Volkswagen CrossPolo to be revealed at Geneva Motor Show

By Matt Brogan | February 22nd, 2010

Volkswagen will expand its popular Polo range with the addition of an off-road variant to be named CrossPolo.

Set to be revealed at next week’s Geneva Motor Show, the Volkswagen CrossPolo is more about looking rugged than acting rugged, and will closely rival such contenders as the Suzuki SX4 Hatch.

Exterior stylistic changes including plastic trim with fake silver skid plates, anodised silver roof rails, wheel arch extensions, door decals and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Inside the CrossPolo receives two-tone fabric (available in four shades ranging from beige to orange), embroidered seat backs, and, on high spec models, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, aluminium trim, power windows, remote central locking, and power mirrors.

To be offered with a choice of six powertrains and two transmissions, the Volkswagen CrossPolo is scheduled to go on sale in Europe this May, followed by Japan and selected other countries later in the year. It is not yet clear if Australia is on the list. CarAdvice will keep you posted.

D

It’s another pointless niche vehicle

Reckless1

No it isn’t.

It’s a variant that many people will like, and encourage them to buy.

Stick to your boring Echo/Yaris

Classic

I’m not going to knock them for offering up a new car, but I guess my only question is….why?

Baddass

I don’t know if anyone else feels the same, but I think the ‘off road’ kit looks really cool on this Polo. I don’t know if I’d buy one, but the idea of a small pretend off roader has appealed to me ever since I first saw the Fiat Panda 4×4.

RdS

awww.. its so goofy. faux-outback. :p
looks a tad confused with the extra plastic cladding combined with oversized wheels though!
Observer

Great, another “SUV” or “offroader” with no ground clearance and with potentially less ability than a HJ with wintertreads…. *yawn*
Jimmy

I don’t mind it. Nice design, bit of character, won’t expect much in the way of off-road capabilities though.

A bit off topic, but does anyone else think the new Polo design is more impressive than the new Golf design? I’m just talking about the exterior. I feel a bit short-changed with the blandness of the new Golf, I mean it’s a great car, but the Polo makes me happy every time I look at it. It’s really well proportioned.

The Oracle’s Teacher

I think the new Golf is very stylish. Understated but classy looking. Especially in white.
Golfschwein

Viewed as a trim or option pack, this is completely harmless, innit Jimmy? Yes, the Polo has a crispness absent in the Golf, but I’d still put my money on its big brother.

Jig

Kind of looks within the same category as the Volvo C30.
Tim

Since when is choice a bad thing?
mmmmm

wouldn’t an AWD golf make more sense than this?
pointless!

jake02

There are AWD Golfs now? Wow!
Simon

AWD golf already exists, its called the R32 and will get a major update very shortly.

mmmmm

how about an affordable golf AWD
they might sell more than the handful of Rs
the polo is too small

Reckless1

The AWD Golf R32 is readily affordable to those of us who aren’t poverty stricken, haha.

Simon

But don’t you drive a GTI?

Bob

The 4motion system is available as an option in Europe at every trim level (well almost)! and yes, it would be a great option to have available here. A Turbo diesel 4motion Golf in comfortline trim would be an awesome car.

Tom R

I think its absolutely ridiculous. If they’d bothered to raise it at all, brilliant car, but it looks even lower than the base model as far as im concerned, idiotic. At least other manufacturers had the foresight to give a certain measure of offroading ability to its faux-offroaders. If it were raised, i’d love one for a bit of dirt road driving, all I want is a raised small car, but im not happy with the dull SX4 or the overweight Dualis.

Reckless1

Last time I looked, people who think their cars are too high ex factory lower them, whereas people who think they are too low raise them.

I know I raised my Jackaroo a couple of inches to turn it from quite bad at clearing rocks to extremely good off road.

Get the Polo and stick a lift into it if you like everything else.

wes

Jimmy, definately agree with you, the new Polo looks Horn, much better than the safe update of the Golf, if only Volkswagen would combine the looks of the Polo with the rest of the car as a Golf! Now that would be Awesome!
Valet Dabess

will it be awd?
Shak

This is definetly one of the better looking models in the VW range, but can i ask why? Why would you want an offroader smaller than a Golf. And btw is it still FWD?
Hung Low

Does it come with a matching handbag?

Golfschwein

Yes, resplendant with Datsun 1200 Ute motifs!

Hung Low

Still better than a SV21 Camry!

VW could sell you the Harbour bridge!!

Golfschwein

Was it an SV21? See, I’ve no idea. It was a company car. You’re the one with a handle on ordinary machinery, so I’ll take your word on it.

Hung Low

You have no idea on cars or any mechanical inclination Pronto! Typical Camry owner demographic!……see the Camry was a natural choice for you after all!