The next generation of the CrossPolo is ready for new adventures. After the successful launch of the new Polo early in 2010, the new CrossPolo is the second model of the Polo series to be introduced locally, before the Polo GTI arrives in the first half of 2011. Yes, the CrossPolo has a cheeky design, unique choice of colours and features, as well as taller ride height (15 mm), but is it just a marketing gimmick?

Lets begin by judging the proverbial book by its cover. The CrossPolo has a more rugged-sporty character than that of the standard VW Polo. An individually styled front apron – anthracite in colour – with integrated front fog lights and large air inlet at the centre, give the car a unique look from the front, coupled with a lower edge finished in a satin silver, which gives the impression of underbody protection. The side profile of the new CrossPolo also shows off a tough look. Black wheelarch extensions and coordinated body sills set the styling. The rugged plastic guards are intended to protect the car from damage in off-road driving and in the urban jungle.

Adding sporty character are the 17-inch alloy wheels (“Budapest” style) with size 215/40 profile tyres. Adding to the CrossPolo’s promise of practicality and more rugged abilities are the silver anodized roof rails, which can support roof boxes and carrier systems up to a weight of 75 kgs. Final touches are at the rear where the lower bumper section is also in black plastic with a separate centre section painted in silver to mimic a diffuser.

Coloured in ‘Deep Black Pearl’ with the satin silver highlights, our test car gathered plenty of attention, not the kind of gawks that a supercar warrants, but rather glances of genuine interest and admiration for what would otherwise be ‘just another Polo’.

The interior of the CrossPolo is standard Polo fare, save for the two-tone fabrics on the sport seats, the rear bench and the door trim. Colour options include Hot Orange, Orange, Latte Macchiato and Grey, depending on the exterior colour – presumably the limited combinations are VW’s way of saving the world from any potential fashion faux pas’. Throughout the cockpit materials are high quality and have a great feel. The steering wheel has a fine perforated leather cover, along with the gear lever and handbrake, while the dashboard has been given an additional dimension with its soft touch.

Standard equipment includes, height-adjustable sport seats; an asymmetrically split rear bench and backrest; pedal caps in aluminium look and chrome on various switches and components. Also standard: electric adjustable and heated door mirrors; electrically operated windows all around; illuminated make-up mirrors in the sun visors; multi-function display and central locking with remote control.

Interior space is adequate. Front passengers predictably receive the warmest welcome, while rear passengers are comfortable once seated, after having a slight squeeze to get past the backrests of the front seats. As mentioned, the rear bench can be folded with a standard 60:40 split. When it is completely folded, the car’s cargo capacity increases from 280- to 952-litres. Four tie-down eyes make it easy to secure items in transit, while two hooks in the side trim panels keep bags from tipping over.

The CrossPolo comes with a choice of two 1.6-litre engines, either a turbocharged diesel unit, or the naturally aspirated petrol unit we tested. The 1.6-litre four-cylinder, 16-valve petrol engine reaches its peak power of 77 kW at 5 250 r/min and its maximum torque of 155 Nm at 3 500 r/min. On the road the car responds well once the revs climb past the 4 000 r/min mark and continues to pull positively to just before the 6 000 r/min red line. With peak torque being available in the middle of the rev-range, the car does feel a little lacklustre at times, but this is a virtue of smaller capacity engines rather than a trait specific to the Polo.

Coupled with a slick enough gearbox, light clutch action and accurate power steering, the CrossPolo is easy to drive around town. Out on our countries highways and byways the CrossPolo comfortably maintains a respectable average speed, with the added convenience of having a cruise control function. Overtaking or tackling the odd hill requires a nonchalant down-shift on the 5-speed manual box, where after the CrossPolo reacts with determination.

Volkswagen claim an average fuel consumption of 6.6 l/100km, which is entirely acceptable when you consider we managed a frugal 6.2 l/100km over a 170 km urban cycle. Driven quickly by the CrossPolo’s standards, the figure jumped to 9.8 l/100km. CO2 emissions are rated at 157 g/km.

