Volkswagen Polo
It’s getting old, but this perennial class front-ru nner is still at the top of its game for driving and running costs MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI 90 Match Edition PRICE: £15,090 ENGINE: 1.2-litre 4cyl, 89bhp
THE Volkswagen Polo has dominated the supermini class ever since the facelifted model appeared in 2014. With a blend of refinement, quality, practicality and precision, it’s got all bases covered, which has allowed it to see off a host of newer rivals. Here we sample it in £15,090 1. 2 TSI Match Edition guise, which delivers an impressive combination of value, kit, performance and efficiency.
DESIGN & ENGINEERING
AN all-new Polo based on the firm’s scalable MQB architecture is due later this year, so the current car still uses the older PQ25 underpinnings that the firm has developed over the past decade or so. It’s a conventional layout, with strut front suspension and a torsion beam rear axle, while externally the Polo looks more traditional than the angular Micra and quirky C3.
The VW is the only car here to use a four-cylinder engine, although like its rivals it’s linked to a five-speed manual box. A seven-speed twin-clutch transmission can be added for £1,375. If you want the new 108bhp 1.0-litre three-cylinder TSI, then you’ll need to fork out a hefty £17,470 for the SEL.
Inside, the VW feels the most upmarket choice. Not only is it solidly built from high-grade materials, its design is functional and slick. Better still, it matches the Micra for kit, with air-conditioning, cruise control and parking sensors all featuring. The only black mark is the fact AEB is a £400 option – although this also adds adaptive cruise control.
Other options include £910 LED headlights, £360 heated seats, a £245 reversing camera and sat-nav at £700. The Nissan and Citroen don’t have the same scope for upgrades.
DRIVING
VW ’S tried-and-tested 1. 2 TSI 90 motor is a little old hat in this company, but it’s an effective performer that’s popular with buyers. With 89bhp and 160Nm of torque, the four-cylinder unit is on a par with the Micra, but trails the more powerful C3. At the track, the eager engine pulled the Polo from 0-60mph in 9.9 seconds, which was two-tenths behind the Citroen, but nine tenths ahead of the Nissan. The Polo consolidated its advantage in-gear, where it was fastest of all in fourth and fifth gear.
On the road, the VW feels the most eager, while its engine is smoother and quieter than the three-cylinder units of its rivals. There’s further praise for the five-speed gearbox, which benefits from a slick and precise action. It works in conjunction with the light and progressive clutch to make the Polo the easiest car to drive smoothly, particularly around town.
Even though the underpinnings aren’t at the cutting edge, thorough development means the Polo feels assured on the move. It’s not as soft as the C3, but the damping takes the edge off big bumps more effectively. Refinement is also good, with mechanical, wind and road noise kept in check, even at high speeds. It really does feel like a larger car when cruising on the motorway.
And the faster you drive the VW, the better it is. Body roll is well checked and there’s bags of grip, while the naturally weighted steering allows you to place the car accurately. The Micra isn’t far behind when it comes to agility and composure, but it lacks the Polo’s dynamic polish and excellent refinement.
PRACTICALITY
THE VW ’s boot is the smallest here at 280 litres, which is 20 litres behind both of its rivals. However, the opening is large and the load bay is reasonably well shaped. It also benefits from a variable boot floor, which allows you to choose between extra space or a totally flat area when the rear bench is folded flat.
The Polo’s packaging gives a good level of leg and headroom in the rear, so while it’s not as spacious as the C3, there’s at least as much space as in the Micra. The Polo will comfortably accommodate a pair of adults, its doors open wide for easy access and the large glass area creates a bright atmosphere.
There’s also lots of handy storage, including large door bins and a big glovebox, plus a useful cubby ahead of the gearlever that houses two cup-holders, as well as the USB and 12V sockets.
OWNERSHIP
VW will no doubt want to forget its 2016 Driver Power performance, as it finished 24th overall, while its dealer network was ranked 28th out of 31. Even so, these were better results than Nissan could manage.
Matters improve for the Polo when it comes to safety, and it has a five-star Euro NCAP rating, but it’s worth bearing in mind that it was assessed in 2009, while the C3 earned four stars under much tougher conditions in 2017. Four airbags, stability control and a driver fatigue monitor are standard on the Polo, but autonomous emergency is an option, while front and rear curtain airbags can be added for £660.
RUNNING COSTS
ALL three cars recorded similar fuel economy on test. The Polo returned a respectable 43.6mpg at the pumps, which was a fraction ahead of the C3.
Based on these figures it means there’s just £10 difference in your annual fuel bill, with the Polo coming in slightly cheaper with a total of £1,474. However, the Nissan was even more efficient than the VW and Citroen, returning 45.5mpg.
The Nissan emits the least CO2, so it’s no surprise it had an advantage when we worked out the test figures. It’ll only save you £62 a year over the Polo, though.