Volkswagen exits sub-$30,000 new-car market after safety upgrades for Polo, T-Roc

The Volkswagen Polo city hatch and T-Roc small SUV have been upgraded with new safety and convenience features – including blind-spot alert tech for the entry-grade SUV – for Model Year 2025 (MY25).

But prices have risen by up to $2250, meaning Volkswagen no longer offers a new car priced below $30,000 before on-road costs for what's understood to be the first time in its 71-year local history.

Since then, multiple other car brands have followed suit with their smallest cars, leaving Kia and – for now – MG as the last manufacturers with new vehicles priced under $20,000 before on-road costs.

Now standard on the entry-level Polo Life is adaptive cruise control and Travel Assist, the company's semi-autonomous technology that can keep the car centred in its lane on highways.

The mid-grade Polo Style – up $2250, from $32,540 to $34,790 – gains keyless entry and start, satellite navigation, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (rather than wired-only).

All of these features were previously offered in packages with other items – the $1700 Vision and Tech package on the Life, and $1900 Sound and Tech pack on the Style – which have now been discontinued.

It means the Life is no longer available with a widescreen instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and in-built navigation, while no Polo can now be had with a six-speaker Beats stereo.

A $1400 price rise has been applied to the Polo GTI, with no equipment changes.

T-Roc CityLife.

Meanwhile, the T-Roc has gained new features in the form of blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a proactive occupant protection system for the CityLife entry grade, for a $2000 price rise.

It leaves the Polo Life as the last passenger model in the Volkswagen range without blind-spot and rear cross-traffic alerts as standard.

All T-Roc model grades have gained five years of free access to VW's new GoConnect smartphone app, which debuted on the ID. Buzz, with remote access to vehicle information, location, recent trip data, warning light notifications, and "direct dealer communication."

The T-Roc R-Line has received a $1200 price rise.

T-Roc CityLife.

MY25 prices for the T-Roc Style and R are also $1400 and $1500 dearer respectively.

Orders for the 2025 Volkswagen Polo and T-Roc are open now, ahead of first deliveries due by the end of March 2025.

In the meantime, Volkswagen Australia says the MY24 T-Roc is in run-out, with nationwide drive-away offers until March 31 of $37,990 for the CityLife, $42,990 for the Style, $51,990 for the R-Line, and $65,990 for the R.

• Polo Life – $30,790 (up $1300)
• Polo Style – $34,790 (up $2250)
• Polo GTI – $41,790 (up $1400)

• T-Roc CityLife – $38,990 (up $2000)
• T-Roc Style – $41,990 (up $1400)
• T-Roc R-Line – $49,990 (up $1200)
• T-Roc R – $64,990 (up $1500)

Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.

Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner

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