PoloDriver

The Volkswagen Polo has re-entered the UK’s top ten most popular cars chart, rounding out the countdown for October, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 2,753 Polos were registered in the UK during October, and is number sixth in the year-to-date list, with 37,106 units registered.

New regulation
The Polo slipped out of September’s UK most popular cars listing due to new regulation and the introduction of the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) certification. This legislation requires car manufacturers to test their complete model range to the new standards that measure fuel consumption and CO2 emissions from passenger cars, as well as their pollutant emissions.

However, with UK registrations down 20 per cent in September across the board, Volkswagen wasn’t the only manufacturer affected by the new legislation. But when the Polo did last appear in the SMMT’s list for August, it was at number three in the top ten rundown. We suspect some of the WLTP supply issues are still being felt.

Fighting back
Overall, UK registrations for October dipped 2.9 per cent compared to the same period last year, while year-to-date figures suggest a 7.2 per cent fall. The Ford Fiesta still tops the monthly and year-to-date charts, with 5,564 and 84,980 units registered respectively. Volkswagen’s evergreen Golf is fighting back, too, after it also disappeared from the top ten in September. In October it was back to second place, with 3,765 cars finding new homes. Volkswagen’s Tiguan was also a popular choice, with 3,297 registered.

The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during October 2018 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 5,564 (84,980, 1st)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 3,765 (55,927, 2nd)
3 Mercedes-Benz A-Class: 3,339 (35,139, 9th)
4 Volkswagen Tiguan: 3,297
5 Ford Focus: 3,283 (43,505, 5th)
6 Mini: 3,208 (37,084, 7th)
7 Ford Kuga: 2,847 (35,327, 8th)
8 Nissan Qashqai: 2,799 (44,742, 4th)
9 BMW 3 Series: 2,773
10 Volkswagen Polo: 2,753 (37,106, 6th)

(The UK’s 2018 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from October’s registration figures were the third-placed Vauxhall Corsa and the tenth-placed Kia Sportage with 46,057 and 31,338 registrations respectively.)

Switched places
In South Africa, the latest sixth-generation Polo switched places with its fifth-generation Polo Vivo sibling and was the second best-selling passenger car during October 2018, with 2,824 units in new garages. The chart-topping Vivo shifted just 185 units more. In contrast with the UK, the Ford Fiesta was in seventh place, with just 888 cars registered.

Following July’s rise up the UK’s most popular cars chart, the Volkswagen Polo remains the third most favoured car in the country according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). With 3,207 units registered, the Polo was again one place below its 4,180-unit-selling Golf sibling. Also in a repeat of July’s tallies, the Polo is number six in the year-to-date list, too, while Ford’s all-ruling Fiesta once again topped the monthly list, with 4,522 registrations.

New small car entries in the August’s registration chart included the Honda Jazz at number seven (1,490 units), and the eighth-placed Suzuki Swift (1,390 units). Year-on-year demand grew 23.1 per cent according to the SMMT, with 94,094 cars joining the UK’s road network, although the year-to-date total is down by 4.2 per cent.

Registrations of alternatively-fuelled cars which rose 88.7 per cent (7,489 units), to take an 8.0 per cent market share. Supermini small cars such as the Polo remained the most popular buy. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during August 2018 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 4,552 (67,189, 1st)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 4,180 (49,692, 2nd)
3 Volkswagen Polo: 3,207 (29,081, 6th)
4 Ford Kuga: 1,902 (26,462, 8th)
5 BMW 3 Series: 1,847
6 SEAT Leon: 1,506
7 Honda Jazz: 1,490
8 Suzuki Swift: 1,390
9 Nissan Qashqai: 1,390 (34,910, 3rd)
10 Kia Sportage: 1,321

(The UK’s 2018 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from August’s registration figures were the fourth-placed Ford Focus, the fifth-placed Vauxhall Corsa, the seventh-placed Mini, the ninth-placed Mercedes-Benz A Class and the tenth-placed Mercedes-Benz C Class with 34,045, 32,821, 29,945, 23,795 and 22,783 registrations respectively.)

In South Africa, one of the Polo’s many manufacturing bases, the latest sixth-generation model was again the best-selling passenger car during August 2018, with 3,414 units entering the market. In a repeat of July, the Polo Vivo – now based on the 2010-2017 fifth-generation Polo – was the runner-up, with 1,900 examples registered.

Following the success of the European versions, Volkswagen Brazil has launched ‘Beats’ editions of both the Novo Polo and its Virtus saloon sister, according to our friends at Indian Autos Blog. And just like the European cars, the new models feature signature red highlights as well as a 300-watt audio system.

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Novo Polo Beats

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Novo Polo Beats

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Novo Polo Beats

Of course, the boosted audio upgrade is the big draw, and consists of an eight-channel digital amplifier, four speakers, two tweeters and a subwoofer. But, on the Novo Polo Beats at least, there’s also a smattering of Beats logos, red wing mirror caps, a Velvet Red dash panel and door trims, as well as special Beats door sill trims. In the photos seen here, both Novo Polo and Virtus Beats models are wearing 17-inch ‘Razor’ alloy wheels.

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Virtus Beats

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Novo Polo Beats

2018 Volkswagen Brazil Novo Polo Beats

All Novo Polo Beats and Virtus models are powered by a three-cylinder 1.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine with 128bhp and 200Nm of torque – badged ‘200TSI’ – paired to a six-speed DSG semi-automatic gearbox. Available as an option on the Comfortline and Highline models only, the Novo Polo Beats is priced at an additional R$2,872 and R$2,278 respectively, while the special Virtus editions cost an extra R$2,083 and R$2,050 depending on trim.

