Lada Vesta or Volkswagen Polo? What's better? We will make this comparison in today's material.
The Volkswagen Polo has taken root with us almost like a people's car. This is a kind of ideal class B model made in Germany. Over the entire period of its existence, the model has gained popularity among hundreds of thousands of buyers and is not going to give up the crown of championship to a newcomer to the Russian automobile industry - the Lada Vesta sedan.
The launch of the Lada Vesta was loud and therefore the German sedan had to withstand the blow - some of the Polo buyers went over to the rival’s side. However, Polo is not going to take off his crown. German breed, status, reliability - the buyer of a Polo gets all this. But AvtoVAZ has yet to achieve such qualities from buyers. But is the VW nameplate on the hood actually worth the money claimed? Will anything change in the future? Let's figure it out.
Price
Vesta definitely wins in terms of price. For the same money you can get a more functional car from AvtoVAZ.
But it’s worth noting here that Volkswagen is a Volkswagen, albeit a Russian-assembled one, but it will always be most in demand on the secondary market, and accordingly, it will be faster and more profitable to sell the Polo in a few days.
How much do they cost on the secondary market?
The advantage in the secondary market remains with the VW Polo - more than 9 thousand ads versus 2,300 for Vesta. The age of the model, the wealth of configurations, as well as the demand for taxi services and traffic police departments have an effect. If we take the average request for a three-year-old car as a basis, we will get a price range of 400-900 thousand rubles for the cars being compared.
Average price of Lada Vesta 2016. — 506 thousand rubles. For this money you can buy a car with a 1.6 106 liter engine. With. and mileage 45.5 thousand km:
Average price of VW Polo 2016. — 582 thousand rubles. A model with the same 1.6 engine develops only 90 “horses” and has a mileage of 79 thousand km:
If you like the German sedan, don't forget about its popularity in taxis. Such cars are quite worn out and will require significant investments to restore damaged components and assemblies. We easily found a Polo with a taxi driver's past:
A check through shows that Polo also has one accident and an unpaid fine:
The fine has been hanging since August 2018. The rear right side was damaged in the accident. The repair, as calculations from insurance companies show, cost the owner almost 17 thousand rubles.
Also read: Which is better to choose: Rapid or Polo
Options
Here, too, the German brand is in the lead; Polo already in the database can offer LED optics, which Vesta will not provide even in the top modification.
Yes, for the same money Vesta will give you more options, but the German has much more of them. Volkswagen also offers a charged version with a turbo engine, which is paired with a DSG, which AvtoVAZ cannot offer.
Accordingly, Vesta looks more attractive in the base, since it will be more powerful, but in a good version Polo will offer much more.
The German, in addition, boasts front parking sensors and plastic protection for the entire bottom, support for working with Apple and Android, as well as a fully digital dashboard in rich versions.
It is also worth noting that Volkswagen provides a 12-year warranty against through corrosion, while the Russian manufacturer offers only 6.
Comparison of transmissions and chassis
Lada Vesta is equipped with a manual transmission, improved and modified. Shifting is now much clearer, and the noise emanating from the transmission has been eliminated. A domestic robotic mechanism, which was also created on the VAZ 2180 platform, is also connected to the Lada Vesta engine. The electronic unit made a “robot” out of “mechanics”. The transmission is equipped with an imported actuator and clutch. The gearbox works efficiently, without any particular complaints, although it is not exactly as good as the automatic transmission.
Interior comparison
The Volkswagen Polo has a 5-speed manual transmission. Its work does not cause any complaints and has established itself as a transmission standard. The “automatic” on the German model includes six stages, which is much more attractive than the robotic gearbox on the Lada Vesta: precise and timely switching, high comfort and extreme efficiency. To buy such a Volkswagen, you will have to pay quite a bit extra.
On a note!
Based on the fact that cars are produced as a budget option, designers do not install a multi-link suspension. Everything here is optimal and standard: MacPherson struts are located in front, and a semi-independent chassis is mounted in the rear. In terms of handling, it’s hard to argue with German models, but the Russian product doesn’t lag behind. This shows the scheduled test drive.
Quality
The German is leading here by a wide margin. The polo is made with high quality, it doesn’t even give a hint that it’s a budget item. Despite Vesta's (automatically) folding mirrors, Polo still looks richer.
This is especially noticeable in the interior; the German amazes with its quality and thoughtfulness compared to its Russian competitor. In fact, Polo can be called the leader of the entire budget segment in terms of quality and interior functionality.
Interior
The development approach differs radically.
- Lada Vesta takes a turn towards aggression and sporty surroundings. The center console and dashboard look attractive. Black plastic wraps around the front of the cabin and blends harmoniously with everything else.
