Volkswagen Polo given the boot

INCREASING demand for small sedans has failed to convince Volkswagen Australia to import the new Polo sedan.

Volkswagen Australia sold a China-sourced Polo with a boot in Australia from 2004 to 2005, but dropped the model from the range and has is no plans to bring it back.

The light segment sedan is growing quickly, with the Honda City and Mazda2 sedan recently joining the Holden Barina and Toyota Yaris, and Ford considering a Fiesta sedan from Thailand later this year.

Even so, Volkswagen Australia has no interest in putting up its hand for the Polo sedan.

Volkswagen Australia spokesman Karl Gehling said: “We just don’t see enough demand for a sedan in that space.”The latest Polo sedan is produced only in left-hand drive in Russia, but production of a right-hand drive version of the Polo sedan will also soon begin in India where the car is called the Vento.

The Polo sedan is 50mm longer in the wheelbase than the recently launched hatch, but bears the same chiseled lines.

A 1.6-litre petrol four-cylinder engine with 77kW and 153Nm is available with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmissions, while a 1.6-litre turbo diesel with 77kW and 253Nm, linked to a five-speed manual, also is available.