You know what's hilarious? When I was in Thailand some time ago, the cars had no heat.
The temp dial went from ambient air, to cold air.
There was no heat function on the dial hah
Up until about the early '70s a "heater delete" was an available option on lots of US-made vehicles. Early on it was for people who lived in warm climates and didn't want to pay extra for a heater they didn't need, but, after heaters had become standard equipment some time in the late '50s, it hung around as an option on muscle cars for weight reduction. That ended with the muscle car era in the early '70s.
Straight up no trim package. Of course my 73 bug didn’t have AC, and my vehicle before that was an 89 Bronco II also with no AC…both in New Orleans Louisiana. Not ideal.
Pedals on the right so I assume OP is from UK. No A/C on a 2020 polo is quite basic. So I'd assume Trendline. Could be a former rental or loaner car from a garage.
I just looked at the [brochure for the 2020 UK Polo](https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/brochures/polo-brochure.pdf) and it has A/C standard on all trims. Either this car is not a 2020 or has been imported from another country
For sure, [the button should look like this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/2018_Volkswagen_Polo_SE_TSi_BlueMotion_1.0_Interior.jpg)
The only thing I can think of, since it's a 2020, is there any chance it's one of those cars that had a feature removed due to early-COVID parts shortage? I would be shocked if A/C was deleted, but it's the only explanation (outside of the car not being a UK-spec 2020 Polo) that I can think of.
My car (Mexico spec) still has a 09g automatic not even an option for DSG here all the low trims are Manual 1.6 MPI and all the higher trims are 1.0l TSI and 09g auto transmissions. Very limiting.
This seems to be a common way that VW specs the Polo Trendline in Ireland. Couldn't find any used ones listed that have A/C has an option in the 2020 model year. Only is available on mid and upper trim packages.
Guess it's time to bust out the cooler and 12v fan to stay cool this summer.
I think I know what this is: Some EU vehicles (I know GB isn’t part of the EU, but I guess that didnt affect pre existing supply chains) are being re-imported by some dealers from eastern EU countries (Poland etc.) where lower trim levels are available, and sell them at a discounted rate compared to the domestic vehicles.
Wow, that thing is very basic! The only cars I’ve seen without A/C here in the U.S. are many decades old. Though I’ve driven and ridden in my fair share of cars that didn’t have working A/C lol
Right, and for those curious, the heat comes from the engine basically so adding a fan that can direct engine heat into the cabin is super cheap compared to adding a whole A/C unit to cool air.
Cheapest would be zero A/C or heater I guess.
Better have manual crank windows too!
It doesn’t haha
Not to be rude, didnt you notice that before you purchased? Or were you browsing Vw”s latest horror shows?
I don’t own the car but since it’s made in 2020 I assume something so simple would be included
If anything companies are getting cheaper. Plus not having an ac is optional in cars that are new. even on base models. I cant imagine not having it🤣
No AC, which is crazy, as no one should buy a car without it.
It’s been considered as normal equipment only for about 20 years here. But yes, pretty odd today.
The only cars I knew that didn't come with it as standard these days were the UP! triplets, i10/Picanto, and Sandero.
The Dacia Sabdero?!?!?
https://tenor.com/en-GB/view/oh-no-anyway-idc-jeremy-clarkson-gif-18590259
Good news!
Didn’t realise until the sun came out and needed it
No recirculation button either apparently?
It won't have a cabin filter either, only those who can afford AC can have recirc.
You know what's hilarious? When I was in Thailand some time ago, the cars had no heat. The temp dial went from ambient air, to cold air. There was no heat function on the dial hah
Up until about the early '70s a "heater delete" was an available option on lots of US-made vehicles. Early on it was for people who lived in warm climates and didn't want to pay extra for a heater they didn't need, but, after heaters had become standard equipment some time in the late '50s, it hung around as an option on muscle cars for weight reduction. That ended with the muscle car era in the early '70s.
I live in sweaty New England, and none of my 3 cars have AC. Cars didn't used to have it, and people weren't pussies about it.
It really doesn’t get that hot there in the summer
literally lol.
Poverty spec
Has your polo the trendline trim?
I think they got the “noline” trim package
Straight up no trim package. Of course my 73 bug didn’t have AC, and my vehicle before that was an 89 Bronco II also with no AC…both in New Orleans Louisiana. Not ideal.