- The readings from the sensors are easy to read, the control keys are located rationally and conveniently. There is a multi-level seat configuration, and there is more freedom and spaciousness in the back.
- Every element inside the Volkswagen Polo knows its place and is located where it is needed. A comfortable steering wheel, a slightly inclined center console, black plastic framing the entire interior, an easy-to-read instrument panel - all this contributes to incomparable comfort and reliability.
- The seats are tight and can be adjusted; there will be plenty of space for two passengers in the back. For safety, two airbags are provided.
Suspension
Oddly enough, in our conditions the Vesta suspension performs better than its German counterpart. If in the city both cars feel as comfortable as possible, then outside the city Vesta drives much more confidently.
Despite the fact that the quality of the Polo's interior is much higher, it is the one that begins to creak first, even on small bumps. At the same time, the more budget Vesta salon behaves much more decently. Most likely, the rigidity of the suspension of the German liftback is to blame.
Therefore, despite the fact that the Polo is assembled in Russia and was specially created for our countries, Vesta is better optimized for our roads. But it should be noted that on a good track and at high speed the Polo behaves a little better.
Vesta vs Polo: pros and cons
It remains to compare Polo against Vesta, taking into account the final pros and cons.
Positive aspects of the Volkswagen Polo:
- Good acceleration dynamics...
- Low fuel consumption.
- Convenient on-board computer.
- Neat salon.
Negative sides:
- Cheap materials in interior decoration.
- Noisy engine.
- Poor sound insulation.
For a budget car, such assessments from drivers are not surprising.
Pros of Lada Vesta:
- Low cost of the car.
- Cheap service.
- Suspension suitable for Russian roads.
- Saturation in the minimum version.
Negative aspects of Lada Vesta:
- Poor build quality.
- Short service life.
- Ambiguous interior design.
- High fuel consumption.
The pros and cons are collected based on reviews from real owners who have used the cars for a long time.
Capacity
For many, capacity is a deciding factor. And here the German obviously wins. Here everything is decided by the body format. Vesta is a sedan, Polo is a liftback, which means that the latter allows you to use more free space. AvtoVAZ offers 480 liters, and Volkswagen makes available 530 liters.
Yes, there is a Vesta SW in a station wagon, but only a sedan can be compared with the Polo. By the way, the presence of a choice of bodies can also be attributed to the advantages of the model from AvtoVAZ.
Motors
In the table below you can see a comparison of engines offered by the manufacturer for motorists.
| Vesta | Vs | Polo (sedan) |
| VAZ-21129: 106hp | VW 1.6 – 85 hp | |
| VAZ-21179: 122hp | VW 1.6 – 110 hp | |
| HR16DE: 110hp |
Note that the internal combustion engine from the German concern installed in the Polo has the same displacement (1.6 l), but there are still some differences:
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The first modification from the table has 85 hp. at good speed parameters. A car with such an engine accelerates to hundreds in 11.9 seconds. The maximum speed of such a car is 179 km/h.
The second internal combustion engine already contains 110 “horses”. Acceleration time to 100 km/h is 10.5 seconds. The highest achievable speed of this modification is 190 km/h.
The domestic manufacturer offers its customers three modifications of engines with 106, 110 and 122 hp, respectively:
The 1.6L has the lowest-power Vesta engine. A car equipped with such an engine accelerates to hundreds in 12.4 seconds, and the maximum speed of such a car is 178 km/h.
The next unit has 110 “horses” under the hood and allows it to accelerate to 100 km/h in 10.3 seconds. The highest speed achieved is 170 km/h.
The engine with the most powerful efficiency installed in the Russian new product already contains 1.8 liters, has a maximum speed of 185 km/h and allows acceleration to 100 km/h in 10.9 seconds.
Now let's look at the fuel consumption table for both cars:
| Model | Consumption | ||
| City | Mix | Route | |
| Vesta 1.6l-1.8l (106-122 hp) | 8.5l-8.6l | 6.8l-7.2l | 5.7l-5.9l |
| Polo 1.6l (85-110 hp) | 7l-7.6 l | 5.5l-6l | 5l -5.5 l |
Gasoline consumption for both cars is almost identical, with some advantage for the Volkswagen Polo. Also, the domestic new product is a little slower than the German representative, although Vesta’s internal combustion engines have more power.
Little things
The German is in the lead here. Even though Vesta was created as a family car, and Polo as just a budget car, the latter is much better suited for a family.
There is no need to talk about the many little things that are missing in Vesta. For example, we can point out one thing: AvtoVAZ for some reason left a family car without fastenings for a roof rack. If the Polo has special holes for fastening, then the Vesta simply does not have them.