Although riding just 15 mm taller than the standard Polo, the CrossPolo’s stance illudes to this being considerably more thanks to the large diameter 17-inch wheels. A logical concern is a higher centre of gravity, which could take the edge off the little hatchback’s handling. Thankfully we found this not to be, as whatever ‘edge’ may have been lost, is well and truly countered with the larger 215/40 profile rubber. The suspension is a comfortable mix of spring and damper rates, meaning the CrossPolo remains comfortable on the majority of bumpy secondary roads, while still offering a composed ride under high speed conditions. Steering is suitably assisted in relation to road speed and inputs result in accurate changes of direction.

Although our test unit was fitted with the optional ESP system, it seemed inconsequential considering the CrossPolo’s modest performance. The system does however include a hill-hold assist function that holds the car stationary long enough for you to take your foot off the brake pedal and transfer it to the accelerator without rolling backwards. More applicable though is the Emergency Brake-Force Distribution (EBD) function, which together with ABS, serves to keep the car in-line and stable under emergency braking situations, particularly if this occurs mid-corner.

Together with the obvious stand-out-from-the-crowd nature of the CrossPolo, its a car with origins of a similar nature. Volkswagen of South Africa’s manufacturing plant in Uitenhage is the sole producer of the new CrossPolo, for both right-hand and left-hand drive global markets. Approximately 12 000 CrossPolos will be produced at the Uitenhage plant in 2010, which makes each one a proudly South African product.

So, marketing gimmick? Yes and no. Yes, it’s a Polo in ‘fancy dress’. This is no bad thing, as the CrossPolo’s design is both eye-catching and sophisticated in a way that will no doubt appeal to the young and/or image conscious. No, because the CrossPolo has its own merits. Climbing inside a car with a tasteful interior colour scheme that brightens your day, has genuine exterior design appeal and one that offers a touch more practicality and an adventurous spirit, has its place in a world made up largely of conformists.

What we like….

• A tastefully executed alternative to the numerous Polo’s on our roads.
• A premium feel to the interior materials and build quality.

What we would like…

• Considering the price, cruise control and side curtain airbags as standard.

Only a couple of days ago Volkswagen took the covers off its new Polo GTI and now, just a couple of weeks away from the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the covers have come off the new CrossPolo.

The vehicle is essentially the five-door Polo with a raised ride height and a rugged all-terrain look. In Europe, buyers will be able to chose from a total of three petrol and three common rail TDI turbo-diesel engines, three of which can be equipped with an optional seven-speed DSG dual clutch transmission. In South African however, the CrossPolo is expected to be offered with one engine only, that being the capable 1,6-litre TDI engine with 77 kW and 250 N.m of torque.

Key design elements include the unique bumpers, finished in an anthracite color and fitted with fog-lights and larger intakes. Moving to the sides, the CrossPolo also gets black wheelarch extensions, new side sills, and 17 inch alloy wheels.

The rugged theme continues inside the cabin, with two-tone fabrics including an anthracite color, a black webbed structure for some of the trim, perforated leather on the steering wheel, and a metal finish for the pedals.

Both the Polo GTI and CrossPolo will make their world debut in Geneva on March 2, expanding the Polo lineup to four models of: standard Polo, BlueMotion, GTI and CrossPolo. The BlueMotion Polo may not be headed for South Africa, but Polo GTI and CrossPolo should arrive later this year.

Adapted from MotorAuthority

When the KIA Soul made its local debut a few months ago, managing director of KIA Motors South Africa, Ray Levin, said “This is a brand new urban crossover packed full of liberating ideas”. Brand new it certainly is, but we’re not sure about the ‘liberating ideas’ part. One thing is for sure though, it’s like no other car on the road today.

Exterior
Riding 165 mm above the ground with short overhangs both front and rear, the Soul is positioned in the MPV / SUV arena (the KIA Sedona MPV rides just 2 mm higher, while the new Sorento SUV sits 19 mm higher) but looks like neither. KIA call the Soul an ‘urban crossover’, or ‘crossover utility vehicle’ (CUV), which we suppose is a term that fits the Soul better than it ever could VW’s CrossPolo or the now extinct MG Rover Streetwise.

