Rolls-Royce Ghost vs Volkswagen Polo Sedan

A proper head-to-head in South Africa — we cover price, performance, petrol economy, safety and what it'll actually cost you to own each one long term.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Ghost Series II Petrol 8-Speed Automatic Current

Price on request

⚡ 420 kW 🔧 850 Nm ⛽ 6.37 km/l

Volkswagen Polo Sedan

1.0 Style Tiptronic AT Petrol 7-Speed DCT Current

ZAR 483,700 ex-showroom

⚡ 70 kW 🔧 175 Nm ⛽ 18.9 km/l

＋ Add a 3rd car

At a Glance — Who Wins What

⚡ Performance Ghost

⛽ Fuel Economy Polo Sedan

🛡 Safety Ghost

📦 Practicality Ghost

🔑 Ownership Ghost

Key Specs Side by Side

The specs that matter most — highlighted where one car leads.

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Maximum Power	420 kW @ 5000 rpm	70 kW
Maximum Torque	850 Nm @ 1600 rpm	175 Nm
Engine Size	6749 cc	999 cc
Claimed Mileage	6.37 km/l	18.9 km/l
Ground Clearance	118 mm	130 mm
Boot / Load Bay	500 l	460 l
Airbags	8	6
Kerb Weight	2490 kg	1125 kg
Seating Capacity	-	-
Warranty	4 years; regional conditions apply	2

= leads in this spec

The Bottom Line

Ghost holds a noticeable edge over Polo Sedan, especially in key ownership areas.

Where They Actually Differ

Performance Ghost +64 pts

Efficiency Polo Sedan +42 pts

Safety Ghost +17 pts

Practicality Ghost +1 pts

Ownership Ghost +18 pts

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

🏆 Overall Winner

Ghost

Strengths

More powerful engine output
Stronger safety package
More practical for daily use
Better long-term ownership value

Weak Spots

Lower fuel efficiency

Best suited to: Highway Driving Family Usage

Polo Sedan

Strengths

Better fuel efficiency

Weak Spots

Less powerful engine setup
Less comprehensive safety features
Less practical in daily usage
Shorter warranty coverage

Best suited to: Fuel Efficiency

Which One's Right for You?

Ghost

Drivers who prioritise strong highway performance and overtaking power
Families prioritising stronger safety equipment
Large families needing more practicality and usability
Long-term owners valuing warranty and ownership peace of mind

Polo Sedan

Buyers looking for better fuel efficiency

Full Specs, Side by Side

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Model Introduced Year	2020	2018
Generation	Second-generation Ghost in standard-wheelbase Series II form	AW/BW Polo-based sedan – current generation since 2018
Facelift History	The second-generation Ghost was introduced in South Africa in 2020 and evolved into Ghost Series II in October 2024	Facelift update in 2022 with refreshed styling and updated infotainment
Facelift Launched Since	2024	2022
Facelift Version Ending	Current	Current
Body Style	Four-door luxury saloon	Sedan
Model Year	2026	2026
Production Status	active	published
Segment	Full-size super-luxury saloon	Sedan
Vehicle Type	Internal-combustion passenger car	Sedan
Color Note	-	White Silver, Reflex Silver, Deep Black, Flash Red
Dealer Stock Note	-	Top grade in the South Africa lineup
Tare Mass Kg	-	1125 kg

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Drivetrain Layout	All-wheel drive with all-wheel steering	Front Wheel Drive
Transfer Case	ATC 13 transfer case	Not Applicable
Differential Lock	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
Paddle Shifters	No	Standard
Gearbox	8-speed automatic	7-Speed DSG
Final Drive Ratio	2.81:1	Not Applicable
Number of Gears	8	7
Transmission Type	8-speed automatic	Automatic
Clutch Type	Torque converter	Not Applicable
Drivetrain	All-wheel drive	FWD
4WD Engagement	Rolls-Royce all-wheel drive	Not Applicable
4WD Hi Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
4WD Lo Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
4WD Selector	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Automatic Shift Paddles	No	Standard
Front Differential Lock	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
Gearbox Type	8-speed automatic	7-Speed DSG
Low Range Ratio	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Low Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Axle Layout	All-wheel-drive power delivery with active rear-axle steering	FWD
Rear Differential Lock	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
Transmission Speeds	8	7
Gear Shift Type	Satellite Aided automatic gear selection	7-Speed DSG
LSD Available	-	Not Applicable
Gear Shift Indicator	-	Not Applicable
Differential Type Front	-	Not Available
Differential Type Rear	-	Not Available
Transfer Case Guard	-	Not Available

