When the Polo 1.4 TDi was introduced it was all the rage. The motoring press lauded it and crowned it the 2003 South African Car of the Year. Personally I never quite took to it as much as my colleagues did. Don't get me wrong it is great car and it is deserving of the accolades bestowed upon it, but it just wasn't my cup of tea. Too much lag and not enough rpm, what can I say, I'm still a sucker for high revving petrol engines.

But, then Volkswagen did an interesting thing, they introduced a three-door Polo fitted with a 1.9 TDi mill. Now in most instances the sporty derivative of a range is petrol driven, but VW are pinning its hopes on a diesel mill. It also sports features that would normally only be found in luxury saloons like, for example, satellite navigation.

It, therefore, has no direct competition. You could perhaps compare it to Opel's Corsa 1.8 GSi. The GSi with its five-door configuration is bigger and more practical and cheaper too.

But hold on a minute, isn't GSi the label used to denote sportiness? Why then are we using words like practical and spacious, and why is it more than a second slower than a diesel powered hatch?

Maybe we should compare it to Ford's Fiesta 1.6 RSi, this one sports the hot hatch frame with just three doors and it's only half a second off the pace. It can't match the Polo for spec levels but then it's nearly R40 000 cheaper so you can't really compare them either.

Unlike the 1.4TDi lag is no hassle it all, yes it still runs out of revs at about 4500rpm but it'll leave its petrol competitors trailing in its wake. So, are revs really the be all and end all?

The 1896cc, 4-cylinder SOHC 16-valve produces 74kW at 4000rpm, hardly mind-blowing, but it's the gazillions of torque that make the difference, 240Nm at 2200rpm and a torque to weight figure of 201Nm per ton. Now that's a lot, in fact it's more than the Golf TDi can boast. And, it translates into a 0-100km/h figure of 9.7 seconds and a quarter mile time of 17.5 seconds. The 80-120 time is also impressive at 8.0 seconds; however at 120-160 it starts to slack off slightly.

One would normally not expect such a high level of specification in this segment. A front-loading 6-CD changer, remote central locking, front passenger and driver airbags as well as ABS brakes with Electronic Brake Force Distribution are all standard fitments. While satellite navigation, cruise control, metallic paint and the AutoMotion service and maintenance plan are options. Normal servicing is at 15 000km intervals, but due to the low quality of most local diesel an oil change is required every 7500km.

VW has certainly broken the mould by incorporating such high spec levels into such a small car, however the price reflects this. Is it still the people's car, or is VW moving into a more exclusive segment?

Fast Impressions
Make Volkswagen Polo1.9TDi 3-dr
Engine 4-cyl SOHC 16V
Capacity 1896cc
Power74kW @ 4000rpm
Torque201Nm per ton
Specific power39kW per litre
Power to weight62kW per ton
Torque to weight201Nm per ton
Transmission5-speed
Fuel capacity45 litres
Acceleration 0-100km/h(c)11.3 seconds
0-100km/h(g) 9.7 seconds
Quarter mile (exit speed)(g)17.5 seconds (130km/h)
80-120km/h 4th gear(g)8.0 seconds
120-160km/h 4th gear(g)13.4 seconds
Maximum speed185km/h
Fuel use overall7.2 litres per 100km
Price R153 750
CiA rating:8/10
c=Gauteng
g=Claimed