Ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo sedan or ground clearance , as for any other passenger car, is an important factor on our roads. It is the condition of the road surface or its complete absence that makes Russian motorists interested in the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan and the possibility of increasing ground clearance using spacers.
To begin with, it’s worth saying honestly that the real ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo sedan may differ significantly from that declared by the manufacturer. The whole secret is in the method of measuring and where to measure ground clearance. Therefore, you can find out the real state of affairs only by arming yourself with a tape measure or ruler. The official ground clearance of the current generation Volkswagen Polo sedan is 163 mm , although in previous versions before restyling the clearance was stated at 170 mm, but the actual ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo sedan is only about 120 mm. Why so little, we read about it below.
Some manufacturers use a trick and declare the amount of ground clearance in an “empty” car, but in real life we have a trunk full of all kinds of things, passengers and a driver. That is, in a loaded car the ground clearance will be completely different. Another factor that few people take into account is the age of the car and the wear and tear of the springs—their “sagging” due to age. The issue can be resolved by installing new springs or purchasing spacers for sagging springs of the Volkswagen Polo sedan . Spacers allow you to compensate for spring subsidence and add a couple of centimeters of ground clearance. Sometimes even an inch of curb parking makes a difference.
The peculiarity of the Polo sedan suspension is such that even installing spacers will not have a good effect in increasing ground clearance. This action simply does not make sense. The lowest points that separate the road from the car are the spring cups and rear suspension shock absorber mounts, which cannot be raised higher. Let's look carefully at the following photo and you will understand what the problem is with this machine.
Any car manufacturer, when designing the suspension and choosing the ground clearance, looks for a middle ground between handling and cross-country ability. Perhaps the simplest, safest and most unpretentious way to increase clearance is to install wheels with “high” tires. Changing wheels on a Polo sedan allows you to easily increase the ground clearance by another centimeter without complex schemes.
Author of the article: AutoKontact.ru
Today's article is dedicated to the German car Volkswagen Polo sedan, or rather its disadvantage. The Volkswagen Polo sedan is popular among Russian fans of the German brand, because the German has the status of a budget car.
The German company began producing the Polo sedan 9 years ago; the German car is distinguished by excellent sales. Production of the Volkswagen Polo in Russia is established at the Kaluga Automobile Plant; the Volkswagen Polo is not sold in European countries.
The main competitors of the Volkswagen Polo are considered to be representatives of the South Korean automobile industry - Kia Rio and Hyundai Solaris. Any car, regardless of brand and status, has shortcomings and the Volkswagen Polo is no exception.
Disadvantages of the Polo sedan are difficult to notice with the naked eye, especially when the German beauty is standing in a car showroom. The Volkswagen Polo sedan has features that should be paid more attention to in order to get to know the Volkswagen Polo better.
Historical background of the Polo sedan
The plans of the German automobile concern Volkswagen to conquer the automobile market with budget cars became, perhaps, the main reason for the emergence of the Volkswagen Polo. The management of the German company planned to make the Polo sedan more expensive than Russian cars and cheaper than foreign cars.
When designing the Volkswagen Polo, the platform of the Polo Hatchback, popular among European car enthusiasts, was used. The Germans decided that the optimal solution for Russia would be the production of the Volkswagen Polo as a sedan.
The import of cars into the territory of the Russian Federation is subject to a considerable tax. This could significantly affect the cost of the car, so in order to reduce the cost of this model, the Germans decided to produce the Polo sedan at the Kaluga Automobile Plant.
It is a known fact that the German company is distinguished by the production of high-quality cars. The Germans pursued the goal of producing a good budget car and, if possible, reducing the cost of production. For this reason, there was a total saving on materials and equipment.
Body flaws.
The supply of steel to Russia from which the Volkswagen Polo body is made in Germany is incredibly expensive, and this is unacceptable for a budget car. For this reason, metal produced at Russian metallurgical plants is used to produce the Volkswagen Polo body. All domestic cars are made from this metal.
