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Lada Vesta vs Volkswagen Polo Saloon: Which Compact Saloon Is Better?
The Lada Vesta is the larger and more spacious car, with a longer wheelbase, more width, a bigger boot and higher ground clearance, while the four-door Volkswagen Polo of 2010–2020 offers proven engines and gearboxes and Volkswagen's familiar ergonomics. Choose the Vesta for space and rough roads, the Polo for a well-tested drivetrain.
Key takeaways
- Vesta: 4,410 mm long, 1,764 mm wide, 2,635 mm wheelbase, 178 mm ground clearance; 1.6 and 1.8 petrol engines of 78–90 kW.
- Polo saloon: 4,390 mm long, 1,682 mm wide, 2,552 mm wheelbase, 163–170 mm ground clearance; 1.6 MPI petrol with 77 kW (105 PS) as the main engine.
- Boot: about 480 litres in the Vesta, about 460–500 litres in the Polo, depending on the measuring method.
- Gearboxes: Vesta with manual, automated manual or CVT; Polo with manual or six-speed torque-converter automatic.
The two cars in context
Both are compact saloons for buyers who want a large boot and good ground clearance at a low price. The Volkswagen Polo saloon, also sold as the Vento, is a long-wheelbase saloon version of the fifth-generation Polo. Volkswagen built it from 2010 in plants in India and elsewhere, and it was sold in emerging markets from India and South Africa to Latin America, but not in Western Europe. The Lada Vesta went into mass production on 25 September 2015 on the Lada B/C platform. From early 2017 it was also exported to the EU, to Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia, until exports ended in 2022.
Size at a glance
Hyundai Solaris RB
The Lada Vesta is 40 mm longer and 203 mm lower than the Hyundai Solaris RB.
| Dimensions | Lada Vesta | Hyundai Solaris RB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,410 mm173.6 in | 4,370 mm172.0 in | +40 mm+1.6 in |
| Width | 1,764 mm69.4 in | - | - |
| Height | 1,497 mm58.9 in | 1,700 mm66.9 in | −203 mm−8.0 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,635 mm103.7 in | 2,570 mm101.2 in | +65 mm+2.6 in |
| Boot | 480 L17.0 cu ft | - | - |
Kia Rio UB
The Lada Vesta is 44 mm longer, 44 mm wider and 42 mm taller than the Kia Rio UB.
| Dimensions | Lada Vesta | Kia Rio UB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,410 mm173.6 in | 4,366 mm171.9 in | +44 mm+1.7 in |
| Width | 1,764 mm69.4 in | 1,720 mm67.7 in | +44 mm+1.7 in |
| Height | 1,497 mm58.9 in | 1,455 mm57.3 in | +42 mm+1.7 in |
| Wheelbase | 2,635 mm103.7 in | 2,570 mm101.2 in | +65 mm+2.6 in |
| Boot | 480 L17.0 cu ft | 500 L17.7 cu ft | −20 L−0.7 cu ft |
Lada Vesta vs Volkswagen Polo: key specifications side by side
| Parameter | Lada Vesta saloon | Volkswagen Polo saloon |
|---|---|---|
| Production | From 2015 | 2010–2020 (to 2022 in India) |
| Length | 4,410 mm | 4,390 mm |
| Width | 1,764 mm | 1,682 mm |
| Height | 1,497 mm | 1,454–1,483 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,635 mm | 2,552 mm |
| Ground clearance | 178 mm | 163–170 mm |
| Boot | about 480 l | about 460–500 l |
| Petrol engines | 1.6 l 78 kW (106 PS); 1.8 l 90 kW (122 PS) | 1.6 MPI 77 kW (105 PS) and others by market |
| Gearboxes | 5-speed manual, AMT, CVT | 5-speed manual, 6-speed automatic |
The Vesta is 20 mm longer, 82 mm wider and has an 83 mm longer wheelbase, which gives it more cabin width and rear legroom. Compare both footprints with the size comparison tool.
Styling and cabin of the two saloons
The Polo saloon has the restrained look of the Polo hatchback with a longer tail. The Vesta has a sharper design with Lada's X-shaped front and a more sporting dashboard. According to the old 1cars text, the Polo's cabin wins on proven ergonomics, while the Vesta's interior was a clear step forward for Lada.
1.6 MPI against the Lada 1.6 and 1.8
Volkswagen's 1.6 MPI engine and its six-speed torque-converter automatic are a long-established pairing, which the old 1cars text describes as reliable. The Vesta offers a wider engine choice, with 1.6 and 1.8-litre units, but its gearboxes were its weaker side in early years. The old 1cars text mentions more gearbox noise, and the single-clutch automated manual needs getting used to compared with a conventional automatic. Later Vestas gained a CVT, which removes that drawback.
Practicality and ground clearance
The Vesta's 8 to 15 mm advantage in ground clearance matters only on very poor roads; for ordinary town, motorway and country driving, both cars have enough. In boot space the two are close, at roughly 460 to 500 litres (see the biggest-boot saloons ranking for context), so the deciding factor is cabin room, where the wider Vesta is ahead. For more roomy saloons of this size, see the Škoda Rapid and the Kia Rio.
Verdict: which one to choose
Choose the Lada Vesta if you need more cabin width, rear legroom and ground clearance, or want the 1.8-litre engine, which has 13 kW more than the Polo's 1.6 MPI, or a CVT. Choose the Volkswagen Polo saloon if you value a long-proven engine and automatic gearbox and Volkswagen's familiar cabin layout more than outright space. On a used car, check the service history, rust protection and any Vesta automated manual. The full Volkswagen Polo range has its own page.
FAQ
Which is bigger, the Lada Vesta or the Volkswagen Polo saloon?
The Lada Vesta is bigger: 4,410 mm long against 4,390 mm, 82 mm wider and with an 83 mm longer wheelbase. That gives it a wider cabin and more rear legroom than the Polo saloon.
Which has the bigger boot, the Vesta or the Polo saloon?
The two are close. The Vesta's boot holds about 480 litres, while figures for the Polo saloon range from about 460 to 500 litres depending on the measuring method used by the source.
Which has more ground clearance?
The Vesta has 178 mm, against about 163 to 170 mm for the Polo saloon. The difference of roughly 10 to 15 mm only matters on badly broken roads or deep snow.
What engines do the Vesta and Polo saloon have?
The Vesta uses a 1.6-litre engine with 78 kW (106 PS) or a 1.8-litre with 90 kW (122 PS). The Polo saloon's main petrol engine is a 1.6 MPI with 77 kW (105 PS), with other engines in some markets.
