Reentering Mzansi’s light duty vehicle segment, Volkswagen South Africa has introduced the Polo Vivo Xpress to our shores. Here’s all you need to know about the compact panel van…
Based on Volkswagen South Africa’s locally built budget-oriented compact hatchback, the Polo Vivo Xpress signifies the automaker’s reentry into the local light duty vehicle segment. Billed as a “smart, secure and purpose-built solution for modern delivery needs”, the Polo Vivo Xpress is aimed squarely at capturing the “growing” urban delivery market.
The Vivo Xpress is fuel-efficient, practical, and ideal for quick response operations, making it popular among security, fleet and delivery services.
The first Polo Vivo Xpress since the first-generation Polo Vivo was offered in this guise in 2016, the new model offers a loading capacity of 490 kg.
How much does the Volkswagen Polo Vivo Xpress cost in South Africa?
Priced from R279 990, the Polo Vivo Xpress takes on the likes of Hyundai’s Grand i10 Cargo and the Kia Picanto panel van — the former and latter priced from R249 500 and R249 995, respectively. Compared to the passenger-oriented model — the Life — with which it shares a powertrain, the Polo Vivo Xpress is R14 130 more affordable. The purchase price includes a three-year/120 000 km warranty, while a service or maintenance plan is available as an optional extra.
The Polo Vivo Xpress draws its power from a naturally aspirated 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, which produces 63 kW and 132 N.m of torque. Peak power arrives at 5 000 r/min, while the maximum twisting force is on tap from 3 750 r/min. Drive is exclusively sent to the front wheels via a five-speed manual gearbox.
Volkswagen claims an average fuel consumption of 5.9 L/100 km. Matching the latter figure allows for a driving range of just over 760 km, before the 45-litre fuel tank needs to be replenished. With a claimed kerb weight of 1 097 kg, the Xpress completes the 0–100 km/h sprint in a claimed 12.2 seconds.