How many generations of Polo models are there?
3 Answers
There are 6 generations of Polo models. The Polo is a compact car launched by SAIC Volkswagen, which has evolved through six generations since its entry into the Chinese automotive market. Initially, this car also introduced a sedan version, while the hatchback version is more commonly seen in the market. In terms of body dimensions, the Volkswagen Polo measures 4053mm in length, 1740mm in width, and 1449mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2564mm. The front face of the car features a flat design, with the flat-style grille adorned with chrome trim. The headlights adopt an upward-slanting design, offering high visibility when illuminated.
As a veteran car enthusiast, I've owned three generations of Polo. The first generation, launched in 1975, featured a boxy design and was called Derby at the time; the second generation became more rounded in 1981, with a facelift in 1990 named Classic; the third generation in 1994 introduced the iconic dual round headlight design; the fourth generation started domestic production in 2002, changing the round lights to a teardrop shape; the fifth generation in 2009 adopted the family face; the sixth generation in 2017 switched to the MQB platform, and was named Polo Plus in China in 2019. The seventh generation overseas version was just released last year, featuring connected headlights, and it's expected to arrive in China in a couple of years. With each generation, the chassis becomes more solid and the space gets a bit larger.
I've seen various generations of Polo chassis at repair shops. The first generation in 1975 was based on the Audi 50 and looked like a small box; the second generation in 1980 had chassis code 86C; the third generation in 1994 was the most classic and even had a sedan version; the fourth generation in 2002 was domestically produced with softened suspension; the fifth generation in 2009 changed the rear suspension to a torsion beam; the sixth generation in 2017 used the MQB platform with more links. The current seventh generation has good body rigidity, but the wheel arches are prone to rust, an issue none of the generations have fully resolved. Repair parts for older models are cheap, while newer ones require replacing entire control modules.
