Vivo Xpress a light commercial solution until Saveiro

There’s a reason why the Polo and Polo Vivo continues to be South Africa’s most bought car and that’s because the company manages to reinvent an old formula to suit new demands that the competition hasn’t spotted. And while we’re still beating down Uitenhage’s door for the light commercial VW Saveiro (a replacement for the Caddy) the new Vivo Xpress is a temporary solution.

Very little retooling was required to convert the 1.4 Comfortline into the Vivo Express. It shares the same hard wearing 55kW drivetrain and is fitted with central locking, air conditioning, ABS and for a little bit extra currency, cruise control, 14-inch wheels and a CD player. Suspension jacked up by 15mm is standard and can be optioned with a rough road package fitted with body protection and stiffer shocks.

Performing the light commercial duties is a wooden load bay capable of withstanding 519kg and because there are no rear seats, Vivo Xpress meets the demands of a small delivery vehicle with a 1060-litre load volume.

And while it may look like a passenger car from the outside, Volkswagen has homologated the Xpress as a N1 Commercial Vehicle so owners can claim back VAT.

A busy day on the production lines sees another Vivo variant join the range, optimistically badged Vivo GTS. Like the GT the 77kW 1.6-litre normally aspirated engine drives the front wheels with a pile of enthusiasm but GTS adds a black roof and side mirrors, 16-inch Rivazza wheels in grey metallic gloss finish, sport pedal cluster, two-tone GTS side decals, carpets with black piping and red stitching.

Pricing

Polo Vivo Xpress is          R163 700

Polo Vivo GTS                    R197 200