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Claimed Mileage	6.37 km/l	18.9 km/l
City Mileage	5.10 km/l	14 km/l
Highway Mileage	8.08 km/l	20 km/l
Fuel Tank Capacity	90 l	45 l
Emission Standard	Euro 6e (B6e)	Euro 6
AdBlue Tank Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Auto Start Stop	Automatic start/stop: Yes	Not Applicable
Average Fuel Consumption	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Claimed Fuel Consumption	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Fuel Efficiency	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Charging Port Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Charging Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Combined Consumption	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Combined Consumption L 100km	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Fuel Economy Combined	15.7 l/100km	5.3 l/100km
Fuel Tank Litres	90	45
Combined Driving Range	573-588 km (calculated from 90 L and 15.3-15.7 l/100 km WLTP)	Not Applicable
Electric Consumption	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Real-world Mileage	6.37 km/l	18.9 km/l
Range Real World Highway	-	Not Applicable
Range Real World Mixed	-	Not Applicable

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Airbags	8	6
ABS	Four-channel Anti-lock Braking System	Standard
Electronic Stability Control	Dynamic Stability Control	Standard
Traction Control	Dynamic Traction Control	Standard
Hill Descent Control	Hill Descent Control	Not Available
Hill Start Assist	Hill Start Assist	Standard
Child Safety Lock	Rear child-safety locks	Standard
ISOFIX Mounts	ISOFIX child-seat mounts	Standard
Brake Assist	Dynamic Brake Control	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitor	Tyre Pressure Monitoring System	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Engine immobiliser	Standard
Seatbelt Warning All Seats	Front seatbelt warning sensor	Not Available
Front Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Not Available
AEB	Collision Warning with Brake Function; pedestrian/bike warning with brake function	Not Available
BA	Dynamic Brake Control	Standard
Curtain Airbags	Front Head Protection System	Not Available
Driver Airbag	Driver airbag	6
EBD	Electronic Brakeforce Distribution	Standard
Engine Immobiliser	Engine immobiliser	Standard
Hill Hold	Hill Start Assist	Standard
Passenger Airbag	Front-passenger airbag	6
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Not Available
Seatbelt Pretensioners	Front and rear three-point pretensioning seatbelts; front force limiters	Not Available
Side Airbags	Front side-impact airbags	Not Available
TCS	Dynamic Traction Control	Standard
Knee Airbag	Active front knee protection	Not Available
ABS EBD	Four-channel Anti-lock Braking System	Standard
Seatbelt Reminder	Front seatbelt warning sensor	Not Available
Stability Control	Dynamic Stability Control	Standard
Alarm System	-	Standard
Central Locking	-	Standard
Brake Override System	-	Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring	-	Standard
Anti Theft Alarm	-	Standard
Driver Front Passenger Airbags	-	6
Driver Passenger Airbags	-	6
ESC With Traction Control	-	Standard

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Cruise Control	Dynamic Cruise Control; Active Cruise Control fitted to the referenced current vehicle	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Active Cruise Control	Not Available
Lane Keep Assist	Lane Departure Warning with Active Return	Not Available
Lane Departure Warning	Lane Departure Warning with Active Return	Not Available
Blind Spot Monitoring	Lane Change Warning with Blind Spot Detection	Standard
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Rear Cross Traffic Alert	Not Available
Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Rear
Rear View Camera	Rear View Camera	Standard
360 Degree Camera	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Not Available
Autonomous Emergency Braking	Collision Warning with Brake Function; pedestrian/bike warning with brake function	Not Available
Driver Fatigue Alert	Driver Attention Alert System	Not Available
Traffic Sign Recognition	Speed Limit Information	Not Available
Auto Highbeam	High-Beam Assistance	Not Available
Auto Wipers	Rain-sensing variable-speed windshield wipers	Standard
Rear Parking Sensors	Park Distance Control, front and rear	Rear
Reverse Camera	Rear View Camera	Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control	Active Cruise Control	Not Available
Park Assist	Park Assist and Reversing Assistant	Not Available
Around View Monitor	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Not Available
Blind Spot Warning	Lane Change Warning with Blind Spot Detection	Standard
Forward Collision Warning	Collision Warning with Brake Function	Not Available
Auto Lights	-	Standard
EV Mode	-	Not Available
Emergency Braking	-	Not Available
Parking Distance Sensors	-	Rear
Parking Sensor	-	Rear
Pre-Collision System	-	Not Available
Rain Sensor Wipers	-	Standard
Rear View Camera	-	Standard
Reverse Camera Type	-	Standard
Reversing Camera	-	Standard
Surround View Camera	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Not Available

