VW Polo trim levels explained
A deep dive into the VW Polo’s different trims and what they mean.
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Since 1975, the Volkswagen Polo has been the go-to supermini for many new drivers, elderly drivers and just about everyone in between.
With almost all of the practicality of a Golf but in a smaller package, it’s clear why it’s one of the more popular choices for buyers.
But, with so many different trims on offer – from Life all the way to GT – how can you figure out what they mean, and which is right for you?
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What is a trim level vs. model?
It can be a little confusing, but there is a clear difference between a model and a trim, although it’s sometimes a little confusing.
A trim is just a specific version of a model, and brands use them to offer different levels of kit on their cars.
So, ‘Life’ is the entry level trim of the Polo (the model) and has slightly fewer features than the more expensive R-Line trim.
A model is a type of car a brand makes. Volkswagen has the Polo, Golf, and T-Roc, among others, and these are all models in their lineup of cars. Just like Mercedes has the A-Class, C-Class, E-Class, and so on.
Current VW Polo trim levels
 "Volkswagen Polo rear three quarters")
VW Polo Life
Sitting at the bottom of the lineup is the Polo Life trim, which still gets you all you’d ever need from this class of car.
You get 15-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, cloth seats, folded/heated door mirrors, and air-con.
VW Polo Match
Building on the most basic trim, the Polo Match adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a rear-view parking camera, tinted rear windows, and wireless phone charging.
This is the trim most people go for, sitting in the middle of the model lineup – a great combo of features and value.
VW Polo Style
Before things get too sporty, you get the more distinguished Polo Style – the most tasteful of the Polo trim levels.
This trim includes a classier 16-inch alloy wheel design, matrix LED headlights, interior ambient lighting, sports comfort seats, two-zone climate control and front parking sensors.
VW Polo R-Line
For a sporty look but without the added insurance costs of the GTI, a Polo R-Line offers more aggressive styling.
Aside from a revised front bumper and a different wheel design, it also gets headlight high-beam assist, special ‘R’ cloth seats and VW’s ‘Digital Cockpit Pro’ – a 10.25-inch digital driver’s display.
VW Polo Black Edition
This pack does as it says on the tin – adding black accents to the car such as black door mirrors.
But it also gets larger 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats and advanced high-beam control, as well as all the other kit the rest of the range has.
VW Polo GTI
Sitting at the very top of the tree is the Polo GTI, which has all the equipment you could possibly need but with some added extras for your inner boy racer.
This includes a sporty honeycomb bumper with air intakes, front and rear disc brakes, a twin exhaust system, sports suspension, adaptive chassis control, a leather multifunction steering wheel, sporty seats and an aluminium gear knob.
It’s the ultimate driving experience in a small footprint, although you do pay extra for the privilege.
Previous VW Polo trim levels
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VW Polo Active
The Polo Active used to sit in the middle of the lineup and offered more standard equipment than the Match, but no off-road credentials as the name may suggest.
VW Polo Beats
Based on the SE trim, the Polo Beats added a much more powerful 300-watt, six-speaker sound system that proudly sported the Beats logo usually spotted on headphones.
VW Polo S
The Polo S used to be the most basic trim available, and really was the barebones approach to hatchback-ing, but still retained the essence of all you need in a car.
VW Polo SE
Building on the old base-spec ‘S’, the Polo SE adds a few more luxuries, such as an infotainment display, air-con, and a leather steering wheel.
VW Polo SEL
The Polo SEL gets everything the SE has but adds front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav, and auto wipers.
Get a used VW Polo
For decades now, the VW Polo has been a very popular small hatchback, and with all the excellent trim levels you can get, it makes sense why it continues to be the go-to car for many.
The tricky part isn’t deciding whether to buy a Polo, it’s deciding which trim you fancy.
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