Volkswagen Derby 86C 1.3 (55 Hp)


Overall Rating

6.5 / 10
Safety N/A / 5
Not Rated
Engine 3.0 / 5
Value 3.8 / 5
Performance 2.5 / 5
Comfort 2.8 / 5
People\'s Opinion 3.5 / 5

Volkswagen Derby:

Volkswagen Derby was the name first given by German automaker Volkswagen for the commercialization of the booted saloon version of its Volkswagen Polo Mk1 supermini, between 1977 and 1981 in Europe. Later, the Derby name was used by the Mexican Volkswagen subsidiary for the Polo Classic Mk3 saloon on its domestic market in the mid-1990s.
With 72,412 sold in 1977 alone the car was initially popular, outselling the Polo sister model in that year, but sales quickly tailed off in subsequent years....(Read more on Wikipedia)

86C Overview:

Volkswagen Derby (86C). It has moderate fuel consumption (~9.5 l/100km). Front‑wheel drive delivers efficiency and easy handling. A four-door car with a separate trunk, ideal for families and daily commuting. Seating for 5 makes it ideal for daily use.

Safety Rating
Not rated
Euro NCAP Year N/A
Adult Occupant N/A
Stars N/A
Expert Note:
The Volkswagen Derby 86C was produced before the establishment of Euro NCAP testing. Safety standards of the era were significantly different, focusing on basic structural integrity rather than modern crash test ratings.

1.3 (55 Hp) Verdict:

Rating 3 stars

Performance Verdict

A modest performer, the 55 Hp 1.3-liter engine (HK code) provides adequate power for city driving and occasional longer journeys, though acceleration is uninspiring.

Fuel Economy

Offers reasonable fuel economy for its time, with an urban consumption of 9.5 l/100 km and extra-urban of 6.6 l/100 km, making it a cost-effective choice.

Best Use Case: City / Suburban Commuting

reddit Community Verdict

This rating is based on comments found on Reddit, scanned using artificial intelligence, and may not accurately reflect reality.

Allowed: 54% Neutral: 15% Issues: 31%
rating
3.5 / 5

Based on AI analysis of 13 discussions

Read What Owners Say
👍 POSITIVE
The JD power reviews and bullshit and bought out VW's are reliable. Their 2.0T engines are nearly bullet proof. Granted they have been having issues with their tiguans but overall great cars!
👍 POSITIVE
Yes. I had a 2013 Jetta S, put 160k on it with zero issues and nothing but basic maintenance and traded it in for a new Jetta.
👎 NEGATIVE
A lot of people conflate cost of maintenance with reliability. The people bashing brands like VW, Audi, and BMW will turn around and praise Porsches for being reliable. Yes, Porsches are reliable, but maintenance costs are high. Being reliable means that the car won't break down on you unexpectedly. Unless you're buying a VW that is well known to fail (for example, 1st and 2nd gen EA888 engines),
👎 NEGATIVE
I’m at 105k miles and had to replace two emissions systems valves ($1800) and the 21’s have shit brakes. I’ve spent more money on brakes and rotors than anything. Almost never have to change them on a Yota or a Honda. Facts
👍 POSITIVE
Take care of the car and it'll take care of you for a long while.
👍 POSITIVE
Every 5,000 miles change the oil using the Volkswagen standard 502 synthetic, and you should have many years of hassle-free driving. I'm driving a 25-year-old Passat wagon with 190,000 mi on the clock. So I guess what I'm saying is they're reliable as long as you do the maintenance.
👍 POSITIVE
We have a 22 year old Golf with 200 k, got a new battery and egr valve, a 13 year old polo with a new battery and 75k. And an ID.3 with 20k and 4 years old.
👎 NEGATIVE
Reliable? Yes but not as good as they used to be (built wise). They used to be better but VW cut corners since Diesel gate.
👍 POSITIVE
They are reliable. I only have to top off my coolant reservoir in 4 months.
👍 POSITIVE
116k on my stage two mk7 1.8 tsi . Besides water pump and a leaky drain pain , it’s been great and still have fun driving it .


Pros and Cons:

Pros:

  • • Economical to run (especially lower-powered engines)
  • • Compact and easy to maneuver in city traffic
  • • Simple, robust mechanicals for good reliability
  • • Practical sedan body style for its size
  • • Affordable to purchase and maintain

Cons:

  • • Limited performance, especially with smaller engines
  • • Basic interior comfort and features
  • • Outdated safety features by modern standards
  • • Loud cabin at higher speeds
  • • Rear suspension dependent spring suspension (less refined)

Specifications:

Specifications are compared to those of the previous generation(86C: 1981 - 1984).

General:
Brand:Volkswagen
Model:Derby
Generation:86C
Modification (Engine):1.3 (55 Hp)
Start of production:1983
End of production:1984
Powertrain Architecture:Internal Combustion engine
Body type:Sedan
Seats:5
Doors:2
Engine:
Power:55 Hp @ 5400 rpm. Same horsepower
Power per litre:43.2 Hp/l
Engine Model/Code:HK More details about the engine HK
Engine displacement:1272
Number of cylinders:4
Engine configuration:Inline
Number of valves per cylinder:2
Fuel injection system:Carburettor
Engine aspiration:Naturally aspirated engine
Engine oil capacity:3.5 l
Engine layout:Front, Transverse
Cylinder Bore:75 mm mm
Piston Stroke:72 mm mm
Compression ratio:9.5:1
Performance:
Fuel Type:Petrol (Gasoline)
Fuel consumption (economy) - urban:9.5 l/100 km
Fuel consumption (economy) - extra urban:6.6 l/100 km
Space:
Fuel tank capacity:40 l
Powertrain:
Drivetrain ArchitectureThe Internal combustion engine (ICE) drives the front wheels of the vehicle.
Drive wheelFront wheel drive
Number of gears4
Transmission typeManual
Front brakesDisc [bad for performance and cooling.]
Rear brakesDrum [bad for performance and cooling.]
Steering typeSteering rack and pinion
Tires size145/80 R13
Wheel rims size4.5J x 13
Front suspensionIndependent, type McPherson with coil spring and anti-roll bar
Rear suspensiondependent spring suspension

Show off your Volkswagen Derby knowledge – drop a review below!