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Seat Material	Leather, Duality Twill or Bespoke alternatives	Fabric/Leatherette
Heated Seats	Available, including rear-seat heating	Not Applicable
Ventilated Seats	Available, including rear-seat cooling	Not Applicable
Ambient Lighting	Illuminated Fascia with celestial design	Standard
Steering Wheel Material	Heated full-leather multifunction steering wheel	Not Applicable
60 40 Split Seat	No	60/40 Split
Driver Seat Adjustment	Heated, electronically adjustable front seat with memory	Manual
Passenger Seat Adjustment	Heated, electronically adjustable front seat with memory	Manual
Seat Trim	Duality Twill embroidered seat upholstery available	Fabric/Leatherette
Seat Adjustment	-	Manual
Steering Type	-	Electric
Steering Adjustment	-	Tilt and Telescopic
Folding Rear Seats	-	60/40 Split
Front Armrest	-	Rear Centre Armrest
Rear USB Ports	-	2
Instrument Cluster Type	-	Standard
Interior Colour Options	-	4
Adjustable Driver Seat	-	Manual
Fabric Seats	-	Fabric/Leatherette
Armrest Front	-	Rear Centre Armrest
Driver Seat	-	Manual
Interior Courtesy Lamps	-	Composition Media infotainment, rear camera, cloth seats, air conditioning
Leather Accented Seat Trim	-	Fabric/Leatherette
Interior Colours	-	4
Seat Fold Type	-	60/40 Split
Front Shoulder Room	-	Not Applicable
Rear Shoulder Room	-	Not Applicable

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Climate Control	Automatic four-zone climate control	Single-zone Automatic
Power Windows	Front and rear power windows with one-touch up/down	All Doors
Keyless Entry	Comfort Access keyless entry	Standard
Push Button Start	Keyless start	Not Available
Wireless Charging	Wireless smartphone charging	Standard
Sunroof	No	Standard
Electric Tailgate	Power open/close luggage compartment	Not Available
Rain Sensing Wipers	Rain-sensing variable-speed windshield wipers	Standard
AC Type	Automatic four-zone climate control	Single-zone Automatic
Automatic Headlamps	-	Standard
Adaptive Dampers	-	Not Available
Climate Zones	-	Single-zone Automatic
Electric Folding Mirrors	-	All Doors
Engine Start Button Illumination	-	Not Available
TPMS	Tyre Pressure Monitoring System	Standard
Engine Start Stop	Keyless start	Not Available
Engine Start Stop Button	Keyless start	Not Available
Front Armrest	-	Rear Centre Armrest
Fuel Consumption Combined	-	5.3
Hill Start Assist	-	Standard
Panoramic Roof	No	Standard
Performance Data Logger	-	Not Available
Power Mirrors	-	All Doors
Push Button Start	Keyless start	Not Available
Rear Seat Split	-	60/40 Split
Rear Wing	-	Not Available
Rev Matching	-	Not Available
Seat Type	-	Fabric/Leatherette
Skid Plates	-	Not Available
Spare Wheel	No spare wheel	Full Size
Telescopic Steering	-	Tilt and Telescopic
Tilt Steering	-	Tilt and Telescopic
Voice Command	-	Standard
Voice Command Support	-	Standard
Accelerator 0 100	-	10.9 sec
Air Conditioning	Automatic four-zone climate control	Single-zone Automatic
Battery Preconditioning	-	Not Available
Bed Extender	-	Not Available
Canopy Fitment	-	Not Available
Centre Console	-	Rear Centre Armrest
Common Rail Injection	-	Direct Injection Turbocharged
Diff Lock	-	Not Available
Difflock	-	Not Available
Digital Speedometer	-	Standard
Front Diff Lock	-	Not Available
Intelligent Battery System	-	Not Available
Intelligent Keyless Entry	-	Standard
Lift Gate	-	Not Available
Load Bed Cover	-	Not Available
Load Bed Light	-	Not Available
Load Bed Steps	-	Not Available
Loadbox Depth Mm	-	Not Available
Loadbox Rope Hooks	-	Not Available
Loadbox Tiedown Brackets	-	Not Available
Manual Aircon	-	Single-zone Automatic
Mirror	-	All Doors
One Pedal Driving	-	Not Available
Passive Entry Start	-	Standard
Powered Tailgate	-	Not Available
Rear Diff Lock	-	Not Available
Rear Electric Motor	-	Not Available
Regenerative Braking Levels	-	Not Available
Remote Central Locking	-	Standard
Rim Size	20-, 21- and 22-inch approved fitments	16-inch Alloy
Roof Rack Compatibility	-	Not Available
Sonar	-	Rear
Sound System	16	6
Source Model Column	-	polo-sedan
Sport Plus Mode	-	Not Available
Sports Bar	-	Not Available
Steering Column Adjustment	-	Tilt and Telescopic
Sub Frame	-	Monocoque
Surround View Monitor	Surround View Camera with 3D view	Not Available
Tailgate Damper	-	Not Available
Tailgate Lock	-	Not Available
Tow Bar Type	-	Not Available
Trim Level	-	top
Unlocking	Comfort Access keyless entry	Standard
Variant Role	-	Mid-to-high value derivative
Vdc	-	Standard
Vehicle To Grid	-	Not Available
Vehicle To Load	-	Not Available
Walk Away Auto Door Lock	-	Standard
Walk Away Lock	-	Standard
Wireless Charger	Wireless smartphone charging	Standard
Load Bed Length	-	Not Applicable
Load Bed Width	-	Not Applicable
Boot Space Seats Folded	-	460 l
Loadbox Length Mm	-	Not Applicable
Loadbox Width Mm	-	Not Applicable

