Although the model has quite a large following in both South America and across Europe, the Polo's never been offered in the U.S. With Americans newfound acceptance of subcompact cars like the Honda Fit, VW thinks there's a chance the Polo could do well in the New World.
We'd have to agree with that notion. Although the car is sized like a Fit (albeit without as tall a roof), it exudes the charisma of a larger car both inside and out. Exterior styling virtually apes that of the new fifth-generation Golf, while the interior feels just as good as that of the Jetta. Sure, plenty of pieces (namely buttons, radio, gauges, and other goodies) are picked out of VW's parts bin, but we're hard pressed to name another small car interior that feels so mature.
The new Polo will be offered with no fewer than eight different engine choices (including four diesel options), but we'd expect the 105-hp, 1.2-liter turbocharged I-4 - the top-end engine in Europe - to be standard fare in the U.S. It can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a seven-speed DSG transmission, which then sends power to the front wheels.
If a Polo TDI were to arrive in the U.S, we'd guess the 90-hp 1.6-liter turbo-diesel I-4 would be the most likely offering. Although a 105-hp version is offered in Europe, the 90-hp motor allows buyers the choice of a five-speed manual or the DSG.
The new Polo is expected to arrive in European showrooms this June, but don't expect it here until sometime in late 2010. Here's hoping this model crosses the pond and not the outgoing Polo.