Volkswagen Polo
MODEL TESTED: Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95PS R-Line PRICE: £18,810 ENGINE: 1.0-litre 3cyl, 94bhp It has a premium image, although VW is cheaper than the Corsa
THE Volkswagen Polo has always been known as the premium supermini, but the 1.0 TSI 95PS R-Line tested here is actually cheaper than the Corsa, at £18,810. Given the strides we’ve already seen the Corsa take, is the Vauxhall now a more complete supermini than the VW?
Design & engineering
DESPITE wearing a ‘premium’ tag, when we tested the sixth-generation
Polo for the first time two years ago, it was immediately obvious that there was a drop in material quality inside when compared with its predecessor.
Many of the dashboard and door plastics are harder than those used in the Clio, even if they feel slightly better than in the Corsa. But the trade-off for the VW ’s slightly harsher materials is that it’s a bigger, more practical package that’s competitively priced.
That comes courtesy of the Polo’s MQB A0 chassis architecture – a scalable platform which is used to underpin other small cars within the VW Group, much like both the Corsa’s CMP platform and the Clio’s CMF-B running gear, .
Here, the Polo’s 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo engine makes 94bhp, so it’s slightly down on its rivals. But the 175Nm of torque it makes is 15Nm up on the Renault, although the Vauxhall is 30Nm ahead. The VW uses a five-speed manual transmission, which feels precise when compared with its rivals here.
Cars at this price point aren’t usually fitted with any advanced engine tech or active chassis components, and that’s true of this trio – but at least the VW gets a respectable level of equipment.
One obvious omission is the lack of standard-fit sat-nav. However, given the typical demographic of many supermini buyers and the prevalence of smartphones these days, the fact that you can access navigation through your Apple or Android device as standard means it’s not a big issue.
Otherwise the kit level is decent. Parking sensors are standard, while a reversing camera costs £255. Autonomous braking is included, although extra safety tech is optional. Like the Corsa, air-con is standard, while adding climate control costs £415.
You can also choose to add some tech touches, such as a 10.3-inch digital dashboard for £335 and keyless operation for £320. This sounds like you have to add a lot of optional kit, but the core of what the VW offers is solid, just like its build quality.
Driving
THAT solid theme continues when it comes to how the Polo drives. Its steering is the most accurate, although it’s a bit light, and body control is better than in either rival, so the Polo rolls less. It’s also smoother over bumps – the bigger wheels of R. S. Line trim hurt the Clio in this area. The Polo doesn’t ride perfectly, because poor road surfaces cause vibration, but it’s still the smoothest of this trio.
Despite its power deficit, the solid torque figure and a low kerbweight helped the Polo to be fastest from 0-60mph, taking 10. 2 seconds. The excellent gearbox also helps with its well judged ratios.
The VW easily surpassed the Clio’s in-gear figures, with the biggest margin between 50-70mph
in fifth, where it was 2.6 seconds quicker, taking 13.1 seconds. However the Corsa was faster still, beating the Polo and Clio in every one of our ingear tests courtesy of its punchy 1. 2-litre engine and the closer ratios of its six-speed gearbox.
The Polo’s 1.0-litre engine is refined, and it revs smoothly and with more gusto than the Clio’s. The five-speed manual has a sweet shift action, too; it’s more mechanical in feel and more pleasant to use.
Practicality
THE Polo’s 351-litre boot slots between its rivals in terms of capacity. Where the
VW gains an advantage is the trade-off between load space and passenger room, because the Polo has the most spacious back seats. Superminis aren’t often used with their rear seats folded, but if you’re looking for maximum boot space, the VW offers 1,125 litres. The Corsa comes in at 1,118 litres and the Clio is 1,069 litres.
As has been the trend for superminis over the past few years, all three of these cars can now occasionally operate as family machines. It’s the VW and Renault that are the most comfortable in doing so – the Polo benefits from its decent leg and headroom, while the Clio’s advantage is its big boot.
Ownership
VW ranked 17th in our Driver Power survey, while the Polo’s five-star Euro
NCAP rating is more impressive. Autonomous emergency braking is standard, while you can add both lane-keep assist and blind-spot monitoring as part of a £525 pack.
These cars are often used by new drivers, so it’s worth mentioning insurance. The Polo is rated lowest in Group 8, so will be the cheapest to cover for our sample driver, at £365 per year. This compares with £428 for the Vauxhall (in Group 17) and £375 for the Renault (Group 10).
Running costs
FACTOR in servicing, and the VW will be the cheapest, at £288 for a two-year service plan, while the Renault’s three-year maintenance deal comes in at £449. The Vauxhall is pricier at £665 for three years.
All three cars recorded very close fuel economy, with the Polo notching up 44. 2mpg, just a fraction ahead of the Clio and 1.5mpg behind the Corsa.
As a result you’ll spend £1,556 at the pumps with the VW, £1,563 with the Renault and £1,505 with the Vauxhall. You’ll stop less frequently in the Corsa courtesy of its larger 44-litre fuel tank, too.
Testers’ notes
“As with the TCe 130 engine in the Clio, VW’s 1.0 TSI is available with 113bhp if you want more power. At the moment the 1.2 Turbo 100 in the Corsa is the strongest engine on offer in that car.”