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Length	5545 mm	4440 mm
Width	1998 mm	1699 mm
Height	1573 mm	1467 mm
Wheelbase	3295 mm	2552 mm
Doors	4 doors	4 doors
Front Headroom	1030 mm	-
Payload Capacity	640 kg	-
Fuel Tank Capacity	90 l	45 l
Kerb Weight	2490 kg	1125 kg
Towing Capacity	0 kg	-
Rear Headroom	990 mm	-
Front Legroom	1060 mm	-
Rear Legroom	1075 mm	-
Ground Clearance (Default)	118 mm	130 mm
Ground Clearance (With Full Seating Load)	118 mm	-
Boot/Cargo Space	500 l	460 l
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW)	3130 kg	1555 kg
Seating Capacity	5 seats	5 seats
Number of Rows	2 rows	-
Minimum Turning Radius	6.5 m	5.3 m

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Engine	6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol	1-litre Turbocharged Petrol
Cylinders	12	3
Valves	48	Not Officially Disclosed
Fuel System	Direct Injection	Direct Injection Turbocharged
Compression Ratio	10.0:1	Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Type	AWD	FWD
Top Speed	250 km/h	183 km/h
Engine Code	N74B68A	Not Officially Disclosed
Cylinder Layout	V	Not Officially Disclosed
Aspiration	Twin Turbocharged	Turbocharged
Bore	89 mm	Not Officially Disclosed
Stroke	90.4 mm	Not Officially Disclosed
Drive Modes	Low	Not Officially Disclosed
Valves per Cylinder	4	Not Officially Disclosed
Launch Control	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Engine Displacement	6749 cc	999 cc
Transmission	8-Speed Automatic	7-Speed DCT
0-100 km/h	4.8 sec	10.9 sec
Battery Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
DC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Fuel Type	Petrol	Petrol
Maximum Power	420 kW @ 5000 rpm	70 kW
Maximum Torque	850 Nm @ 1600 rpm	175 Nm
Motor Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Regenerative Braking	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Hybrid System	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Combined Power	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Combined Torque	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Number of Motors	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Motor Location	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Quarter Mile	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Rev Limiter	Not Officially Disclosed	Not Officially Disclosed
Power-to-Weight Ratio	168.7 kW/tonne	62.2 kW/tonne
Torque-to-Weight Ratio	341.4 Nm/tonne	155.6 Nm/tonne
Usable Battery Capacity	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Battery Type	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Battery Voltage	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
Electric Range	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
AC Charging Power	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
AC Charging Time	Not Applicable	Not Applicable
DC Charging Time	Not Applicable	Not Applicable