Savings on materials for the manufacture of the body contributed to a decrease in the safety of the car. This is clearly noticeable when organizing crash tests. Therefore, talking about the famous German quality in this case is not appropriate.
Disadvantages of paintwork
Traditionally, the price of new cars in metallic Volkswagen dealerships increases. When buying a Polo sedan you will not have to pay extra, since the paint used is exclusively Russian-made. Cars made in Russia are painted with similar paint.
The use of cheaper paint and varnish materials is aimed at reducing vehicle production costs. Such savings usually cause the formation of chips and scratches, which can activate the corrosion process.
Let us recall the external dimensions of the Volkswagen Polo:
- length is 4 m 38 cm,
- width is 1 m 69 cm,
- height is 1 m 46 cm,
- the distance between the axes is 2 m 55 cm.
The ground clearance of the Polo sedan is 17 cm, which fully meets the requirements of the average sedan. The clearance of the Volkswagen Polo allows you to move comfortably only on smooth road surfaces; it is too low for off-road conditions.
Conclusion about Volkswagen Polo
The Volkswagen Polo, the disadvantages of which we discussed today, is a cheaper copy of the Polo hatchback. Although the Germans claim that these are two identical cars, differing from each other only in body type and nothing else.
Car enthusiasts who are attracted by the famous German quality will most likely not be able to see it in the Volkswagen Polo. It looks more like a car with German roots of the Volkswagen brand, allowing the owner to receive more comfort compared to Russian cars.
But according to statistics, the Polo sedan has enviable sales and is not deprived of attention from car enthusiasts. Having certain disadvantages, the Volkswagen Polo cannot be called the worst car; it is a little more expensive than domestic cars, but much more comfortable.
When choosing a car, many buyers pay attention not only to various technical characteristics, but also to such a parameter as ground clearance. This is an important detail that will make the car passable, or vice versa, will not allow you to drive through a small snow drift in the parking lot or when leaving the yard with a small clearance indicator. Fuel consumption, power and speed characteristics of the car, its appearance and interior equipment, comfort and chassis characteristics - all this is of course important, but ground clearance, in turn, also plays an equally important role in the equipment of the car.
In today’s article we will look at the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan, and also talk about how you can improve this parameter after purchasing the car.
Vadim Zenkevich, editor:
- Who is the last in the queue? How much do they pay for?! I'll go away for a minute...
If you look at the new Polo for a long time, you will see not only the Skoda Rapid in it. The front is almost a copy of the new Jetta, the rear is a reference to it or even to the Passat B8.
The trunk hits straight to the heart. A strong business executive immediately wakes up: this is not a Passat B3, but half a wild boar will fit here, perhaps it can even be “nailed” on top with a bag of potatoes. The former “semi-sedan” remains far behind.
The interior in the configuration that was on the test seems to be telling us: “Who are you calling a “state employee”?” Digital instrument cluster, a hefty touch screen, a soft (!) armrest... True, the seating position is almost like in the old Polo - there are no revelations here.
But there are revelations in driving: he is softer, he is more intelligent! Exactly what the predecessor lacked. However, the Polo remained prowling on the track, but it is not a sports car, but the cheapest new Volkswagen.
And here you have to come to terms: if you don’t want a dummy car, you have to pay. If the predecessor could be compared with one popular car of the Russian brand, then I don’t understand how to do this with the new generation of Polo, with all due respect and sympathy for the competitor. At least when it comes to the top-spec version with LED headlights, climate control and all these displays.
In general, the new Polo tried its best to get rid of the worn-out image of a “semi-sedan”, but whether this is good or bad from the point of view of the Belarusian buyer, we will find out only at the beginning of next year in the BAA report.
Appearance
The appearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is very dynamic, fresh, cheerful and sportily formidable. It looks confident on the road, despite the fact that it belongs to the small car class, which is hard to believe. The design seems simple, but it is full of complex elements that make the car look more expensive: stampings at the bottom of the sidewall, a complex contour of the trunk lid, a sharp fracture on the waist line of the side of the body, headlights of a not very simple shape and an additional window behind the rear door. In the same Renault Logan, for example, of the similar design elements there is only a spoiler on the edge of the trunk.
