@SR, I’d imagine you’re right, it’d certainly be a base model but that engine is woeful. I’ve driven a good few 1980’s Polos with less power that went like absolute rockets! Great cars.
The general interior felt typical VW familiarity but the door cards had no cloth trims at all, just plain hard plastic aside from a small elbow pad. My son’s Ibiza is better quality for less money (seat cloth being a possible exception), and the Fabia better still.
As a package that particular spec just doesn’t cut it with VW’s high pricing.
I’ve always been a big Polo GTI fan and I’d hope the interior was a fair bit nicer. The hard plastics don’t bother me but they can easily be spruced up with nice inserts.
I’ve owned a good few Polos over the years so am not being judgemental, in fact they’re quite close to my heart as my mother had a 1979 and then a 1982 Polo when I was child.
I’ve personally owned a 1986 1272 GL as a runabout (best built version), likewise a 1992 Polo GT as a runabout, both owned until they became old and problematic. Plus a Polo G40, a Polo Genesis I took in part exchange for another car I sold and a 2006/7 Polo GTI 1.8T (which I took to REVO for fettling)
@Hertsman, the 1 series knocks spots off any current VW interior. It’s in a different league.
Strangely enough though I immediately gelled with the simplicity of the mk8 Golf interior and, aside from cheap runabouts I had as second cars, I think it’s the longest I’ve owned a car now.
Back on topic, I tried the steering wheel heater this morning as it was only 9°c or so and I note the heating seems more evenly dispersed through the whole rim but a lower temperature on the low setting. Possibly another sign of ongoing product updates over a model life.