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Apple CarPlay	Apple CarPlay compatibility	Standard
Android Auto	Android Auto compatibility	Standard
Bluetooth Connectivity	Bluetooth wireless technology; rear passengers can pair headphones individually	Standard
Number of Speakers	16	6
Digital Instrument Cluster	SPIRIT digital instrument interface	Standard
Infotainment System	SPIRIT infotainment operated by touch, controller and voice commands; independent rear-screen streaming available	9-inch Touchscreen
Infotainment Screen	10.25-inch Central Information Display with touchscreen plus available independently streaming rear screens	9-inch Touchscreen
Touchscreen	10.25-inch Central Information Display with touchscreen plus available independently streaming rear screens	9-inch Touchscreen
USB Ports	USB Type-C ports	2
Navigation System	-	Standard
Wireless Apple CarPlay	Apple CarPlay compatibility	Standard
Voice Recognition	-	Standard
Infotainment Screen Size	10.25-inch Central Information Display with touchscreen plus available independently streaming rear screens	9-inch Touchscreen
Infotainment Display	-	9-inch Touchscreen
Rear Usb	-	2
Audio Speakers	16	6
Audio System	-	6
Display Audio	-	9-inch Touchscreen
Front Rear USB Charge Ports	-	2
Multi Information Display	-	Standard
Connected Services	-	Standard
Voice Control	-	Standard
Smartphone Connectivity	-	Standard
Wireless Android Auto	Android Auto compatibility	Standard

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
LED Headlamps	LED and laser headlights with more than 600 m illuminated range	LED
Daytime Running Lamps	Series II daytime-running lights	LED
Fog Lamps	Front fog lamps	LED
Roof Rails	No; vehicle not approved for roof loads	Not Available
Headlights	LED and laser headlights with more than 600 m illuminated range	LED
Panoramic Sunroof	No	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	Bespoke shades available, including Mustique Blue	4
Alloy Wheel Design	-	16-inch Alloy
Chrome Exterior Finish	-	Not Available
Rear Spoiler	-	Not Available
Roof Type	-	Standard
Body Type	-	Sedan
DRL	Series II daytime-running lights	LED
Fog Lights	-	LED
Front Fog Lights	-	LED
Led Headlights	LED and laser headlights with more than 600 m illuminated range	LED
Auto Headlights	-	Standard
Automatic Headlamps	-	Standard
Daytime Running Lights	Series II daytime-running lights	LED
Electric Blind Sunroof	-	Standard
Exterior Colour Options	-	4
Exterior Mirror Electric	-	All Doors
Front Fog Lamps	Front fog lamps	LED
Headlamp Levelling	-	LED
Headlamps	LED and laser headlights with more than 600 m illuminated range	LED
Headlight Type	LED and laser headlights with more than 600 m illuminated range	LED
Load Bed Liner	-	Not Available
Rear Spoiler	-	Not Available
Active Exhaust	-	Not Available

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Wading Depth	Not Applicable	-
Terrain Modes	Not Applicable	Not Available
Locking Differential	No lockable differential	Not Applicable
4WD System Type	Rolls-Royce all-wheel drive with all-wheel steering	Not Applicable
Approach Angle	-	-
Departure Angle	-	-
Underbody Protection	-	Not Available
Hill Descent Control	Hill Descent Control	Not Available
Approach Angle Deg	-	-
Breakover Angle	-	Not Available
Departure Angle Deg	-	-
Energy Recovery Display	-	Not Available
Front Skid Plate Guard	-	Not Available
Off Road Descent Control	-	Not Available
Off Road Traction Assist	-	Not Available
Crawl Control	-	Not Available
Rear Skid Plate Guard	-	Not Available
Skid Plates Fuel Tank	-	Not Available
Skid Plates Transfer Case	-	Not Available
Terrain Mode Mud	-	Not Available
Terrain Mode Normal	-	Not Available
Terrain Mode Rock	-	Not Available
Terrain Mode Sand	-	Not Available
Terrain Mode Snow	-	Not Available
Terrain Response System	-	Not Available
Underbody Camera	-	Not Available
Wading Depth Mm	-	-
Ground Clearance Max	-	130 mm
Ground Clearance Min	-	130 mm

