A more expensive polo shirt could be successful if it offers premium and best-in-class features
Overall, the Volkswagen Polo is in its sixth generation which was unveiled in 2017. In comparison, India has the fifth generation of Polo, which was released in 2010. The fifth generation Polo is expected continues to persist for a few years. Volkswagen has yet to decide on Polo’s future in the Indian market, but it is expected that a next-gen variant could make its way here by 2023.
New generation polo shirt could use MQB-A0-IN platform
The sixth-generation Volkswagen Polo uses the MQB-A0 platform, which is the smallest modular platform currently used by the company. This platform has already been localized and is called MQB-A0-IN. This India-specific platform will be used for future SUVs such as Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq. They will face South Korean bestsellers Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos.
Although the MQB-A0-IN platform used on Taigun and Kushaq measures over 4 meters, it can be shortened to less than four meters to accommodate a new generation Polo with Indian specifications.
It should be noted that the sixth generation Polo available in international markets is longer than four meters. Volkswagen’s only concern is that the next-gen Polo in India might get a bit more expensive compared to the outgoing model.
But with the brand following Polo, it will be surprising if Volkswagen doesn’t launch a localized version of the next generation of Polo in India. The premium sedan segment records sales of 40,000 units each month.
Polo vs rivals – Price comparison
Polo has a niche fan following and it lacks the volumes of rivals like Maruti Suzuki Baleno and Hyundai i20. Since February 2021, Polo has also lagged behind Tata Altroz and Toyota Glanza in terms of sales. It is difficult to determine what kind of impact a price increase will have on sales of new generation polo shirts.
To obtain a positive response, Volkswagen will need to equip the new generation Polo with a range of premium features, the best in its class and / or the first in the segment. In this space, the Hyundai i20 is currently one of the best-equipped cars in terms of the range of features.
The price of the current model of Polo is between Rs 6.01 and Rs 9.92 lakh. In comparison, rivals Baleno and Altroz have a lower starting price of Rs 5.88 lakh and Rs 5.69 lakh respectively. The one with the highest starting price is Honda Jazz at Rs 7.55 lakh. The most expensive high-end variant is the Hyundai i20, priced at Rs 11.18 lakh.
Car prices have been steadily increasing, so these sedans are likely to become more expensive in the future. For a new generation Polo with updated features, a price range of Rs 8 lakh to Rs 12 lakh might be a decent estimate.
Polo’s current model comes with two gasoline engine options, a 1.0-liter MPI and a 1.0-liter turbo unit. Power and torque output are 76ps / 95Nm and 110ps / 175Nm respectively. Transmission options include a 5-speed manual for the MPI engine and a 6-speed manual / automatic for the turbo engine.