Volkswagen Polo review
The Volkswagen Polo has always been a classy supermini. It’s been around for four decades and for much of that time has been regarded as the Golf’s little brother. With that sort of reputation, it’s not surprising you see so many on the roads used by pretty much everyone -from new drivers who love the badge, to retired couples looking for something reliable and a little fun. Read our full Volkswagen Polo review below for more details.
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Pros
- Higher quality than most superminis
- Good-sized boot
- Drives well
Cons
- Rivals can be cheaper
- Best to avoid entry-level spec and engine
Interior
Our rating: 8/10
The VW Polo majors on comfort and refinement, despite its diminutive status.
Driving position
It’s very easy to make yourself feel at home behind the steering wheel, thanks to its range of seat and wheel adjustments.
There’s plenty leg and headroom in the front seats and it’s a similar story in the rear, with no real issues for two or three adults – unless you’re carpooling the local rugby team.
Tech and features
The Polo’s dashboard is more stylish and feels even more special than that of the premium Audi A1.
Every version gets an eight-inch touchscreen as standard, with DAB and sat-nav.
Some cars have digital instruments in front of the driver, while optional Dashpad packs add a splash of colour to the dash.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto form part of the Car-Net App-Connect function, and built-in sat-nav comes with the United trim.
The audio system is reasonable enough on both versions of the Polo, and Beats trim on the later car brings a stereo upgrade that adds a subwoofer.
Performance
Our rating: 7/10
The Polo has changed a heck of a lot since it made its debut in 1975.
Its latest version is only the sixth generation, but VW has done a good job of making sure it can compete with its main rivals, such as the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa.
Handling and ride comfort
The best bit about the way the Polo drives is its suspension, which manages to keep the car composed over rutted roads in town and unflustered on long motorway drives to visit distant relatives. It handles well enough, too.
Engines and power
Acceleration is good with the small, turbocharged petrol engines – the 1.0 and 1.2 – compared with the lower-powered, non-turbo petrol versions.
The diesels are also ideal if you cover longer distances, while the GTI is as quick as rival hot hatches.
Practicality
Our rating: 8/10
Storage solutions
The VW Polo offers decent practicality for a supermini – the two cup holders are a good size so trips to drive-thru restaurants are easy to manage.
There’s at least one USB socket and somewhere to put your phone.
The door bins (front and rear) are spacious, too, and there are pockets on the back of the front seats. In fact, the only supermini that offers more in this regard is the Honda Jazz.
Boot space
The rear seatbacks on most cars are split 60/40, and with the seats in use the boot on the Polo can take 351 litres, which is enough for a regular family shopping trip.
Fold the seats and the boot expands to 1,125 litres, although those seatbacks don’t go completely flat.
Running costs
Our rating: 8/10
Fuel economy
This is a supermini, so you’d expect running costs to be reasonable.
And you’d be right, with average economy from the 1.0-litre petrol engine topping out at 53mpg or so with the manual gearbox.
It makes them a good choice for first drivers who might not be able to afford regular top ups.
If you opt for more power, mpg falls into the 40s, while the GTI’s 2.0-litre unit is in the 30s.
The diesels tend to be the most economical, with the 1.4 and 1.6 TDI returning figures into the 60s if you drive sensibly.
The verdict
Interior
8/10
Performance
7/10
Practicality
8/10
Running costs
8/10
We love how Volkswagen has managed to make its supermini feel like a proper grown-up family car from behind the steering wheel. Its suspension glides over most bumps without fuss, the seats are comfy and the interior features lots of plush materials.
Ths Polo awarded the maximum five stars by crash experts Euro NCAP, which makes the supermini perfect for a broad audience, including new drivers who’ll find it a reassuring car.
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