09 Jul 04
Suspension is raised by 20mm
"Dune". A heap of sand. A ropey sci-fi movie featuring Sting. A mis-heard summer month. It's a slightly less corny name than Polo Fun, as this car is called elsewhere in Europe, anyway. Giving all that extra Fun, if not dune-scaling ability, are a raised suspension height (up by 20mm), darkened rear taillight lenses, chrome-effect mirror housings and roof rails plus larger bumpers; on the inside, it has slightly sportier trim than a standard (no-Fun) Polo with some metallic-effect shiny bits - specifically on the steering wheel's spokes, the pedals, the gearknob and the handbrake grip, though they're nothing to get too excited about.
Dune doesn't get four-wheel drive
Although its exterior hints at off-road prowess - if not desert-racing success or beach-buggy cool - the Dune is two-wheel drive only. This makes it a rival to the likes of the Ford Fusion, Rover Streetwise and Citroen C3 XTR, rather than a mini-4x4 like Fiat's upcoming Panda-based SUV or a handy go-anywhere supermini like the old Subaru Justy, one of the last of its kind. Slightly larger than the mainstream Polo - 11mm longer, 25mm wider and 62mm higher, down to the fatter bumpers, roof rails and wider wheel arches - it is also more than slightly dearer: from £12,495, with the 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine (65bhp). The 1.4 (75bhp) petrol unit is also available (£12,870), as is the 1.4 TDI diesel (also 75bhp, £13,470). And that's before you add metallic or pearlescent paint.
