Model profile: Polo Estate - Little load-lugger

摘要

If you wanted more luggage space within compact external dimensions then the Polo Estate was the obvious choice. Unfortunately, few people even knew it existed. BOTH THE Mk 4 Polo Estate and the Saloon, were based, not on the Polo hatchback, but on the SEAT Cordoba which, in turn, was derived from the second generation Ibiza. The Polo Estate was built alongside the Cordoba Vario (as the estate was known) in the factory at Martorell, near Barcelona. While the differences between the Polo and Cordoba were little more than the grille, tailgate, rear lamps and the colour of the instrument dials, the SEAT-based Polo Estate and Saloon had a slightly longer wheelbase and larger engine bay than the Volkswagen hatchback. In fact, the Polo Estate and the Polo hatchback had very little in common; apart from the grille, some of the interior, and the engines, there was not a great deal that was the same. The body of the Estate had more front overhang as well as the longer rear load section; the roof line and waistline were straight and nearly horizontal, instead of subtly swooping down and up respectively; and the doors, windows and wheelarches were all different.