has a supermini been so super.’ Head over to the fleet section of the Volkswagen website for more information on the company’s range of cars and fleet services.

Six thousand readers of Autoflotte (Auto Fleet) magazine have awarded the Polo the Best Small Car award in the publication’s list of 2010 honours announced last week. Awarded at the AMI Leipzig 2010 motor show, the Volkswagen Group took 12 first place prizes, with the Golf awarded Best Compact Car and the Touran the Best Compact Van. Stefan Brungs, Head of Volkswagen Group Fleet International was pleased with the result: ‘We are delighted, especially as these awards are chosen by fleet managers. The Autoflotte awards underline the outstanding position of the Volkswagen Group’s economic and energy-efficient vehicles and the quality of our extensive service offering for our large customers.’

As we reported on 1 April, the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo was voted 2010 World Car of the Year, beating off competition from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Toyota Prius. Adding to its European Car of the Year 2010 title, the latest prize cements the latest Polo’s reputation as a multi-award winner. World Car of the Year have released photos from the awards ceremony that took place on the day of the announcement at the Javits Center in New York City. Click the gallery below for a slideshow of pictures.

Second victory in a row for the Volkswagen brand; BlueMotion models declared 2010 World Green Cars

It’s no April Fool’s joke. Not only is the new fifth-generation Polo 2010 European Car of the Year, but it is also now 2010 World Car of the Year, and we’ll be honest, we didn’t think it would win. Why? Announced today at the start of the New York International Auto Show in Manhattan, the Polo isn’t even sold in the US, although rumours persist about its Stateside introduction.

Merit, value, safety, environment, significance and emotional appeal are the criterias for the World Car of the Year and it’s the second time Volkswagen has been victorious; the Mk 6 Golf was declared the winner last year. The Polo fought off its European Car of the Year adversaries the Mercedes E-Class and the Toyota Prius to come out on top. The decision was unanimous, too; the majority of the 59 World Car jurors from 25 countries across the world chose the Polo from 30 entries.

‘One brilliant supermini’
Praising the fifth-generation Polo, the jurors stated: ‘Holding its own in the most competitive market segment, the all-new Polo Mk V is one of VW’s star performers. Boasting best-in-segment packaging and handling, this supermini’s blend of classy looks, reliability and quality has meant it’s consistently been one the market’s best-sellers.

‘Draped in head-turning stylish curves, the Polo is certainly one of the classiest small VWs ever built. It’s also safe; generating a maximum five-star Euro NCAP crash-test rating. Behind the wheel, the Polo demonstrates mature manners and boasts a superb driving position that’s adjustable and, in common with the latest Golf, all the controls are well weighted and precise. The Polo is just one brilliant supermini.’

‘Unique and timeless design’
The award was presented to Walter de silva, Head of Design at the Volkswagen Group at a ceremony this morning. Accepting the prize, he said: ‘The new Volkswagen Polo generation fascinates by its uncomplicated, unique and timeless design plus its high efficiency. Already more than 230,000 customers worldwide have placed orders.’

Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG was equally pleased: ‘We’re honored that the Volkswagen Polo was chosen by this distinguished group of jurors. After the great triumph of the Golf last year, we are delighted to repeat this success with the new Polo. These automobiles have reaped numerous awards, winning almost every prize the automotive industry has to award. This shows Volkswagen is on the right track and is offering arguably the best range of products in its history.’

Lowest fuel consumption and emissions
At the same ceremony, Volkswagen’s BlueMotion models (Polo, Golf and Passat) were announced as the recipients of the 2010 World Green Cars award, ahead of the Honda Insight and the Toyota Prius. The lowest fuel consumption and emissions in their respective classes earned the Volkswagens their wins. Now in their seventh year, the annual World Car awards have become one of the world’s most prestigious, credible and significant prizes of their kind.

The Polo has picked up yet another prize at the Fleet News Awards 2010 announced this week. Volkswagen picked up top honours in two categories, the Polo taking the Best Supermini title, while the Golf was named as Best Lower Medium Car and the 2010 Company Car of the Year. The awards are siginificant; Volkswagen predict that the fleet market will account for 37% of fifth-generation Polo sales in the UK.

Presented at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel, the prestigious Fleet News Awards honour the fleet industry’s top achievers for the past 12 months. On collecting the prizes, Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services Vincent Kinner said: ‘To receive these awards from Fleet News is a great honour and they are a fantastic endorsement for two crucial models and the Volkswagen brand as a whole.’

Praising the Polo, Fleet News said: ‘If fleets had to choose one small car to offer drivers, the Polo’s great all-round strengths make it an obvious selection while its image also has strong appeal for staff. The Polo has excellent resale values, strong wholelife costs and outstanding build quality with the prestige of the Volkswagen badge. It has a wide choice of body styles and engines with low benefit-in-kind costs. The Polo is perfect for the fleet manager and driver.’ The Polo fought off stiff competition from the Ford Fiesta, Honda Jazz, Mazda2, Mini and SEAT Ibiza to be awarded the top honour.

Establishing itself as a force to be reckoned with last month by driving into the UK’s top 10 best-selling cars for January 2010, the Polo has repeated the feat for February. Released this week, the figures show that although the Polo slipped three places to number seven, its Golf stablemate actually improved its standing, rising to number three from six in the first month of the year.

While the Polo was still 1336 units clear of challenging its class rival Ford Fiesta for the top spot, it sold 301 units more than the eighth best-selling car, the BMW 3 Series. Rising for the eighth sequential month, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders state that the UK’s February’s sales were actually up 26.4%. The full list of what sold what is as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 3236 units
2 Ford Focus: 3035 units
3 Volkswagen Golf: 2586 units
4 Vauxhall Astra: 2524 units
5 Vauxhall Corsa: 2391 units
6 Hyundai i10: 1938 units
7 Volkswagen Polo: 1900 units
8 BMW 3 Series: 1599 units
9 Kia Picanto: 1573 units
10 Peugeot 207: 1422 units

These latest encouraging Polo sales figures come just as the German consumer magazine Guter Rat have awarded the Polo the Best Compact Car 2010 award.