Cheers Citi and viva Volkswagen Vivo

The new Vivo retains the Polo's rather bland looks but it's a big improvement on the cheap and cheerful Citi.

Like the Citi, the Vivo is a “Proudly South African” product, designed, built and sold exclusively in this country.

Volkswagen doesn't really want us to refer to the Vivo as the replacement for the Citi, but it is, actually. Like the Citi the Vivo is now the entry-level model into the Volkswagen family.

And yes, of course there is a price difference, with the cheapest Polo Vivo priced at R101 500.

Bags of choice

Initially there are nine variations from which to choose - five hatchbacks and four sedans with the option of a 1.4-litre 55 kW/132 Nm engine or two 1,6-litre engines, a 63 kW/132 Nm and a 77 kW/155Nm.

At this stage, there are no plans for a diesel but an automatic or two could join the fleet in the not-too-distant future.

Prices for the hatches and sedans range from R101 500 to R150 800.

The surgeon's scalpel and the make-up artist did some snazzy work.

The Citi Golf was never the safest, most comfortable car to drive. The gearbox was patchy, the steering vague and the old technology engine had to be whipped hard to make it move with real enthusiasm.

The last model I drove still didn't have power steering and its brakes were awful - and this was one of the last run-outs of the special edition.

Something for just about everyone

However, it was always great fun to drive, and in spite of its shortcomings, many thousands of South Africans adored the zippy Citi and it became the darling of students, first-time new car buyers, caps-on-backwards street racers, boom-boom music system installers and grey-haired oldies alike.

Keep the revs up and you should enjoy the ride.

Thousands of Citi Golfs lived long enough to have three or four different owners and there are still zillions of them around, some in superb condition, others modified and souped-up, many of them old and rusty but still fairly trusty.

Besides its dated technology and boxy looks the Citi has in recent years also come up against a gang of feisty newcomers, competitively priced and well specced. Clearly, the time had come for an upgrade or complete change.

Fortunately, the white coats at VWSA had a solution close to hand in the shape of the Polo which, with 20 models to choose from, had also become another firm local favourite.

A tweaked Polo, with extras

What's more, the new Polo was scheduled to be launched locally - as it was, about a month ago.

The add-ons can come to quite a bit on top of the basic price, so do your sums before signing on the dotted line.

So, out came the surgeon's scalpel and the make-up artist and last year's Polo was cutely converted into this year's Vivo - the car VWSA unveiled to the Motoring Media in Port Elizabeth recently.

Easily recognised as a tweaked Polo, the Vivo has been prettied up with a revised front and back new-style Volkswagen and it comes with a range of fancy kit which varies from model to model.

The Polo never really sent blood pressure levels soaring and the new Vivo retains its rather bland looks although it is a huge improvement and clearly classier than the cheap and cheerful Citi.

I drove the 1,6-litre sedan and the 1,4-litre hatch and my clear first choice would be the hatch. It's prettier, feels steadier, lighter and quicker than the sedan.

Enough room for about a quarter of the Boks

The five-speed manual works well in both models and the engines are peppy enough as long as you keep the revs up quite high.

The driver's position is well appointed and everything you need is well within reach.

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The ride is typical good quality Volkswagen and the cabin is well insulated. Although not cavernous, there is enough leg, bum and shoulder space for four rugby forwards.

As with the Polo before it became the Vivo, the younger set will probably opt for the cuter hatch and leave the sedan to young families and last-time new car buyers.

With Polo Vivo, like all multi-model new vehicle ranges today, one has to compare bang for bucks carefully. For example, basic items such as aircon and sound system are optional extras on all models and this adds quite a bit of pain to the purchase price.

Do your sums first

Other expensive add-ons are a five-year/60 000km maintenance plan and a five-year/60 000km service plan.

If you are considering a new Polo Vivo, best you compare the detailed specifications list at the end of this article and quiz the VW dealer about costs for purchase and installation.

It's German-engineered, but apart from that, all ours.

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The Polo Vivo is also heading for a family feud because the recently launched new Polo is a seriously classy act and its entry-level prices compete with the top end of the Polo Vivo range.

The new Polo has become an overnight success story and in February this year 15% of the 26 009 passenger cars sold were new Polos. VWSA also exported 3404 of these right-hand drive models.

Sales of the new Polo Vivo might take a while to kick in and with so much strong competition around I am not sure that it is going to have the same vast and instant appeal as the Citi, but there is a special magic about a VW badge on the bonnet, so who knows.

German engineering, ja! But local is lekker

It's worth remembering, particularly as we live in an age of built-in obsolescence, that the Volkswagen brand was built on quality and affordability and the Polo Vivo has tons of that.

To paraphrase a song title, she looks good... the lady in red.

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The suits at VW say the Polo Vivo was created to provide “affordable and accessible mobility” to the local market. They see it as another strong trendsetter and brand builder.

The Polo Vivo is German engineered and other than its transmission set-up, everything else is manufactured in South Africa and put together at the VW plant at Uitenhage.

So, a local yokel with a name that sounds remarkably like the South African Viva!, Viva!, Viva war cry, the Polo Vivo has enough appeal and good qualities to take on the entry-level kindergarten in this country and thrash them just like the Citi pummelled the Corsa, Tazz and others.

Vivo Hatch and Sedan specifications