Volkswagen is adding more life – and more luxury – to its smallest hatchback, with the arrival of the Polo CityLife.
The new special edition is designed to tempt buyers who want a touch more comfort and technology without stepping too far up the price ladder, and it lands with a sharp $32,790 sticker.
That’s just $2000 more than the entry-level Polo Life, but the extras are worth far more. On the outside, the CityLife wears 16-inch Torsby alloy wheels, dark privacy glass and a CityLife badge on the tailgate. Inside, it lifts the comfort and convenience stakes with dual-zone climate control, keyless entry, wireless phone charging, and even Volkswagen’s Park Assist system for those who dread a tight squeeze at the shopping centre.
Safety gear also gets a lift, with Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, and a Proactive Occupant Protection System included as standard. Add in dusk-sensing LED headlights, rain-sensing wipers, and the Digital Cockpit display, and the CityLife starts to feel more like a premium hatch than an affordable city runabout.
Under the bonnet it’s the familiar 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo, good for 85kW and a healthy 200Nm of torque – more than enough for city sprints and highway hauls alike. Teamed with Volkswagen’s seven-speed DSG automatic, the Polo returns a thrifty 5.5 litres per 100 kilometres on the official test cycle.
Volkswagen has also rolled out wireless App-Connect across the Polo line-up from the 2026 model year, which means Apple CarPlay and Android Auto without the need for a cable. Travel Assist, which combines adaptive cruise control and lane keeping for semi-automated motorway driving, has also been filtering into the Polo range.
Todd Ford, Volkswagen Australia’s passenger vehicle product manager, says the Polo CityLife nails the balance between German refinement and real-world affordability.
“In its current generation the Volkswagen Polo challenges vehicles from the class above with its spacious cabin, 351-litre luggage capacity, great refinement and polished dynamics,” he says.
“The Polo CityLife combines the best of the Polo Life with higher specification that customers will love, delivering an ideal blend of style, efficiency and appointments – all for a great price.”
The CityLife joins Volkswagen’s growing stable of value-packed editions, following the T-Cross CityLife in 2021 and the ongoing T-Roc CityLife.
For buyers, the Polo range now runs from the $30,790 Polo Life through to the $41,790 GTI, with the CityLife and Style neatly bridging the gap. Deliveries begin in November.