The Volkswagen Polo celebrates its fiftieth birthday

In 1973, Volkswagen launched the Passat, the popular sedan that is still on sale today. A year later, in 1974, it was the Golf's turn, a car that needs no explanation. And the third model in the mix was the Polo, which debuted in 1975. Now, five decades later and with more than 18 million units sold worldwide, the German brand's small utility vehicle celebrates its fiftieth anniversary.

Volkswagen's initial idea with the Polo was to adapt a small car like the Audi 50 to make it more accessible to the general public, with efficient engines and an affordable price. Until then, the German brand had not had such a short and refined model in its range, but the new utility vehicle perfectly completed the new family of front-wheel-drive vehicles.

First generation (1975-1981)

The Polo debuted as a budget hatchback with a simple, practical design that bore many similarities to the Audi 50. It offered low-displacement, low-power engines (around 40 hp), but more than sufficient considering its size of just 3.51 meters and its weight of less than 70. This first model was a huge success, selling 1.1 million units worldwide.

Second Generation (1981–1994)

Just six years after the arrival of the first generation, Volkswagen introduced the second, which remained on sale for 13 years. With a more modern design and an engine range that even reached 115 hp in the sporty G40 version, its success was even greater than that of the first version, selling 2.7 million units. However, this positive reception was partly due to the fact that it was offered in three- and five-door, station wagon, and sedan versions.

Third Generation (1994-2001)

The third Volkswagen Polo completely broke away from the previous model, offering a much more modern design and highly advanced safety equipment, including airbags for the first time in its segment. This generation also saw the introduction of the first GTI version of the Polo, a variant that came onto the market in 1998 and was equipped with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine and 120 hp. 3.5 million units were sold.

Fourth Generation (2001-2009)

The first model of the new millennium opted to grow significantly in length, increasing from 3.71 meters to 3.89 meters. This approach to four meters positioned it as one of the most spacious utility vehicles on the market, complemented by a more sophisticated interior and a range of engines that even included a GTI version with 150 hp as standard and 180 hp in the Cup Edition. It also debuted an off-road-style version called the CrossPolo. It sold 4.1 million units worldwide.

Fifth Generation (2009-2017)

The fifth generation of the Volkswagen Polo was the first to be perceived, both in terms of design and handling, as what could be considered a small-scale Golf. Its length was 3.97 meters and its trunk capacity was 280 liters, making it an ideal car for getting around town but also very suitable for traveling without problems. For driving fun, there were the GTI version with 192 hp and the exclusive R WRC variant with 220 hp. To save fuel, it debuted the three-cylinder Bluemotion TDI engine, which was approved for a fuel consumption of 3.3 liters per 100 kilometers. 6.3 million units were sold.

Sixth Generation (2017–Present)

The current model, introduced in 2017 and updated in 2021, has passed through our hands and it has shown us that it is a well-rounded product. It is a car that is more technologically advanced, safer, better equipped, and more mature than ever, with an extensive list of driving assistants, gasoline and diesel engines, and a GTI version that still survives the demanding anti-pollution regulations.

After 50 years, we can say that the Volkswagen Polo is fitter than ever, although it remains to be seen whether the SUV craze and electrification will allow it to continue celebrating the passing of the years or whether, on the contrary, it should bid farewell to the market, as what has been one of its main rivals for decades has recently done. In any case, for many years to come, Polo!