At the front, the Soul’s high bonnet and rounded forms imply power and strength, while the bulging wheel arches and wide track give the car a broad stance that heightens its sense of stability. Large head lamps and a chrome grille give Soul a ‘friendly face’ and the prominent centre bumper shouts ‘tough-not-rough’. The A-pillars are masked with a high-gloss black moulding for a wrap-around look that is crucial to the Soul’s appearance.

It’s a quirky design that elicits a second glance wherever it goes and whether you love it or hate it, getting noticed on our crowded city streets says something.

Interior
The Soul makes extensive use of plastics to form a cockpit that is adequate rather than attractive. The centre console breaks the mold by standing out from and extending the width of the dashboard, with a grey highlight incorporating the radio and climate controls. The switch-gear is simple to use and well laid out, with all instrumentation being lit up with red back-lighting. The illuminated instrument panel is a pleasure to read during the day, but without being able to adjust the brightness it’s overpowering at night and takes away some of the contrast provided between a darker cabin and brighter headlights. Pleasantly surprising features were the satellite controls on the steering wheel for adjusting the radio, as well as USB connection for plugging-in your iPod or MP3 player. Electrically powered windows, both front and rear, provide a touch of convenience in a well put together interior, free of any squeaks or rattles.

As can be expected from its boxy design there is plenty of space inside the KIA Soul, especially when it comes to headroom. The glove box is one of the largest we’ve witnessed, but the bright red interior colour it shares with the sunglasses case atop the dash, clashed with the rest of our test car and looked out of place – unless of course you opt for a red Soul. The Soul welcomes four adult passengers with plenty of legroom, in addition to the stratospheric levels of headroom available. However, the driver’s seat lacks support for one’s back, particularly for the arch area, which is far from ideal. Luggage space is an adequate 671 litres, handling the weekly shopping and school runs with ease – and the rear seats can be folded down in a 60/40 split for extra carrying capacity.

On the safety front, the KIA Soul is equipped with three-point safety belts for all passengers, with pretensioners and load-limiters in the front. Active headrests move forward and upward within milliseconds of an impact to cushion the head and prevent whiplash. Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) are standard on all models, as are the dual front airbags. Side and full-length curtain airbags are available on the ‘high-spec’ models.

The Drive
The Soul finds a good balance between the power of its engine and handling of its chassis. Considering its ride height, the Soul handles well and does not suffer from excessive bodyroll as one might expect by looking at the car’s proportions. The steering is light and responsive, with a sharp turning circle that makes driving around town a doddle. When pushed, the Soul will understeer, but its handling is completely predictable and easily remedied by easing off the throttle. In fact, its predictable handling helps to make the Soul a fun car to drive and even though it’s not sporty by design, the Soul does humour you if you decide to ‘hotfoot’ it through a set of turns. The combination ABS and EBD linked to disc brakes up front and drums at the rear, work well to bring the Soul to a stop.

The Soul is at home on city streets, however once out of town and travelling at our national speed limit the upright nature of the Soul lends itself to wind noise. Coupled with the high-revving engine and steering that isn’t speed sensitive, or tightened as speed increases, open road driving can become tiring over long distances.

Performance
The KIA Soul is powered by a 1,6-litre DOHC 16-valve engine that produces 91 kW at 6 300 rpm and 156 N.m of torque at 4 600 rpm. It’s a lively engine that thrives on revs but sounds quicker than it is. The zero to 100 km/h sprint is dealt with in 10.4 seconds and top speed is 177 km/h. The Soul won’t win any robot-to-robot races, but the willing and vocal engine makes it fun to try anyway. KIA claims a combined fuel consumption of 6.6 L/100km, but with the Cape Doctor at full puff during our test period, we averaged quite a bit higher.

Overall the Soul is a likable city car. It’s quirky design is something few manufacturers can offer. Along with an adequate array of safety and convenient features, for the performance and price KIA offers a ‘Soul-lution’ that won’t break the bank.

What we like…

• Unique styling – the Soul is the first Korean car to receive recognition from the world renowned ‘red dot’ design awards.
• Fun to drive in and around town.
• KIA’s 5-year warranty and 4-year service plan.

What we would like…

• Improved sound insulation from engine and wind noise.
• Ability to adjust the brightness of the instrument back-lighting.