Volkswagen Polo or LADA Vesta - is it worth overpaying for a "German"?

Volkswagen Polo has been produced in Russia since 2010. During this time, the car has become a real standard of the budget class. Although the price is not so low - not less than 1 rubles for the basic package.


But in 2014, the now famous Lada Vesta appeared. The car attracted attention primarily due to its low price and rich equipment for the budget class. Lada Vesta now costs about 700 rubles in the base, which is 000% cheaper than the Volkswagen Polo.

But let's forget about the price for a while, and just compare the two models with each other - which one is better. Although, it was the cost that made Lada Vesta one of the most popular new cars on the Russian market.

Appearance

Two cars are considered representatives of the same class, but outwardly they are strikingly different from each other. The Volkswagen Polo is traditional German restraint. As for Lada Vesta, this is an aggressive and youthful design.



Not to say that the appearance of Vesta is as stylish as possible, the station wagon versions look the most harmonious, but it definitely creates an unforgettable look.

Volkswagen Polo is a typical German brand car design. If you put Polo, Jetta and Passat next to each other, it is immediately clear that these are cars of the same manufacturer.

There are many commonalities here:

• ? Head optics
  
• ? Radiator grilles
  
• ? Large rear lights
  
• ? Smooth curves
  

As for the dimensions of the two cars, the Lada Vesta wins in all respects - it is wider, longer and taller. Of course, the difference is not very big, by 2-6 centimeters, but still.





In addition, do not forget that Lada Vesta has special off-road modifications "Cross" and a station wagon body - this is also a great advantage over Polo. As for public opinion, the discreet design of the Volkswagen Polo is more attractive to drivers. The fact is that the main buyers of such cars are people aged 30 and over, they like the classics more.

Interior Features

Inside, Lada Vesta again traces the same sporty style as the outside:

• ? Three-spoke steering wheel
  
• ? Deep instrument wells
  
• ? Modern center console
  

The seats are comfortable, there is enough space in the cabin both front and rear. Although it should be noted that the bevel of the roof can interfere with tall passengers on the couch.



Volkswagen Polo in the cabin is still as discreet as the outside. You won’t be able to find any sport here, but the ergonomics are thought out to the smallest detail. Inside, the Polo is a little cramped than in Lada Vesta, but not critical. The interior is boring, but the fit of the panels is perfect, clearly better than that of the Lada Vesta.

Engines and gearboxes

In Russia, two engine options are offered for the Volkswagen Polo. They have the same volume of 1,6 liters, but develop one 90 liters. s., and the second 110 liters. With.

Lada Vesta also had two power units in the range, except for 1.6 liters per 106 hp. With. there is also 1.8 cm3 with a capacity of 122 hp. With. A more powerful motor is not particularly popular, as it is problematic.



If compared in general, then German motors are better - they are more economical, quieter and generally more reliable. As for gearboxes, the Volkswagen Polo leads without options. Plus, the "German" has a full-fledged automatic transmission.



The manual transmission of the Polo is ideal, it has long earned the level of "legend". Here, the gear ratios are well chosen, and the shifts are smooth, and the lever strokes are short.

Automatic in the "German" six-speed, so it's economical. The only downside is the higher cost.

Lada Vesta used to be equipped with a manual transmission and a robotic box of its own production. The mechanics are much better than on the old Frets - it was finalized using imported components. The noise level has decreased, but the Volkswagen Polo West box is still far from the checkpoint.

The robotic version of its own production was initially problematic, and no improvements helped it. As a result, this box was abandoned in November 2019, and it was replaced by the Jatco CVT, offered only in conjunction with a 113 hp engine. With. from Nissan (Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi).

Running system

As for the hodovka, the two cars have nothing outstanding, everything is typical for the budget class. Front are MacPherson struts, rear - semi-independent suspension with a beam. But the Germans have more experience, so cars that are basically the same differ from each other on the go.



Driving a Volkswagen Polo is definitely more comfortable. But in the countryside, Lada Vesta is better due to its high ground clearance. It turns out that if the issue of cost is not acute, and there is an opportunity to pay extra 300 rubles for the Polo, it is preferable for the city to take it.

But for rural areas without Lada Vesta options. Especially given the presence of station wagons and off-road modifications of the "Cross".
The braking system of the two cars is also at first glance similar - discs in front, drums in the back. But it feels like the Volkswagen Polo stops better. So in this nomination the German wins.

Comparison in other categories

Let's start with crash tests. Many are sure that AvtoVAZ cars do not participate in these tests, since they have nothing to “catch” there. These are not just rumors, but Lada Vesta is seriously breaking the rule.

In the crash test ARCAP Vesta managed to bypass such cars as:

• ? Hyundai Solaris
  
• ? Ford Focus
  

But the brainchild of AvtoVAZ did not reach the Volkswagen Polo, respectively, the "German" wins again, although by a small margin - 14,1 points against 14,3.



The German car of the Russian assembly has more trim levels - 5 versus 3. But in the base, Lada Vesta is definitely richer, and much cheaper. In the most "top" versions of the car, they practically do not differ from each other. Only the Polo has an automatic transmission, and the Vesta has a CVT.

Advantages and disadvantages of cars

To make the final choice, you need to analyze the pros and cons of both cars. Of course, it is impossible to cover everything, but we will try to highlight the main points.

Advantages of Lada Vesta:

• ? Price
  
• ? Rich equipment in the base
  
• ? Large and spacious interior for its class
  
• ? Noise isolation
  

Disadvantages of the car:

• ? Assembly and fitting of parts floating
  
• ? Plastic quality
  
• ? Some components fail quickly
  
• ? Little things break down
  
• ? The variator cannot be considered a full-fledged replacement for automatic transmission
  
• ? 1,8 liter engine unfinished
  
• ? Overall reputation for the brand
  

If you understand, then the shortcomings are insignificant, forgivable for a state employee, especially for such a price.

Advantages of the Volkswagen Polo:

• ? Classic design inside and out
  
• ? Reliable engine and gearboxes
  
• ? It's a Volkswagen
  

There are few disadvantages - ground clearance, expensive spare parts, cost.

If the price of cars were similar, without a doubt, Volkswagen Polo would be in the lead among buyers. But an overpayment of 300 rubles is a serious argument on which AvtoVAZ initially relied.



As a result, Lada Vesta is unconditionally the leader in terms of the number of cars sold. For example, the statistics for March 2021 are 8 versus 779 Volkswagen Polo units. But you need to understand that the point is the price, for the same month, 5 cheap Grant models were sold.

It is difficult to say which car is better, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here the buyer must choose for himself. Volkswagen Polo is more reliable, but Lada Vesta is cheaper.