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Tyre Size	255/35 R22 102Y front and 285/30 R22 104Y rear; 255/40 R21 102Y front and 285/35 R21 105Y rear; 255/45 R20 105Y front and 285/40 R20 108Y rear; 255/45 R20 105V M+S all-round	195/55 R16
Front Brake Type	Power-assisted ventilated disc brakes	Ventilated Disc
Rear Brake Type	Power-assisted ventilated disc brakes	Drum
Spare Wheel Type	No spare wheel	Full Size
Wheel Rim Size	20-, 21- and 22-inch approved fitments	16-inch Alloy
Handbrake Type	Electromechanical parking brake acting on rear discs	Not Applicable
Wheel Type	-	16-inch Alloy
Brake Type Front	-	Ventilated Disc
Brake Type Rear	-	Drum
Spare Tyre	No spare wheel	Full Size
Tyre Type	-	195/55 R16
Wheel Diameter	20-, 21- and 22-inch approved fitments	16-inch Alloy
Autonomous Emergency Brake	-	Not Available
Brakes	-	Ventilated Disc
Cornering Brake Control	-	Standard
Fifth Wheel Prep	-	Not Available
Hydraulic Brake Assist	-	Standard
Spare Wheel Size Type	-	Full Size
Steering Wheel Cruise Controls	-	Standard
Tyre Pressure Display	-	Standard
Tyre Pressure Monitoring	Tyre Pressure Monitoring System	Standard
Wheel Material	-	16-inch Alloy
Wheels	-	16-inch Alloy

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Front Suspension	Planar Suspension with upper wishbone damper, electronic dampers and self-levelling air struts	MacPherson Strut
Rear Suspension	Five-link rear axle with self-levelling high-volume air suspension	Torsion Beam
Chassis Type	-	Monocoque
Power Steering	-	Electric
Steering Column	-	Tilt and Telescopic
Front Spring Type	-	MacPherson Strut
Rear Spring Type	-	Torsion Beam
Chassis Material	-	Monocoque
Front Suspension Type	Planar Suspension with upper wishbone damper, electronic dampers and self-levelling air struts	MacPherson Strut
MagneRide Damping	-	Not Available
Rear Axle Type	-	Torsion Beam
Rear Suspension Type	Five-link rear axle with self-levelling high-volume air suspension	Torsion Beam
Suspension	-	MacPherson Strut
Front Track Width	-	Not Applicable
Rear Track Width	-	Not Applicable

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
CO2 Emissions	357 g/km	118 g/km
Fuel Octane Requirement	95 RON; minimum 91 RON	Petrol
Hybrid System Type	-	Not Available
Particulate Filter	-	Not Available
Euro Emission Standard	-	Euro 6
Idle CO2 Output	-	118
CO2 Emissions G Km	-	118

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Ownership Role	Owner-driver-focused saloon with genuine rear-passenger accommodation	Top
Price Source	https://www.rolls-roycemotorcars.com/johannesburg/en_GB/showroom.html	South Africa variant price CSV; verify against latest OEM price list
Pricing Role	Price on application	Current listed price
Price Zar	-	483700 ZAR
Starting Price	-	483700
Starting Price Zar	-	483700

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Warranty	4 years; regional conditions apply	2
Warranty Years	4 years; regional conditions apply	2
Warranty Kilometers	4 years; regional conditions apply	2
Roadside Assistance	-	Not Available
Basic Warranty	4 years; regional conditions apply	2
Roadside Assistance	-	Not Available
Warranty Roadside Assistance	-	Not Available

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Service Plan	4 years / unlimited km	Not Available

Spec	Ghost	Polo Sedan
Real-world City Mileage Min	-	7 l/100km
Real-world City Mileage Max	-	8.5 l/100km
Real-world Highway Mileage Min	-	5.5 l/100km
Real-world Highway Mileage Max	-	6.5 l/100km
Owner Review Count	-	8

Overall Verdict Score

Decision-grade view of the winner, score gap and category strengths.

Weighted / 100

Verdict readout

Ghost leads by 15 points

Ghost holds a noticeable edge over Polo Sedan, especially in key ownership areas.