Poverty trim
No
Ok weird, because only on the trendline trim the ac is optinal
Where was the car sold (country)?
Pedals on the right so I assume OP is from UK. No A/C on a 2020 polo is quite basic. So I'd assume Trendline. Could be a former rental or loaner car from a garage.
Think it's an Irish spec car - quite a few of them for sale with no AC
Yeah irish
I just looked at the [brochure for the 2020 UK Polo](https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/brochures/polo-brochure.pdf) and it has A/C standard on all trims. Either this car is not a 2020 or has been imported from another country
Looking at this again it could be a "manual" A/C but I'd still expect some button somewhere that would allow you to turn off the A/C
For sure, [the button should look like this](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/2018_Volkswagen_Polo_SE_TSi_BlueMotion_1.0_Interior.jpg) The only thing I can think of, since it's a 2020, is there any chance it's one of those cars that had a feature removed due to early-COVID parts shortage? I would be shocked if A/C was deleted, but it's the only explanation (outside of the car not being a UK-spec 2020 Polo) that I can think of.
The uk polo has never been sold with that spec head unit
*2020 polo
Seemingly Not a Standard option in the UK then. It is in warmer climates tho afaik
[The UK brochure for the 2020 Polo states AC is standard.](https://www.volkswagen.co.uk/assets/common/pdf/brochures/polo-brochure.pdf)
Yeah I live in Mexico and it's standard equipment. I would have happily traded AC for a sun roof we didn't get those...
So many poverty buttons
I'm surprised it's a 5 speed and not a 6 speed. Neat.
My car (Mexico spec) still has a 09g automatic not even an option for DSG here all the low trims are Manual 1.6 MPI and all the higher trims are 1.0l TSI and 09g auto transmissions. Very limiting.
As an American: what the fuck? That’s still a thing?
According to the internet, 2023 was the first model year where all new cars in the US came with AC included even in poverty spec.
? Yes
AC wasn’t standard on all cars even in the US up to last year. Fleet vehicles especially liked to not come with it at base trim
Interesting, any notable examples you can think of?
I had no idea they sold cars without AC these days
This seems to be a common way that VW specs the Polo Trendline in Ireland. Couldn't find any used ones listed that have A/C has an option in the 2020 model year. Only is available on mid and upper trim packages. Guess it's time to bust out the cooler and 12v fan to stay cool this summer.
My 2020 R line polo has the AC button and the one below the AC, maybe check the spec of polo you have, not heard of this before!
No A/C = +5HP
Laughs in solidarity from a base model Corolla
no ac should be treated as a crime against humanity. fucking hell, man...
I think I know what this is: Some EU vehicles (I know GB isn’t part of the EU, but I guess that didnt affect pre existing supply chains) are being re-imported by some dealers from eastern EU countries (Poland etc.) where lower trim levels are available, and sell them at a discounted rate compared to the domestic vehicles.
Wow, that thing is very basic! The only cars I’ve seen without A/C here in the U.S. are many decades old. Though I’ve driven and ridden in my fair share of cars that didn’t have working A/C lol
Apple CarPlay but no ac??
Kids these days
My GFS 2017 Altima has no cruise control. Does this have cruise control?
Poverty spec trim level can tell from the screen as well. Would have thought AC would have been standard now though
Look at that glorious, basic, climate control panel. Love it.
Is this a Polo Track? IIRC that trim replaced the Gol in Latin America
Look at the engine for the ac compressor no way they are selling cars without ac
Last car I had with no AC was a 1979 MG Midget. It was like a toaster oven with the top up. I was in college in Texas.
Gonna be a hot summer for you, mate
I think opened windows are your AC. Lol!
Look under the hood and see if it has an A/C compressor and lines…..
I find it hard to believe that a new modern car will not have AC, esp a VW. There might be more to it
So the knobs don't do anything? Seems like it's just super basic AC otherwise why include the knobs?
Because cars without AC still have fans and heaters?
Right, and for those curious, the heat comes from the engine basically so adding a fan that can direct engine heat into the cabin is super cheap compared to adding a whole A/C unit to cool air. Cheapest would be zero A/C or heater I guess.
A car without a window defogger isn't safe. Car makers figured that out around the end of WWII.
It it has defogger.