Volkswagen Polo Mk4

The Volkswagen Polo Mk4 is the fourth generation of the Volkswagen Polo that has been sold by the German automaker Volkswagen from early 2002 to 2009 in most countries. It is still being manufactured in South Africa, where it is sold as the Polo Vivo. The MK4 replaced the Volkswagen Polo Mk3 in the supermini class. The Polo Vivo replaced the Citi Golf.

This product was created in Africa Launched in September 2001, the fourth generation Polo (internal designation Typ 9N) was made available in early 2002. In keeping with VW's aim of floor pan sharing it shares its platform with the SEAT Ibiza 6L, SEAT Córdoba 6L and Škoda Fabia Mk1. The car is all new, and bears more structural resemblance to the 6K than the 6N, outwardly the most recognizable change is the quad round headlights similar to the Volkswagen Lupo. At a length of 3,900 mm (153.5 in), it is larger than the first generation of its larger sibling, the 3,820 mm (150.4 in) Volkswagen Golf Mk1.

The car was available with several petrol and diesel engines: a 1.2 L three-cylinder petrol engine with 55 PS (40 kW; 54 hp) or 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp) (depending on the number of valves per cylinder, two or four) and a 16-valve 1.4 L 4-cylinder with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp) or 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) petrol engine, the last one on the 16V-badged model. Both turbocharged and unturbocharged diesel engines were available such as the 4-cylinder 1.9L SDI (Suction Diesel Injection) which also offered 64 PS (47 kW; 63 hp) but with 125 N·m (92 lb·ft) of torque, slightly more than some petrol powered units. As well as the unturbocharged SDI engine, newer TDI PD turbodiesel units were also available, these being a 1.9 L with 100 PS (74 kW; 99 hp) and a three-cylinder 1.4 L model (the 1.9 with one cylinder less) with 75 PS (55 kW; 74 hp). A sporty 1.9 TDI PD model, named Polo GT, was launched in 2004, with 130 PS (96 kW; 128 hp).

In the 2005 Top Gear Survey the Polo was rated the 3rd least saisfying supermini to own, only the Rover 25 and Fiat Punto were even worse to own.

Volkswagen Racing part of VW Motorsport rallied a Polo S1600 in the 2003 JWRC winning the Turkish round, the Super 1600 developed 165 kW (224 PS; 221 hp) to its front wheels.

Read more about Volkswagen Polo Mk4:  Release in North America, Polo Vivo, Models and Specifications, Volkswagen Polo Sedan