[Source: Indian Autos Blog]

Just as we thought it possibly couldn’t get any higher, the Volkswagen Polo impressively jumped two places up the UK new car registrations chart last month and became the third most popular car in the country. With 3,847 units registered, the Polo now sits under its larger Golf sibling which is at number two in July’s top ten chart released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The Polo rose one place to number six in the year-to-date list, too, while Ford’s all-ruling Fiesta once again topped the monthly list, with 6,222 registrations.

As well as the Golf and Polo, Volkswagen completed a trio in July’s registration figures, as the Tiguan repeated its feat from June’s tally, and stayed firm in ninth place with 2,687 units finding homes. With 45,512 units, the Golf also retained its second place in the year-to-date list. Year-on-year demand grew 1.2 per cent according to the SMMT, with 163,898 cars joining the UK’s road network, although the year-to-date market is down by 5.5 per cent.

Other figures to note are those of alternatively-fuelled cars which rose 21 per cent (10,734 units), to take a 6.5 per cent market share. Diesel registrations were down by 24.4 per cent, while petrol-engined cars rose by 20.1 per cent. The UK’s top 10 most popular cars during July 2018 and the year-to-date (sales figure and position in brackets) were as follows:

1 Ford Fiesta: 6,222 (62,637, 1st)
2 Volkswagen Golf: 5,582 (45,512, 2nd)
3 Volkswagen Polo: 3,847 (25,874, 6th)
4 Vauxhall Corsa: 3,670 (31,673, 5th)
5 Nissan Qashqai: 3,470 (33,536, 3rd)
6 Audi A3: 2,687
7 Mercedes-Benz A Class: 2,840 (22,842, 9th)
8 Ford Kuga: 2,776 (24,560, 8th)
9 Volkswagen Tiguan: 2,687
10 Kia Sportage: 2,442

(The UK’s 2018 year-to-date top 10 most popular cars absent from July’s registration figures were the fourth-placed Ford Focus, the seventh-placed Mini, and the tenth-placed Mercedes-Benz C Class with 32,899, 25,704 and 27,812 registrations respectively.)

In South Africa, the sixth-generation Polo claimed the best-selling passenger car prize in July, with 2,817 units finding new homes. The fifth-generation Polo-based Polo Vivo was second, with 2,351 examples registered. The Polo Vivo has been consistently top of the registrations chart since its introduction in 2010. The latest Polo is also the most popular car in the Netherlands of all places, with top ten entries in Austria, Italy and Slovenia among others, according to figures from JATO Dynamics.

If you’re reading this website, we’re assuming you already know how good a drive the Volkswagen range of GTIs is, but the German manufacturer has partnered up with Waze, the Google-owned navigation app to allow its two million users (and not just drivers of GTIs) to experience a selection of the UK’s best driving roads via a new ‘GTI Superdrives’ campaign. Up to 75 of the country’s finest driving roads will be offered through the partnership, which will be discoverable in-app for a limited period over the summer months.

Launched just after the new Polo GTI hits UK roads, Waze’s team of data scientists has selected the GTI Superdrives after analysis and ranking of roads based on a number of key variables. Perhaps obviously, GTI Superdrive routes are scenic, but are close enough to points of interest; have the right driving conditions – including engaging corners; low amounts of traffic; as well as low incident reports. The data has also been cross-referenced by volunteer Waze map editors from across the UK. Volkswagen states that all GTI Superdrives routes ‘fit with the GTI ethos of driving enjoyment’. Game on, then!

To enjoy a GTI Superdrive, Waze users need to look for a GTI badge when the app is active. If they are within 12 miles of a GTI Superdrive road, drivers will be able to tap on the badge – which has designed to reflect the famous brown UK road signs for tourist destinations – to receive directions to the road. Once a GTI Superdrive has been found, the driver simply follows in-app instructions to discover the road. When they are not driving, users can find out more about the route and discover its ranking among the top routes.

Waze and Volkswagen GTI Superdrives

2018 Volkswagen Up GTI

2018 Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance

The top 10 roads from Waze’s analysis of proximity to urban areas, number of points of interest nearby and driving stats are:

• B3135 from Cheddar to Ashwick
• 940-A939-A944-A97 (from Forres to Alford)
• From A701 Moffat to A700 Edinburgh
• A4069
• A82
• A308, B3021, B3026, Old Windsor – Dorney
• Alcester to Wilmcote
• Draycote Water to Warwick
• Hard Knot Pass: Skelwith Bridge to Gosforth
• A675 Bolton to Blackburn.

Of course, as well as the new 197bhp Polo GTI available in standard (£21,260) and enhanced GTI+ (£22,760) specifications, there is also the smaller £14,055 113bhp Up GTI, and above them, the legendary £28,205 227bhp Golf GTI*. So there’s never been a better time to get out and veer off the beaten track – go discover a GTI Superdrive!

*Standard Golf GTI models are only available from Volkswagen Retailer stock and not available for factory order. Enhanced specification 242bhp Golf GTI Performance models are available to factory order from £29,930.

About Waze
Waze is a social navigation pioneer using mobile technology and a global community to redefine expectations of today’s maps. Home to the world’s largest network of drivers who work together daily to outsmart traffic to save time and money. The app consistently recommends the fastest routes based on real-time driving and data from two million users, as well as traffic re-routes and low fuel price alerts.