This car has been superseded by a newer model, click here to go to the latest Volkswagen Polo Hatchback review.
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This Volkswagen Polo is arguably the most upmarket small car that you can buy. It's refined, stylish and - depending on which engine you choose - can be incredibly frugal or delightfully quick.
Much of the look and layout inside echoes that of the VW Golf - a high quality car itself. It works so well that many buyers should consider whether they need the extra space of a Golf when this 3/4 scale replica does a very similar job just as well.
One of the Polo’s strengths when on the move is its lack of wind and road noise. It's great on the motorway where it feels as quiet and refined as a larger car, while the light steering and good visibility make it ideal for driving in town.
There’s a decent amount of space inside, with plenty of head and leg room for four adults or two adults and three children.
It’s not the most exciting place in the world to sit – the dashboard design is the usual unadorned, no-nonsense fare you’d expect from Volkswagen – but it has a high-quality feel and is well laid out.
A built-in sat-nav system is available as an option and DAB radio is standard across the Polo range from the 2013 model year onwards in preparation for the planned digital radio switchover.
Although the Polo is a little on the pricey side to buy brand new, it claws some of the initial outlay back on resale values which are strong.
It was one of the first small cars to achieve a five star rating from the Euro NCAP safety body on its launch in 2009, with a 90% score for adult occupant protection.
In early 2014 a facelift was announced for the Polo. The main tweaks are under the skin, where a completely revised set of engines are installed – including a petrol BlueMotion TSI 1.0-litre emitting 94g/km – and adaptive suspension.
There’s also a new range of multimedia systems, which in the future will be fitted with MirrorLink to allow the touchscreen to mimic the applications installed on your smartphone.
Subtle interior and interior tweaks are aimed at VW’s idea of evolution, not revolution. This means a familiar face if you’ve ever seen a Golf or indeed a Polo from 2009 onwards.
As well as the new petrol BlueMotion, there’s an expansive range of engines available. The petrol line-up starts with a 1.0MPI unit available in a range of power outputs and extends to a turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI engine with 140bhp. Diesel choices range from 1.2 to 1.6 litres in capacity and offer respectable economy figures.
A Bluemotion version is available which is free to tax and can average an incredible 81mpg from its 1.2-litre diesel engine. In 2012 Volkswagen added the Polo Blue GT to its range, which features a 1.4-litre petrol engine with cylinder shutdown technology to save fuel and achieve a claimed 61mpg average.
First deliveries of the revised Polo will begin in July 2014.
Read on to find out more in our full Volkswagen Polo review.