Which battery does the Volkswagen Polo take? Generation by generation

Car battery by model

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Polo has Start-Stop. The Volkswagen Polo Mk4 9N (2001-2014) usually takes a battery like the Varta D24: conventional, 60 Ah and 540 A, case size L2. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 6R (from 2009) usually takes a battery like the Varta A8: AGM, 60 Ah and 680 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta C22 (conventional, 52 Ah). Below you will find all 5 generations, each with its battery.

  • 5 generations
  • from 1981
  • 89 engines
  • AGM · EFB · conventional

Check with your number plateWe show you only the batteries that fit your exact version.

Volkswagen Polo generations and their battery

Newest first. If you are not sure which one you have, go by the year of manufacture or check with your number plate.

How the Volkswagen Polo battery has changed

Start-Stop becomes widespread with the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 6R (2009), and with it come AGM and EFB batteries. Earlier generations —Volkswagen Polo Mk2 86C, Volkswagen Polo Mk3 6N and Volkswagen Polo Mk4 9N— use conventional batteries from 41 to 74 Ah. The most common case size is L2, but not every generation uses it: check yours before you buy.

How to tell which Volkswagen Polo you have

Each generation has its own production years and model code, which you will find in the car’s documents. These are the body styles of each one:

GenerationYearsBody styles (model code)
Volkswagen Polo Mk6 (AW)from 2017Polo VI (AW1, BZ1, AE1)
Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (6R)from 2009Polo V (6R1, 6C1), Polo V Saloon (602, 604, 612, 614), Polo Van (6R)
Volkswagen Polo Mk4 (9N)2001-2014Polo IV (9N_, 9A_), Polo IV Saloon (9A4, 9A2, 9N2, 9A6)
Volkswagen Polo Mk3 (6N)1994-2002Polo III (6N1), Polo (6N2), Polo III Classic (6V2), Polo Variant (6V5), Polo Van Hatchback Van (6N1), Polo Van Estate Van (6V5)
Volkswagen Polo Mk2 (86C)1981-1994Polo II (86C, 80), Polo Coupe (86C, 80), Polo Classic (86C, 80), Polo Hatchback Van (86CF)

Frequently asked questions

Which battery does the Volkswagen Polo take?

It depends on the generation and on whether your Volkswagen Polo has Start-Stop. The Volkswagen Polo Mk4 9N (2001-2014) usually takes a battery like the Varta D24: conventional, 60 Ah and 540 A, case size L2. With Start-Stop, the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 6R (from 2009) usually takes a battery like the Varta A8: AGM, 60 Ah and 680 A; without Start-Stop, the Varta C22 (conventional, 52 Ah). Below you will find all 5 generations, each with its battery.

Do all Volkswagen Polo generations take the same battery?

No. The battery changes with the generation, the engine and Start-Stop: the Volkswagen Polo Mk4 (9N) mostly takes the Varta D24 (conventional) and the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (6R) the Varta A8 (AGM).

Since when has the Volkswagen Polo had Start-Stop?

It became widespread with the Volkswagen Polo Mk5 6R (2009). Those versions need AGM and EFB; if your Volkswagen Polo is older or has no Start-Stop, it takes a conventional battery.

How do I know which generation my Volkswagen Polo is?

By the years of manufacture (Volkswagen Polo Mk3 (6N): 1994-2002; Volkswagen Polo Mk4 (9N): 2001-2014; Volkswagen Polo Mk5 (6R): from 2009; Volkswagen Polo Mk6 (AW): from 2017) or, more easily, with your number plate: our search identifies the exact model and engine and shows you only the batteries that fit.

Updated: · Source: battery application data by engine (KType TecDoc), the same data our number plate search uses, plus the datasheet of each battery.

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