Volkswagen Polo Hatchback (09 on) - Review

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 Volkswagen 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.

Quiet and refined

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.

Digital radio as standard

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.

Super-frugal Bluemotion version

There’s an expansive range of engines available. The petrol line-up starts with a 1.2-litre 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.

To find out more, read on for our full Volkswagen Polo review.