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Pick up to 3 cars to see how they stack up on score, price and specs.

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Volkswagen Polo

Compact daily platform balancing European build tech and agile driving with sub-1,000 cc duty savings and 21.0 km/L TSI fuel economy.

Highest rated
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Nissan Note

Extremely popular compact hatchback featuring revolutionary e-Power hybrid technology and 28+ km/L efficiency.

Best value
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Audi A1

Compact German luxury supermini featuring bold Sportback styling, Virtual Cockpit technology, and sub-1,500 cc duty savings.

Volkswagen PoloNissan NoteAudi A1
Mandai score
8/10
7.5/10
7.5/10
Typical price
KSh 1,950,000
KSh 1,500,000
KSh 2,200,000
Years
2017-2023
2017-2023
2017-2023
Fuel
Petrol
Petrol, Hybrid
Petrol
Transmission
Automatic, Dual-clutch
Automatic, CVT
Automatic
Doors
5
5
5
Most popular trim
Polo 1.0 TSI Comfortline / Highline / R-Line / GTI
Note e-Power X / Medalist / Aura e-Power
A1 Sportback 25 TFSI / 30 TFSI S Line
Dealer listings
None listed
None listed
None listed

Fuel and running cost

Trim
Nissan Note e-Power
Fuel consumption
21.0 km/L4.8 L/100km combined · about 840 km a tank
28.0 km/L3.6 L/100km combined · about 1148 km a tank
19.5 km/L5.1 L/100km combined · about 780 km a tank
Running cost
KSh 1,081 / 100 kmKSh 11 a km · KSh 10,808 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 811 / 100 kmKSh 8 a km · KSh 8,106 for 1,000 km · petrol
KSh 1,164 / 100 kmKSh 12 a km · KSh 11,639 for 1,000 km · petrol

Dimensions

Length
4,053 mm
4,100 mm
4,029 mm
Width
1,751 mm
1,695 mm
1,740 mm
Height
1,461 mm
1,520 mm
1,409 mm
Wheelbase
2,551 mm
2,600 mm
2,563 mm
Ground clearance
145 mm
150 mm
135 mm
Boot space
351 L (1,125 L folded)
340 L (1,000 L folded)
335 L
Kerb weight
1,145 kg
1,220 kg
1,165 kg
Seats
5
5
5

Specifications

Engine
1.0L TSI Turbo 3-Cylinder / 2.0L TSI Turbo 4-Cylinder (GTI)
1.2L HR12DE 3-Cylinder + EM57 Electric Motor (e-Power)
1.0L TFSI 3-Cylinder Turbo (30 TFSI)
Power
95 hp to 115 hp (1.0T) / 200 hp (GTI)
116 hp (136 hp Aura) electric motor output
116 hp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque
175 Nm to 200 Nm (1.0T) / 320 Nm (GTI)
280 Nm instant electric torque
200 Nm @ 2,000–3,500 rpm
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive
0–100 km/h
6.7 sec (GTI) / 9.5 sec (1.0T 115hp) / 10.8 sec (1.0T 95hp)
7.9 sec
9.4 sec
Top speed
200 km/h (1.0T) / 237 km/h (GTI)
150 km/h
203 km/h

Fuel economy

Combined
21.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 19.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 15.0 km/L (GTI)
28.0 km/L (e-Power) / 18.0 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
19.5 km/L (1.0T) / 17.5 km/L (1.5T)
City
18.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 16.8 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 12.2 km/L (GTI)
30.0 km/L (e-Power) / 15.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
16.5 km/L (1.0T) / 14.5 km/L (1.5T)
Highway
24.0 km/L (1.0T 95hp) / 22.5 km/L (1.0T 115hp) / 17.5 km/L (GTI)
25.0 km/L (e-Power) / 20.5 km/L (1.2L Petrol)
22.0 km/L (1.0T) / 20.0 km/L (1.5T)
Tank size
40 L
41 L
40 L
CO₂ emissions
108 g/km (1.0T)
82 g/km
112 g/km

At a glance

Model
Volkswagen Polo (Mk6 AW Series)
Nissan Note (E12 / E13 Series)
Audi A1 Sportback (GB Series)
Production years
2017–2023
2017–2023
2017–2023
Body type
5-Door Subcompact European Hatchback
Hatchbacks / Compact MPV
5-Door Compact Luxury Hatchback
Seating capacity
5
5
5 seats
Fuel types
Petrol (TSI Turbo)
Petrol, e-Power Hybrid
Petrol (TFSI)
Engine sizes
999 cc (1.0L TSI) / 1,984 cc (2.0L TSI GTI)
1,198 cc (1.2L e-Power / DIG-S)
999 cc / 1,395 cc / 1,498 cc / 1,984 cc
Transmission
7-Speed DSG Dual-Clutch Automatic
Automatic (CVT / Single-Speed e-Power)
7-speed S tronic Dual-Clutch Automatic
Drivetrain
Front-Wheel Drive
FWD or e-4ORCE AWD
Front-Wheel Drive (FWD)
Ground clearance
145 mm
150 mm
135 mm
Source market
UK / Japan (RHD)
Japan (RHD JDM spec)
Japan / UK (RHD)

Pros and cons

What’s good
  • Lowest KRA import duty bracket: 999 cc TSI engine sits in KRA's lowest customs tax valuation category.
  • High-speed European stability: MQB chassis provides unshakeable highway composure at 120 km/L.
  • Punchy 200 Nm 1.0T torque: Turbocharged low-end torque makes city overtaking responsive and effortless.
  • Generous 351 L boot capacity: Class-leading trunk space for a subcompact hatchback.
  • Instant 280 Nm electric torque: Smooth, rapid acceleration away from Nairobi traffic lights.
  • Exceptional 28+ km/L fuel economy: Slashes monthly commuter fuel bills by over 50%.
  • Generous rear knee room: Cavernous rear passenger space despite compact 4.1m length.
  • Lowest customs duty bracket: 1.0L engine qualifies for Kenya's lowest customs tax valuation category.
  • Premium Virtual Cockpit display: 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with MMI touch screen.
  • Excellent 19.5+ km/L fuel economy: Low operating costs for daily urban commuting.
  • Effortless city parking: Compact 4.02-meter length makes Nairobi CBD parking stress-free.
What’s not so good
  • Low 145 mm ground clearance: Requires care when navigating high urban speed bumps.
  • Requires quality synthetic VW 504 00 oils: DSG transmission requires fluid maintenance every 60,000 km.
  • 150 mm ground clearance: Requires care over tall speed bumps when fully loaded.
  • Engine generator sound under heavy hill climbs: 1.2L engine revs up to charge battery during steep ascents.
  • 135 mm ground clearance: Requires care over steep estate speed bumps.
  • S tronic dual-clutch sensitivity: Demands proper transmission maintenance in heavy traffic.
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