CarSeekBlog

The parade of new small cars on the American market just gets longer by the day. Now we have news that Volkswagen will be bringing the Polo (a step under the Rabbit) to the U.S. and they’re making no bones about why. In an article for Automotive News VW’s development chief Ulrich Hackenberg said, “The small-car segment is the fastest growing segment in the U.S. Oil prices will rise again and that will drive small car sales up further.”

I don’t argue with his logic. I keep my eye on the filling station on the corner and it’s gone up about 20 cents in the last two weeks or so. Without doubt the Europeans are better at small, fuel efficient cars than we gas guzzling Americans, so it’s going to be like a breath of fresh air to see some nice, small alternatives out there. VW has set a goal of tripling its U.S. sales to 800,000 units a year within the next ten years and the Polo should be a big help in reaching that goal.

Look for this one to go head-to-head with competitors like the Honda Fit and even the impossibly cute and efficient Smart ForTwo. The Polo’s 2008 vitals includes:

- four-door hatchback
- room for four
- 2008 base model $24,150
- with air, remote lock and such $25,800
- 69-hp, 1.4-liter, three-cylinder turbo diesel
- electronic, high-pressure, direct fuel injection
- variable geometry turbocharger
- five-speed manual
- overall weight 2,389 pounds
- 0-62 in 12.8 seconds
- top speed 109 mph
- 12 gallon tank
- range of approximately 700 miles
- a claim of 61.8 mpg (reviewers got 45.72 over a range of conditions)

Not too shabby and definitely a breath of fresh air in our SUV-saturated driving culture.

Filed under: VW by Shorty