Features / 23 October 2022 / Michael Taylor

New VW Polo Sedan vs Toyota Corolla Quest

VW’s new Polo is now on sale in South Africa, offering an affordable entry into the sedan market with prices beginning at R318,300.

For a similar amount, local motorists can alternatively have the automatic Toyota Corolla Quest Plus, which starts at R319,400.

These wallet-friendly sedans are built by the two best-selling manufacturers in the country, trading blows in each category to one-up the other.

This is what you can expect when buying either the new Polo or the current Quest.

Engine

The four-door Polo runs on a 1.6-litre petrol engine which delivers 81kW and 152Nm, and VW has gone with a five-speed manual gearbox sending drive to the front wheels.

Consequently, the sedan averages 6.2l/100km on a combined fuel cycle, runs to 100km/h in 11.2 seconds, and reaches a top speed of 190km/h.

The Corolla, meanwhile, makes use of a larger 1.8-litre drivetrain also using petrol, producing 103kW and 173Nm.

A CVT transmission connects the power unit to the front wheels resulting in a higher combined fuel consumption than the Polo at 6.4l/100km.

The Toyota is fractionally faster than the VW, however, reaching 100km/h in 10.2 seconds with a top speed of 195km/h.

Features

Both the VW and Toyota offer their buyers daytime running lights, fabric upholstery, manual air conditioning, a multifunction steering wheel, and an infotainment unit with a screen size of 7 inches on the Polo and 8 on the Quest.

If you opt to get the Polo, you’ll also get Eco LED headlamps, a two-tone interior, eight speakers, cruise control, and a sizeable 521-litre boot.

On the other hand, the Toyota provides its buyers with halogen headlights, four speakers, hill assist, and a smaller boot capable of handling 452 litres.