Volkswagen Polo review
Polished Polo is well built and spacious, with an extensive range

At a glance |
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New price | £18,855 - £24,460 |
Lease from new | From £228 p/m View lease deals |
Used price | £8,010 - £23,975 |
Used monthly cost | From £200 per month |
Fuel Economy | 42.8 - 57.6 mpg |
Road tax cost | £165 |
Insurance group | 1 - 12 How much is it to insure? |
New
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PROS
- Impressive array of on-board technology
- Efficient engine range
- Spacious for a supermini
CONS
- The fanciest equipment is optional
- Refinement occasionally lets it down
- Variable ride comfort
Volkswagen Polo Hatchback rivals
The Volkswagen Polo is a smart, polished and solid choice. Importantly, it’s just that bit more sophisticated than the average supermini thanks to a premium and grown-up image that shouts sensible in a way that no other big-selling small car does.
Previous Polos had interiors that were a bit dour, but this latest model can be vibrant and modern, packed with technology, and has liberal helpings of soft-touch plastics to keep things feeling premium.
It has plenty of rivals. The Ford Fiesta is the most famous, while it also goes up against the SEAT Ibiza, Skoda Fabia and Audi A1, as well as the MINI Hatch, Toyota Yaris, Nissan Micra and the Vauxhall Corsa.
Inside it’s pretty spacious considering its size and the materials would feel equally at home in larger, more expensive cars.
Engines consist of 1.0-litre petrols with different power outputs, available with manual or automatic gearboxes, plus a 2.0-litre petrol that’s reserved for the GTI.
VW’s bosses see all this as ‘overcoming traditional class boundaries’ – meaning you get a lot more of a large car experience in this Polo. We say it gives you a great deal of car for the money.
Over the next few pages we’ll be thoroughly reviewing all aspects of the Volkswagen Polo and rating them in our verdict. Our scores will take into account the driving experience, how pleasant the interior is, the practicality on offer and what it’ll cost you to run.