Volkswagen has announced updates for its Polo city hatch and T-Roc small SUV for the 2025 model year (MY25), introducing enhanced safety and convenience features across the range. However, these improvements come at a cost, with prices increasing by up to $2250. This price hike marks a significant shift for Volkswagen Australia, as it appears to be the first time in the company's 71-year history in the local market that it no longer offers a new vehicle priced below $30,000 before on-road costs.
The most affordable Polo now starts at $30,790, a notable increase from the MY24 price of $29,490. This milestone was foreshadowed approximately 18 months ago when the manual transmission option, which had been a key factor in keeping the price below $30,000 drive-away, was discontinued due to low sales. The Polo's journey away from the sub-$20,000 price point began in 2022 with a facelift that brought a more comprehensive suite of standard safety and convenience features, including LED headlights and lane-keep assist. This trend has been mirrored by several other manufacturers in the small car segment, leaving Kia and, for the time being, MG as the remaining brands offering new vehicles under $20,000 before on-road costs.
For the MY25 Polo, the entry-level Life trim now includes adaptive cruise control and Travel Assist as standard features. Travel Assist is Volkswagen's semi-autonomous driving technology, enabling the car to maintain its position within the lane on highways. The mid-range Polo Style, which has seen the largest price increase of $2250 (from $32,540 to $34,790), now comes equipped with keyless entry and start, satellite navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These features were previously bundled into optional packages – the $1700 Vision and Tech package for the Life and the $1900 Sound and Tech pack for the Style – which have now been discontinued. Consequently, the Life trim no longer offers the widescreen instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, or in-built navigation. Furthermore, the option for a six-speaker Beats stereo is no longer available across the entire Polo range. The performance-oriented Polo GTI has also experienced a price increase of $1400, although without any changes to its standard equipment.
The T-Roc small SUV has also received upgrades. The entry-level CityLife trim now includes blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a proactive occupant protection system, accompanied by a $2000 price increase. With this addition, the Polo Life becomes the only passenger model in the Volkswagen lineup that doesn't offer blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. All T-Roc models now include five years of complimentary access to Volkswagen's new GoConnect smartphone app, which was initially introduced with the ID. Buzz. GoConnect provides remote access to vehicle information, location data, recent trip details, warning light notifications, and facilitates direct communication with dealerships. The T-Roc R-Line has seen a $1200 price increase, while the Style and R variants are now $1400 and $1500 more expensive, respectively.
Orders for the MY25 Volkswagen Polo and T-Roc are now being accepted, with initial deliveries expected by the end of March 2025. In the interim, Volkswagen Australia has announced run-out offers for the MY24 T-Roc, with nationwide drive-away pricing available until March 31. These offers include the CityLife at $37,990, the Style at $42,990, the R-Line at $51,990, and the R at $65,990.