In contrast to the boring profile of the European five-door, the profile of the Russian Volkswagen Polo Sedan looks more stylish. Perhaps only the three-door Polo hatchback, which is more sporty, looks more beautiful. But at present, such a modification is unfortunately not available on our market.
The headlights of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan have a black frame, which definitely gives it a predatory look. And for an additional fee, chrome inserts can appear on the front bumper air intake and radiator trim, which will significantly decorate the car.
Body: dimensions, ground clearance, design and disadvantages
Faceted headlights, a narrow slot in the false radiator grille, a front bumper with a pronounced lower edge - a spoiler, a “smile” of the lower air intake with round fog lamps at the edges. The hood with two characteristic ribs on the sides forms a broken transition to neat wings.
Continuation of the review: Disadvantages of assembling the interior of a Volkswagen Polo sedan More about the operation of budget cars 2012: Budget crossover Renault Duster: real technical characteristics, disadvantages of the interior and body
Profile of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan - with a compact hood, a high roof sloping towards the stern and a lean trunk. Harmoniously enlarged wheel arches stylishly complement the stampings of the upper and lower parts of the sidewalls. The rear of the car has a large trunk lid, a simple bumper and side lamps located at the edges.
In the production of the Polo sedan, double-sided galvanized metal and high-quality anti-corrosion treatment are used, which allows the manufacturer to provide a 12-year warranty on the body. The German-style paintwork is durable and of high quality; according to the owner, after two Russian winters the cars look exemplary (no chips, abrasions, or small scratches).
There are no ideal cars, and the body of the budget new product from Volkswagen has its own design flaws . The most obvious problems of the Polo sedan:
- - low-mounted rear spring mounts,
- — protruding handbrake cables (wrongly routed under the bottom),
- — lack of factory metal motor protection from below,
- — small external side mirrors with low information content,
- — poor design of wiper arms.
the real ground clearance on a Volkswagen Polo sedan is 12 cm.
Otherwise, owners do not have any problems with the body, unless, of course, you take into account such a drawback as very expensive body parts that require replacement in the event of an accident. Let us remind our readers of the overall dimensions of the Volkswagen Polo sedan: 4384 mm - length, 1699 mm - width, 1465 mm - height, 2552 mm - base. 170mm - ground clearance ( clearance ); when fully loaded, the distance between the body and the road surface is reduced to a meager 120-130 mm.
Wheel and tire sizes : the manufacturer provides for the installation of tires 175/70 R14, 185/60 R15 or 195/55 R15 on iron wheels R14 - R15 and light alloy wheels R15. From the reviews of the owners, we were able to find out that the Polo sedan can install wheels with larger tires: 215/50R15, 215/45R16, 215/45R17. The car is offered in seven color : Candy (white), Urano (gray), Night Blue (metallic blue), Reflex (metallic silver), Silver Leaf (metallic), Wild Cherry (metallic red) and Deep (black pearl). Below are approximate prices for original spare parts and components: hood - 11,500 rubles, front or rear bumper (bare) - 8,000 rubles, front fender - 4,500 rubles, front headlight unit - 2,700 rubles, rear light - 2,800 rubles.
This is interesting: What types of gearboxes are there?
Ways to increase car clearance
There are plenty of ways to increase the indicator.
The most basic, but not too cheap option is to purchase new wheels and larger tires. The basic equipment of the sedan includes 14-inch steel wheels. Expensive Highline and Comfortline are equipped with 15-inch wheels. The difference is not very big, but for those who decide to change the image of their car by installing alloy wheels instead of standard ones, this is a suitable option.
When purchasing large rims from other manufacturers, you should first use tire calculators to calculate the required size and read the recommendations of other sedan owners. It is also necessary to remember that the disc must have the appropriate hub bore diameter, the same number of fastening connections and a suitable offset.
