See the first test of the new Volkswagen Polo Track – 02/16/2023 – Eduardo Sodré

The test of the Volkswagen Gol’s successor began in the passenger seat. The first perception was the lack of seat belt height adjustment, something present only on the driver’s side.

This detail is an example of what was necessary to cut to transform the Polo, a compact European standard hatchback, into a new “people’s car”.

The new version is called Track. This is the name that appears on the back, under the German company logo. It costs BRL 79,990 and features power steering, air conditioning, sound with USB input, on-board computer and electric locks and front windows.

The hubcaps are painted black – there are no alloy wheels or multimedia center. Anyone who wants to mirror the smartphone screen on the panel will have to migrate to the MPI version (R$ 84,490).

For comparison, the latest Gol units have a suggested retail price of R$79,660 when equipped with a package similar to the simplest version of the Polo. But the veteran comes with fewer security items.

The Track gets four airbags and traction and stability controls. Its predecessor only brings the front bags, in addition to having a structure that obtained poor results in crash tests.

With fewer items, there is less demand for semiconductors. This is a point in favor of the new model, which is still in production at the Taubaté plant (inland São Paulo), while three other Volkswagen plants are going on collective vacation due to lack of components.

In common, Gol and Polo Track bring the same 1.0 flex engine, with three cylinders and 84 hp of power. Its qualities are already known, as well as its limitations. The automaker was not afraid to expose itself and promoted a test with long climbs, on a course not favorable to “one thousand” cars.

The trip started in Guarulhos (Greater São Paulo) and went to São Bento do Sapucaí, a mountain town in São Paulo, close to Campos do Jordão. The first stretch included the Ayrton Senna and Carvalho Pinto highways, with a maximum speed of 120 km/h and good asphalt.

The bench with headrest incorporated into the backrest helps save a few more pennies, but there is height adjustment and commendable accommodation. It is the first point where Polo Track is much better than Gol.

The second factor favorable to the novelty is the space in the back seat. There are 2.57 m of wheelbase, 10 cm more than the “Golzinho”.

The flat road doesn’t demand much from the Track, but the test organizers are constantly broadcasting messages over the radio. “See how the car behaves in these curves”, “notice the acoustic insulation.”

It is worth mentioning that the latest generation of Gol is also silent, in addition to going well in winding stretches. But the Polo does it more solidly, as if it belongs to a higher segment.

But then the uphill stretches arrive, and the limits appear. The five-speed manual transmission requires constant changes to maintain momentum, something expected from a 1.0-litre car without a turbo.

Holes and more climbs appear. The Polo Track shakes, asks for first gear at times, but moves on. The road narrows and suddenly a Mercedes 1313 truck from the 1980s appears from the opposite direction.

You have to stop on a slope that has more land than asphalt. The heavy passes, but the Polo refuses to move at first. It broke? No. It’s traction control at work, trying to keep the tires from slipping.

The electronics came into order and the trip continued. The hatch arrived at its destination covered in dust and mud, but ready to return to its starting point, in Guarulhos. In all, 390 kilometers were covered. The on-board computer recorded an average consumption of 16.1 km/l with gasoline.

Before saying goodbye, one last look at Track. The plastic caps that cover the 15-inch wheels are painted black, there is no other alternative.

Body color options are limited: black, white, silver or grey. The last two are metallic and add R$ 1,650 to the price.

There is even a red Track, but only in limited edition. It is the First Edition version (R$ 88,990), which brings the same tone seen in the bodywork of the Gol Last Edition. The joke marks the passing of the baton and poses quite a challenge for the new model: to reach the popularity index of its predecessor.

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