Winner 72 /100

Lead 15 points

Data 91% confidence

#1 Winner

Ghost

91% data confidence 2 strong categories

Best at Performance 100 Check Efficiency 30

Performance 100

Efficiency 30

Safety 99

Practicality 64

Ownership 44

Leads by 15 points

Polo Sedan

81% data confidence 2 strong categories

Best at Safety 82 Check Ownership 26

Performance 36

Efficiency 72

Safety 82

Practicality 63

Ownership 26

Performance 24% Safety 22% Practicality 22% Efficiency 17% Ownership 15%

Category leaders What moves the verdict

Performance Ghost +64 Efficiency Polo Sedan +42 Safety Ghost +17 Practicality Ghost +1 Ownership Ghost +18

Moderate difference between the models.

Why this score View full breakdown

Overall Winner

Ghost

Performance 100/100

Efficiency 30/100

Safety 99/100

Practicality 64/100

Ownership 44/100

Polo Sedan

Performance 36/100

Efficiency 72/100

Safety 82/100

Practicality 63/100

Ownership 26/100

So, Which One Should You Buy?

🏆 Rolls-Royce Ghost wins with 72 pts vs 57 pts for Polo Sedan

In structured scoring, Ghost emerges as the stronger overall package. However, Polo Sedan may appeal to buyers prioritising different factors. Ultimately, the right choice depends on your driving priorities in South Africa.

Buyers Also Looked At These

Other comparisons that people in the same boat tend to check out.

Questions Buyers Usually Ask

On our scoring the Ghost edges ahead overall. That said, the right choice depends on what you actually use the car for — the breakdown above shows exactly where each one wins and loses.

Efficiency scores: Ghost 30 vs Polo Sedan 72. In the real world, diesel variants of either car will beat the claimed figure on long highways and fall short in Joburg traffic.

Safety scores: Ghost 99, Polo Sedan 82. Check each model page for NCAP ratings and which trim levels include AEB and blind-spot monitoring — those features aren't always standard.

Long-term ownership scores: Ghost 44, Polo Sedan 26. Service intervals, parts availability in SA, and whether a service plan is bundled all factor in — check the individual variant specs for that detail.

Practicality scores: Ghost 64, Polo Sedan 63. This covers boot space, seat flexibility, and day-to-day usability — not just interior dimensions on paper.

Performance scores: Ghost 100, Polo Sedan 36. This looks at real-world pace — 0–100 kph, highway flexibility, and how either car feels when you actually need to overtake on an N-road.

Resale varies with colour, spec, and market timing, but Japanese brands — and Toyota specifically — have a strong track record in SA. Check current used prices for both on AutoTrader to see the real gap right now.

Ground clearance and 4WD availability are what matter most here. Scroll to the spec table above to compare both side by side — if either model offers a 4WD variant, that's the version worth comparing.

Fuel, insurance, and service costs are the big three. Diesel variants of both models typically save R800–R1,500/month in fuel at current SA pump prices. The Ghost edges the overall ownership score, but check whether either variant includes a service plan — that changes the monthly maths significantly.

The Ghost scores better overall, but neither car is a bad buy here. It comes down to what features matter to you — check the full spec table above to see exactly what you gain and lose at each price point.

In Depth — Breaking It All Down

The comparison between Ghost and Polo Sedan in South Africa evaluates performance, efficiency, safety, practicality and long-term ownership value.

Performance: Ghost scores 100 vs 36.

Efficiency: Ghost scores 30 vs 72.

Safety: Ghost scores 99 vs 82.

Practicality: Ghost scores 64 vs 63.

Ownership: Ghost scores 44 vs 26.

Final structured scoring gives Ghost the advantage in this comparison.

Rolls-Royce Ghost vs Volkswagen Polo Sedan

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Volkswagen Polo Sedan

At a Glance — Who Wins What

Key Specs Side by Side

The Bottom Line

Where They Actually Differ

What Each Car Gets Right (and Wrong)

Ghost

Polo Sedan

Which One's Right for You?

Ghost

Polo Sedan

Full Specs, Side by Side

Overall Verdict Score

Ghost leads by 15 points

Ghost

Polo Sedan

Ghost

Polo Sedan

So, Which One Should You Buy?

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In Depth — Breaking It All Down