Possible “side effects” when choosing larger rims: the speedometer will reflect incorrect speed information, the tires may touch the wheel arches when turning, and gasoline consumption will increase.
Another way is to install special spacers. Elements are made of polyurethane, rubber, aluminum, plastic. The spacers go well with the modern MacPherson-type front suspension system, which prevails in most car models (including the Polo sedan). Easily mounted in torsion or axial beams. The location of the spacers is the recess between the spring and the body cup.
Not only spacers are made from polyurethane, but also gaskets, anti-friction pads and membranes. The main advantages of the material are high wear resistance, elasticity and heat resistance. The disadvantage is the appearance of sediment, which can deform the car body.
Rubber spacers resemble polyurethane ones, but they withstand impacts weaker and deform faster. Their service life is the shortest, however, so are the prices of the goods.
Aluminum spacers are the most durable. They withstand increased loads well and cope well with various weather factors due to their stable corrosion resistance. However, the cost of such components is much higher than other types of spacers.
The most balanced option is plastic spacers. Strength, resistance to oxidative processes and corrosion and, most importantly, moderate cost are the main “trump cards” of plastic components.
The advantage of installing spacers on the Polo sedan is the simple installation procedure, which will raise the car a couple of centimeters higher. In addition, even under heavy load, the rear arches will not slide over the wheels.
The main problem is increasing the free play of the shock absorber. If the car crashes into a deep pothole, the shock absorber may “burst” or move away from the cup. Therefore, the kit often includes special extension cords, or “houses,” that cover the elements of the device.
The same “houses” will also be useful for those who decide to use new springs with an increased number of turns. This option for increasing ground clearance is better and more reliable than using conventional spacers. In addition, fresh shock absorbers are not cheap.
Using spacers
Another method is to use spacers. The most popular materials from which these suspension elements are made are:
- metal;
- rubber;
- polyurethane;
- plastic.
The spacer installation location is the recess between the body cup and the spring. This method allows you to raise the car by 25-40 mm. A further increase in ground clearance is not rational, as it significantly affects the car’s handling.
According to reviews from car owners, the use of spacers to change ground clearance has a significant disadvantage compared to the use of wheels of increased diameter. This is due to the design feature of the rear suspension.
Its lowest point is the spring cups and shock absorber mounts. Installing spacers does not affect the distance from them to the ground. Therefore, after increasing the ground clearance using this method, the risk of damage when overcoming road obstacles remains quite high.
Despite the above disadvantage, many car owners increase ground clearance in this way. The appearance of the shock absorber strut with spacers is shown in the image below.
At the same time, the risk of the wheel catching on the arch is significantly reduced, even when the car is fully loaded. For this reason, many car owners combine the use of large-diameter rims with the installation of spacers.
What is the real ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan
The ground clearance, or ground clearance, of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is hopelessly small, amounting to only 170 millimeters. Moreover, the car owner receives these figures upon purchasing the car, but when he is going to drive with cargo or passengers to the country or out of town, the ground clearance under weight decreases by 40-50 millimeters, leaving some measly 120 millimeters, which is not enough even to drive the bumpy Russian road, of which our country is full. When making such changes to a car's suspension, do not forget about additional protection for the power unit, and it is better if it is metal rather than plastic. But however, the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan can be increased even after purchasing the car itself, and this is what we will talk about next.
How to increase the ground clearance of a Volkswagen Polo Sedan
You can increase the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan, first of all, by using additional spacers on the strut cups. These spacers are made of polyurethane (a special rubber alloy) and are shaped like engine mounts. You can purchase such a device at specialized retail outlets and service centers. Additional spacers will correct and increase the ground clearance of a loaded vehicle, and then it will become easier to travel outdoors with it. It is recommended to install them at a car service center. By the way, in a specialized car service center you may also be offered ordinary metal spacers, but it’s up to you to decide which of those offered to choose.
