Top 12 Best Buys 2024: Small Car – Volkswagen Polo

While hatchbacks may be losing market share to their taller and more utilitarian SUV counterparts, our small car winner remains South Africa’s best-selling passenger car. Here is why the Volkswagen Polo reigned supreme.

Criteria

This category covers city cars such as the Mazda2 and Renault Clio, all the way to practical fare like the Honda Fit – as well as premium entries from Audi and Mini.

Looking for your next new or used Volkswagen Polo? Find it here with CARmag. 

Winner: Volkswagen Polo 

Volkswagen Polo

Image: Volkswagen

A perennial overachiever in our market, the locally assembled Polo continues in its winning ways, both in these awards and on the monthly sales charts. The sixth-generation Polo is a polished entrant and remains South Africa’s best-selling passenger car (complemented by its sibling the Polo Vivo). Including an extensive range of variants – with 70 kW or 85 kW engine options and two transmission alternatives, as well as the 147 kW GTI derivative – this VW strikes a compelling balance between value, efficiency, substance and that touch of German quality that its owners appreciate. The 70 kW 1,0 TSI Life is sitting pretty in the middle of the range and comes furnished with all the necessary mod cons and a touch of flair.

Our favourite variant:

Polo 1,0 TSI 70 kW Life – from R385 300

Runner-up: Honda Fit 

Volkswagen Polo

Image: Honda

The Honda Fit is a high-quality item with generous rear legroom and clever space utilisation. The naturally aspirated 1,5-litre engine/CVT combination provides class-competitive refinement and efficiency.

Runner-up: Renault Clio

Volkswagen Polo

Image: Renault

The fact that it’s only available with a 5-speed manual gearbox is one of the few gripes we have with what is otherwise a fantastic car. All Renault Clios come with a 5-year/150 000km warranty and a 2-year 30 000km service plan.

Browse over 26 000 new and used cars here with CARmag.

The post Top 12 Best Buys 2024: Small Car – Volkswagen Polo appeared first on CAR Magazine.


The Car Guide

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Topical tips on buying used – Chapter 1

Image
Buying a used car can be harrowing, whether privately or from a dealer. Here are some tips, as well as some things to watch out for. Beware of low mileages, especially on smaller or cheaper cars. It is always possible that the odometer has been turned back. Some things to bear in mind are:- diesels are often bought because they the driver needs to undertake long trips without consuming vast amounts of fuel. This could be a sales rep, or someone travelling large distances to work, lots of lengthy trip for family holidays, etc. So, usually higher mileages than normal. An expensive or luxury car may not see much time on the road, but very seldom a “workhorse”. This makes the executive cars likely to have a lot more life left than the overworked and abused hatchback. These also spend most of their life in a home garage or undercover parking lot at work. Related: Someone paid more for a mint BMW 325iS Evo 2 than a used M4 A vehicle without any service history is a serious disadvantage
Read more

Like Lego? Then the R8-engined Rhino RR01 Kit Car From Lithuania is For You

Image
The Rhino RR01 is presented as an affordable Audi R8-engined supercar that’s both street-legal and geared for the track, here’s all you need to know about the new model.  Image: Rhino Looking for your next sportscar? Find it here with CARmag.  This groundbreaking vehicle is the inaugural supercar hailing from the Baltic state of Lithuania, born and crafted in Kaunas, 100 km away from the capital city of Vilnius. Surprisingly, it was conceived by yacht engineers who had minimal experience in the automotive world by painstakingly developing the car from scratch. All monocoque design, chassis, bodywork, interior, and electronics were done by themselves. While the prototype borrowed the engine from an ‘Audi R8’, the ‘Kit Car’ model offers the freedom to install various engines, allowing drivers to experience the thrill of a racing car on both roads and tracks. Image: Rhino Lithuania has contributed individual components to major car manufacturers, but until now, the country had ne
Read more

Could this teased Lancia sports car be a reborn Stratos?

Image
Lancia recently teased a coupe-looking model, waiting to be unveiled in their Multiverse. Could this then, signify the return of a historic moniker like the Stratos to the struggling automaker? Image: Lancia #MakeLanciaGreatAgain – a social media phrase that has been making the rounds for the better part of a decade. World Rally Championship titles, Formula 1 single-seat winners and some other gems in between. The Italian automaker litters dates in history and motorsport, with some truly revolutionary ideas and models that aided their bid to become one of the most successful motorsport manufacturers of all time. But that is all in the past. Lancia now contends sole markets with a platform-shared model but there have been ambitious plans under Stellantis ownership to kick-start the automaker and make them great again… words that delight so many enthusiasts and aficionados. Related: Automobili Amos debut Martini Racing Livery Lancia Delta and Safarista What better way to do this th
Read more