2022 Volkswagen Polo Facelift Has A Unique Safety Feature

• Facelifted VW Polo gets a centre airbag for improved safety. 
• It also gets adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. 
• Other features include Matrix LED headlamps, connected car tech, and a larger 9.2-inch infotainment system. 
• The sixth-gen Polo is being considered for an India launch. 
• Likely to be priced between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom).

The VW Polo sold in Europe has just received a facelift, and as part of its midlife update, the hatch has got a subtle cosmetic upgrade and all-new driver-assistance features. But there’s something else that got our attention. Guess which one could that be?

It’s a centre airbag (present on the driver’s side), which opens up towards the centre during a collision, protecting the driver and the front-seat occupant. Additionally, the Polo also comes with dual-front airbags and side curtain airbags. 

The facelifted hatch also boasts two driver-assistance features: adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance. The former automatically controls the vehicle’s acceleration or deceleration, maintaining the minimum safe distance from the car at the front. Whereas the latter uses a live feed to monitor the lane markings that lay ahead and steers you back to your lane should you drift out of it.

These aside, the 2022 Polo gets Matrix LED headlamps, a larger 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display, connected car tech, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, dual-zone climate control, a wireless phone charger, and ambient lighting. 

To know more about the Polo’s design updates and powertrain options, click here. In India, VW is mulling the sixth-gen Polo’s launch by 2023, considering the MQB A0 platform has been localised. That said, the India-spec hatch might not get these safety and driver-assistance features due to cost constraints. 

The new Polo will be dearer, and we expect it to range between Rs 7 lakh and Rs 12 lakh (ex-showroom). It will rival the Hyundai i20, Tata Altroz, and Maruti Suzuki Baleno.