Replacing factory springs with sports-type springs with an additional coil will increase the vehicle's ground clearance by another 3-4 centimeters, but only for a while, because over time the springs will sag and will have to be replaced.
Additionally, sports racks can be installed. Due to the extended rod, they will increase the ground clearance of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan by a few more centimeters. But such changes should be approached thoughtfully, because having carried out such tuning, you simply cannot help but notice how the car’s center of gravity will change, which, in turn, will affect the poor performance of the suspension as a whole. In this case, the car will lose proper controllability when cornering at high speed.
Any modifications related to the operation of the suspension and changes in its characteristics should be carried out only after consultation with a specialist from a service station, and in general, such work should be carried out by highly qualified specialists from service centers.
Using stock springs to increase ground clearance
To increase ground clearance, several types of stock springs are used:
- with an increased number of turns;
- increased rigidity;
- increased length.
A cheaper way is to use interturn spacers, which increase the rigidity of the suspension. The disadvantage of this method is an insignificant increase in ground clearance, which can only be observed when the vehicle is significantly loaded.
Changing the length of the springs leads to a shift in the working area of the shock absorber. This can cause shock loads and rapid failure. Therefore, it is recommended to use stock shock absorbers along with springs.
Salon
The plastic of the “torpedo” of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is quite rigid due to the budget of the car, but not cheap. By the way, Europeans, starting with the Golf class, have elastic torpedo plastic. The instrument cluster is designed much simpler than that of the classic Polo hatchback. Otherwise, everything is the same as in a regular Volkswagen, without any budget discounts.
The instruments of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan differ from the instruments of the hatchback only in the backlight. The readings on the trip computer display change in the usual way, using a convenient lever at the end of the right steering column switch.
The presence of an electric booster in the basic configuration of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is a good thing, but the engineers overdid it with its power - the steering wheel turned out to be a little empty. The nice thing is that the steering column can be adjusted both in terms of tilt and reach.
Safety and comfort systems
The new Volkswagen Polo will be able to surprise the buyer with a set of safety and comfort systems, both in the top and basic configuration. Starting from the basic version, the car received a multimedia system, modern security systems and much more. The list includes:
- front and side airbags;
- curtain airbags;
- multimedia system;
- digital instrument panel;
- disc brakes;
- immobilizer;
- ISOFIX mount;
- ABS+ESC;
- tire pressure monitoring;
- ERA-GLONASS system;
- electromechanical power steering;
- central locking with remote control;
- heated steering wheel;
- air conditioning or climate control;
- heated front and rear seats;
- parking sensors (front and rear);
- light and rain sensors;
- LED optics with cornering lights;
- light switch-off delay system;
- USB ports for recharging;
- Bluetooth;
- heated windshield washer nozzles.
It is clear that the new Volkswagen Polo will delight the buyer with modern safety and comfort systems. It is likely that as new technologies become available, old ones will be transferred to basic modifications. Approximately the same list of systems can be found in the Skoda Rapid, and this is another sign that these models have a lot in common.
Visibility
The interior rear view mirror of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is not enough - the rear window is completely visible through it. Although there is no need for more.
The driver's seat of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is equipped with height adjustment, but it is better not to raise the seat. The Polo's forward visibility is not the best. When making a right turn, the interior rearview mirror blocks almost the entire view of the maneuver arc, so you have to lean closer to the steering wheel.
NEW ON THE SITE
The ground clearance of the second generation Volkswagen Polo has increased to mm. Third generation In the summer of the year, production of the third generation Volkswagen Polo began.
The body, chassis and power units were completely new. The contours took on a streamlined shape, the angularity of the previous outlines completely disappeared, the design radically changed and the aerodynamic characteristics significantly improved. 3- and 5-door hatchbacks were launched into production; the Derby model had already been discontinued by that time. The engine line consisted of units with a power of 50, 55 and 75 hp. I wonder how quickly the armrest will come loose?
