Login
My Garage
New hero

Volkswagen Polo Review

Volkswagen’s Polo may not be the top selling car in the sector, however, it is probably the most upmarket model in the segment. The Polo is another ‘timeless’ design by the German maker, it is instantly recognizable but comes with a premium badge.

Starting price:
From: £11,300

From: £11,300
Pros:
  • Quality engineering
  • Great to drive
  • Efficient range of engines
Cons:
  • Conservative styling
  • Pricey compared to rivals
  • Interior lacking imagination
More On This Car
Take one for a spin or order a brochure
Request a Volkswagen Polo brochure
Request a Volkswagen Polo test drive

Introduction

Echoing its bigger brother the Golf in the looks department, Volkswagen has gone down the road of what it calls, a timeless design. For many this is exactly what they want, they want people to recognize that they drive a Polo, job done for the design team then. Now in its fourth generation, the Polo has become a common sight on UK roads. The engines have been completely revised while a host of new kit has been added.

On The Road

Performance

There is a wide range of engines on the Polo while you can also opt for a six-speed manual gearbox or a DSG auto ‘box on some versions.

The entry-level petrol engine is a three-cylinder 1.0-litre unit, available with two power outputs 58bhp or 74bhp. The benchmark sprint can be covered in 15.5 and 14.3 seconds respectively.

Move up to the 1.2-litre TSI producing 88bhp and you will notice a marked improvement on power. The benchmark sprint time falls to 10.8 seconds and the engine feels much sweeter and sharper.

Our recommendation on the petrol front, however, is the more powerful version of the 1.2-litre TSI engine, it has a power output of 108bhp and will sprint from a standing start to 62mph in 9.3 seconds

There’s also the turbocharged 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine in the Blue GT. It features Active Cylinder Technology (ACT). This clever bit of kit shuts down two of the cylinders when the car is being driven gently to save fuel, and then when you accelerate again all four cylinders open up to give you full power again. It is so swift that you won’t notice the engine doing its stuff. This version of the Polo will complete the benchmark sprint in 7.9 seconds and will go on to a top speed of 130mph.

On the diesel front, a sole 1.4 TDI engine, producing 88bhp is offered. It will reach 62mph from a standing start in 10.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 114mph. 

Ride Handling

The Polo has always come up a little short when it comes to driving dynamics. In the past, it was never quite as sharp as the Fiesta and never as comfy as other rivals on long motorway trips. Well, this version has grown-up, it is much more comfy to spend long journeys in while handling has also improved. Don’t get us wrong, the Polo’s natural environment is still nipping in and out of the city but it now has more strings to its bow. The ride is good and it feels like its bigger brother the Golf when traversing the motorway network of the UK. It handles well too, okay so it is still not as sharp as a Fiesta and the steering is a little on the light side but this is easily the best ever Polo yet.

Styling

Comfort levels are first class in the Polo, when inside, it feels like a much bigger car, more akin to its sibling the golf, rather than a supermini. Four adults can easily sit in comfort on long journeys, which makes the Polo very appealing. Noise levels are extremely low in the Polo, whether it’s road, tyre or wind, the cabin is a quiet place to spend time in making journeys a pleasant experience. 

In The Car

Behind the Wheel

Plenty of trim levels are available on the Polo and include S, S A/C, SE, SE-Design, SEL and BlueGT.

Standard kit on the entry-level S includes central locking, six-speaker audio system, 5-inch colour touchscreen, automatic post-collision braking system, Bluetooth, USB port, steel wheels, power steering, a CD stereo, DAB Radio, height adjustable driver's seat, steering reach and height adjustment, electric windows and two Isofix child seat attachments.

Order the S A/C, and this adds manual aircon.

According to Volkswagen, the most popular trim is likely to be the SE grade. Highlights include 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured handles, electronically adjustable door mirrors, leather covered gearlever, handbrake lever and steering wheel, trip computer, remote locking and alarm, air-conditioning and multimedia system with 6.5-inch colour touchscreen.

SE Design trim adds 16-inch alloy wheels, a black gloss radiator grille, front fog lights, tinted glass, upgraded upholstery, front sports seats, aluminum pedals and footwell illumination.

Opt for the SEL specification and this adds front and rear parking sensors and a front centre armrest with storage.

The BlueGT standalone model receives special sports seats, a leather-trimmed steering wheel, rear parking sensors and cruise control.

The interior of the Polo is a little bland and could do with a little colour, however, the Germanic functional layout keeps things simple and fuss-free – there is no definitely no switch clutter in the central console of the Polo.

Space & Practicality

Even though the Polo feels big on the inside, it still is a relatively small car in the sector and this is apparent when looking at the boot space. With the seats in place the boot offers 280 litres and if you fold the flat then the load room expands to 952 litres. Although the Ford Fiesta has four litres less boot space with the seats in place, it has, however, eight litres more when the rear bench is folded. 

Ownership

Running Costs

Yes, you will pay a premium for the Volkswagen badge on the Polo but play the long game and you will notice that its residual values are amongst the best in the sector while it is inexpensive to keep on the road thanks to the fuel-efficient engines and, of course, the low emissions.

Quality & Reliability

Reliability in the past has been excellent. The engines have all been proven while most of the components have all been used on the rest of the VW range. Reliability surveys have shown the Polo to perform well and we see no reason for this to change. The little Polo is almost bullet proof and we expect this trait to continue. 

Safety & Security

Volkswagen Polo safety levels are amongst the best in class, so it was no surprise to see Euro NCAP award the car five stars when it was independently crash tested.

Volkswagen has equipped all models with ESP (electronic stability programme), four airbags, ABS and WOKS (Whiplash Optimised Head Restraint System) and Isofix anchor points, post-collision braking fitted to prevent accidents after an initial impact.

More On This Car
Take one for a spin or order a brochure
Request a Volkswagen Polo brochure
Request a Volkswagen Polo test drive
By Simon McBride
Dec 02, 2015

Similar Reviews

Skoda Scala 2024 (2024 - )
This five-door family hatchback does everything rather well without too much fuss. It looks smart, but not flashy, boasts a wealth of...

Regit review

8 / 10 Read review

New from

£ 21,885 Get advice
Skoda Kamiq 2024 (2024 - )
The Kamiq is Skoda’s second-best selling car and has proved a resounding success with families looking for a practical SUV that is big on...

Regit review

8 / 10 Read review

New from

£ 23,820 Get advice
Mercedes-Benz Citan (2023 - )
A low payload limit shouldn’t dim the Mercedes star for those who value volume instead. If that’s you, the Citan is fantastic.

Regit review

8 / 10 Read review

New from

£ 21,310 Get advice