Since its 're-launch' early last year, Volkswagen's recycled previous-generation Polo has worked its way to the top of the the country's best sellers list by offering a good quality car for an affordable price.
Yet until now there have been some gaps in the range, most notably the lack of an automatic transmission and now VWSA has rectified this in the latest range expansion, which also adds a more efficient BlueLine model.
Surprisingly for this end of the market, the Polo Vivo has not been paired with an old-fashioned four- or five-speed autobox, instead it gets a six-speed Tiptronic.
It will only be available with the 1.4-litre 63kW/132Nm Trendline hatchback (R140 965) and sedan (R146 865) models, mirroring their specification in every other respect.
Volkswagen's 'Blue' craze is also being extended to the Polo Vivo range, albeit not to the same extent as it has been on its higher-end Polo, Golf and Touareg products.
In line with VW's decision not to offer a diesel engine in the Polo Vivo, the BlueLine is powered by the 55kW entry-level 1.4-litre petrol engine, mated to the familiar five-speed manual.
In addition to lowered suspension and low-rolling-resistance tyres, VW has also altered the engine characteristics, with the peak torque figure dropping from 132Nm at 3600rpm to 126Nm at 3200rpm.
All of this is said to reduce the combined fuel consumption figure from 6.2 litres per 100km to 5.4 l/100km, with CO2 emissions falling from 147g/km to just 128g/km. The BlueLine also boasts about its greenness (or blueness) to the outside world, distinguishing itself visually with a set of 15-inch 'Charade' alloy wheels, a rear spoiler and bespoke 'Active' seat trim.
Providing you can live with the slight performance deficit, the BlueLine seems like a decent deal - coming in just less than R4000 dearer than the 1.4 Trendline, at R119 900.
PRICES:
HATCH:
1.4 55kW 2-Door - R104 065
1.4 55Kw - R116 065
1.4 55kW Blueline - R119 900
1.4 63kW Trendline - R127 465
1.4 63kW Trendline Tiptronic - R140 965
1.6 77kW - R142 320
1.6 77kW Trendline - R150 320
SEDAN:
1.4 55kW - R121 965
1.4 63kW Trendline - R133 365
1.4 63kW Trendline Tiptronic - R146 865
1.6 77kW - R148 220
1.6 77kW Trendline - R156 220