The seats of the sedan and hatchback are similar - the spine begins to beg for mercy after just an hour of travel, and only the Polo GTI Polo GTI has more or less prominent lateral support for the seats. The small glove box of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan Volkswagen Polo Sedan has slots for coins, a pocket for glasses, and a stamping for the front passenger airbag disabling mechanism.
However, its use in our configuration is impossible, since it is simply muffled, it is not there.
spacers for polo sedan for springs
It sounds impressive, of course, but it deprives the car of functions such as electrically adjustable mirrors, heated seats and ABS. In addition, the Trendline Trendline sedan cannot have air conditioning even as an option.
But after last summer, this option has become almost mandatory in every car. The back seat of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan Volkswagen Polo Sedan is spacious enough for two passengers to feel comfortable.
Fabric seat upholstery, gray fabric inserts on the door trims and rubber floor mats are all very simple and functional. As already mentioned, the front seats of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan Volkswagen Polo Sedan are simple, but thanks to the elongated cushion and widely spaced lateral support bolsters, they are quite comfortable on short trips.
Additional amenities also include pockets in the doors and a cup holder on the central tunnel, but there are no pockets in the backs of the front seats. A full-size spare tire is located under the floor. In all configurations, except the minimum one, the back of the sofa is divided and can be folded in proportions. Although no more is needed.
Suspension
The Volkswagen Polo Sedan is equipped with a torsion beam from the fourth generation Volkswagen Golf, instead of the dependent rear suspension that is equipped with Polo hatchbacks. Thanks to this torsion beam, the rear track has increased from 1456 to 1498 mm. But the main thing is that the “Russian” Volkswagen Polo received “Russian” settings for the damping elements. Such modernization would not interfere with the majority of inexpensive cars imported to Russia from the West, as well as from Korea and Japan.
Motor and transmission
Setting up the automatic transmission of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan also gives the impression of dampness. The smoothness of upshifts is combined with cheap jerks during more active acceleration.
Turning on the air conditioner has virtually no effect on acceleration. The Volkswagen Polo Sedan does not become any slower, and starts off equally easily with the air conditioning on and off.
There are also no problems with the brakes of the Volkswagen Polo Sedan. They are very grippy, and the force is easily measured. In terms of ease of deceleration, the Volkswagen Polo Sedan is, in a sense, even better than the “sixth” Golf. The sedan's drive is just as informative, but without excessive sensitivity, which is more convenient within the city. Even if there are no problems with the brakes, the grip limit is still dictated by the domestic Kama Euro tires, which the car is fitted with at a plant near Kaluga. Even during normal decelerations they squeak, and even on hot asphalt.
Technical equipment
Volkswagen Polo technical characteristics should satisfy the needs of a car enthusiast who has decided to purchase a budget car. The Volkswagen Polo is based on a front-wheel drive platform borrowed from the Polo 5 hatchback.
Under the hood of the Volkswagen Polo there is a 1.6-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 105 horses, working in conjunction with a 5-speed manual transmission. The Volkswagen Polo can cover the first hundred in 10.5 seconds at a top speed of 120 km/h. Gasoline fuel consumption is limited to 5 liters per 100 km traveled.
Conclusion
As a result, at the widely advertised price of 399,000 rubles, it is possible to buy only the Volkswagen Polo Sedan in the Trendline configuration with a manual transmission, without ABS, air conditioning and radio. Among the advantages of the basic configuration, we have such “show-offs” as a driver’s seat lift, electric windows, an immobilizer, central locking and two body colors, as well as adjustable steering column in two planes. The Comfortline package includes an ABS system, 15-inch stamped wheels, a double backrest for the rear sofa, metallic body paint, and electrically heated front seats. The total price for everything is 468,000 rubles, and with an automatic transmission - 512,000 rubles. The Highline package starts at 534,000 rubles. It includes 15-inch alloy wheels, an MP3 radio, fog lights, chrome elements and air conditioning - this is a completely different car, but, you see, the price is completely different - it doesn’t bite, but it matches.
