Volkswagen POLO VAN 40KW
Built: 1986-1992 · Series: POLO VAN
More machines from model year 1986
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Volkswagen Polo Van – the commercial version of the small car: 1.0 to 1.9-litre petrol and SDI engines, unladen weight up to 1.13 tonnes, gross weight up to 1.63 tonnes
The Volkswagen Polo Van is the commercial version of the small Polo car, in which the rear side windows were replaced by sheet metal and the rear seat by a flat load floor with a bulkhead. The designations 33 KW, 40 KW and 47 KW give the engine power, KAT stands for the catalytic converter, DIESEL for the compression-ignition version, SDI for suction diesel direct injection, and VARIANT for the estate body used as the conversion base. Other European small-car makers offered similar commercial versions in this class.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists here 10 versions with 1,043 to 1,896 cm³ displacement from four-cylinders throughout, unladen weights from 710 to 1,130 kg, gross weights from 1,130 to 1,630 kg and widths from 1,570 to 1,640 mm.
The Polo Van was a widespread entry-level model in Europe for couriers and tradespeople wanting a nimble, economical small van without purchase-price VAT, and it competed directly with similar commercial versions of other small cars, especially in urban logistics and mobile trade services.
On used examples, the condition of the timing belt and injection pump on diesel versions, rust on sills and wheel arches, the load-floor trim, and, on early catalytic-converter versions, the exhaust system all count, along with the clutch and the mounting of the front struts; parts run through the regular Volkswagen dealer network.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Volkswagen Polo Van, Volkswagen (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Cylinders | 4correct |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 1,272 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,580 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 2,340 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 730 kgcorrect |
| Gross vehicle weight | 1,130 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Wheels | 4correct |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Volkswagen POLO VAN 40KW weigh?
The unladen weight is 730 kg.
What is the gross vehicle weight of the Volkswagen POLO VAN 40KW?
1,130 kg.
What engine does the Volkswagen POLO VAN 40KW have?
4 cylinders, 1,272 cm³ displacement.
When was the Volkswagen POLO VAN 40KW built?
Production years: 1986-1992.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
The technical data on this page comes from official vehicle registration records (RDW/Traficom), not from the manufacturer.
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Other models in this series
POLO
POLO VAN
POLO VAN 33 KW
POLO VAN 40 KW
POLO VAN 40 KW KAT
POLO VAN DIESEL 33KW
POLO VAN DIESEL 35 KW
POLO VAN DIESEL 47 KW
POLO VARIANT VAN SDI 47KW
Sources: RDW — Dutch national vehicle register (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Van in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