This complicates the installation of an additional trunk a little, as it forces the user to purchase special models of trunks with retractable fasteners, which can significantly damage the paintwork during use.
Salon
Both manufacturers approached the interior design in their own way. Vesta designers were clearly guided by sporty style. Black plastic along with metal inserts looks very beautiful and aesthetically pleasing. The arrangement of the devices is quite ergonomic, the keys and levers look absolutely in their place. Visibility from the windshield is excellent. The rear seat, equipped with headrests, is quite spacious and can easily accommodate three passengers.
The Polo's interior is designed in the company's standard style. Buttons, levers and instruments are located in intuitive places. The interior color is the same as in Vesta, black, but the inserts are not metallic, but beige. All devices contain chrome trim. Visibility is also excellent. The seats are strong and comfortable, although the rear seats are still narrower than those of the Lada Vesta.
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Let's compare the appearance
There are completely different approaches to the design concept. A comparison of the Lada Vesta and the Volkswagen Polo clearly demonstrates that the design of the Vesta is characterized by aggressiveness, which is emphasized by the distinctive front part with a chopped shape. The radiator grille in the X corporate style creates a predatory appearance. The side complements the picture of the front end; this is emphasized by the X-shaped stampings on the wings and doors. The developers used massive bumpers with skirts, lights with fashionable slanted shapes and Lada letters in chrome style on the rear of Vesta. All this creates a recognizable image that is impossible not to notice on the road.
Volkswagen Polo is made according to a completely different concept. The design is stylized to match the general features of cars of this brand. Many draw analogies with the Volkswagen Passat, calling the Polo a younger brother. Similar head optics are used. The strict lines of the radiator grille, rectangular fog lights and some other elements create a stern and pedantic image of a “purebred German”. The rear part does not lag behind the front, everything here is also in a classic style. Large lights, a standard shape of a neat bumper and smooth curves of the luggage compartment. Volkswagen Polo radiates calm and confidence with its entire appearance.
↑ Lada Vesta vs Volkswagen Polo
German cars are famous for their reliability, practicality and style. Lada, in turn, is only gaining momentum and honing its unique appearance and build quality. At first glance, you can evaluate cars according to the following parameters:
- Appearance. No matter how strange it may sound, in terms of design the Lada outperforms its competitor, wearing a daring and stylish body that captivates with its curves, while the Polo looks extremely simple and does not pretend to be original. However, this simplicity is expressed in the precision of shapes and refinement of lines, which makes the car look thoroughbred and tasteful.
- Available colors. Here the German model has a clear advantage. The Lada offers a choice of 11 body colors, while the Polo comes in 20 different color combinations.
- Interior. The interior of the Lada Vesta is presented in a more aggressive version, which is typical of sports cars. All elements are intelligently combined with each other and are made of high-quality materials that look great in appearance and are pleasant to the touch.
Volkswagen is ascetic not only in appearance, but also does not shine with bright solutions when designing the interior. All elements are clearly positioned to ensure maximum driver convenience. The materials used for interior cladding are of excellent quality and will not cause any complaints even among picky buyers.
As you can see, at first glance, the domestic car is not much inferior to the market leader. The only indicator in which the Lada is significantly inferior is the color palette available for selection.
Note! Lada positions itself as an aggressive car that is perfect for young drivers, while Polo is aimed at an older segment of the market, relying on a strict appearance and minimalistic design.
We have made a general opinion on the cars, let's move on to the numbers and evaluate our cars in more detail.
Why is it better to choose a new car?
Even in its domestic version, the new machine offers more important advantages. The car is quite modern, it was developed using the latest technologies and will not become outdated for a long time. The machine is sold in the showroom with a guarantee. Even if you find a manufacturing defect, it will be fixed free of charge. Dealership centers of domestic steel manufacturers are loyal to customers, so you shouldn’t expect terrible treatment during repairs or service. The following advantages should also be noted:
- a new car is a completely different explanation, no one has sat in this seat before you, no one has touched the steering wheel or gear shift lever;
- there was no smoking or spilling of coffee in the cabin, you know for sure that there were no animals or other objects that could cause an allergic reaction in your child;
- all the parts of the car are new, which means that the car will serve for quite a long time without problems, which is why most people prefer a new car;
- you get moral pleasure from the fact that you buy domestic transport and help the country’s economy develop, increase production and sales;
- the current Vesta is a completely new car that introduces us to a fresh generation of thinking at AvtoVAZ, so we will hear a lot about this car.
The living legend of the Lada automobile concern today turns out to be a good acquisition. Of course, this purchase also has disadvantages and questions that every purchase today has. Therefore, before you buy a car, you should carefully consider all possible options at the same price. Among which Vesta’s classmate Volkswagen Jetta will definitely appear.
