Kentish Express Ashford & District
A supermini with added polish
Ted Welford finds out what difference Volkswagen’s tweaks have made to the Polo
While buyers might be flocking to crossovers and SUVs at a ridiculous rate, there’s still a lot to be said for more sensible superminis. For years these were the bread and butter option, and while the market may have changed, these models continue to top UK car sales charts, including the likes of the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa and Volkswagen Polo.
And the Polo is a massively important car for VW, with 18 million versions being produced since 1975 – and with the sixthgeneration Polo arriving in
2017, it was due a slight refresh, to keep it up-to-date. But is this new car good enough to compete with the best?
WHAT’S NEW?
VW is better known for evolution than revolution, and this latest Polo is a subtle update, to say the least. Design changes include new standard-fit LED headlights, and tweaked styling at the front and rear to give a slightly more aggressive look, and bring it closer to that of the new Golf. Inside, there’s a new instrument cluster that is found on every Polo, regardless of trim, while additional safety kit is available – including a new predictive adaptive cruise control and Matrix LED headlights, which are particularly advanced for a car of this size. Finally, VW has chopped and changed all the trim levels in-line with all its latest models.
WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE? The demands placed on small cars these days are exceptional, and an average drive just won’t cut it. But the Polo is a superb all-rounder behind the wheel, with its stand-out factor being its brilliant refinement. Even at higher speeds, it’s exceptionally hushed, while standard-fit adaptive cruise control makes it fantastic on motorway runs. Our test car’s relatively small alloy wheels also allowed for a particularly comfortable ride, while should you find yourself on a twisty stretch of tarmac, it feels nimble and agile. Its performance will never wow, but there’s plenty of punch for safe overtakes. The DSG automatic is the only real weakness, having a real hesitancy at slower speeds. Flicking the gearbox into the ‘Sport’ setting does help to improve things, though.
WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?
Previously the Polo was available in trim levels called SE/Match and SEL, but these have now been swapped for Life and
Style, mirroring Volkswagen’s latest naming structure. Even as standard the Life gets a generous amount of kit, such as LED lights, a fantastic eight-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and electric folding mirrors. Jump up to the Style to get more advanced Matrix LED headlights, along with satellite navigation, 16-inch alloy wheels and parking sensors. Meanwhile, at the top of the standard Polo range, the R-Line brings a sportier styling kit, part-microfibre sports seats and dual-zone climate control. The Polo is a rather pricey number, with the cheapest model costing £18,285, but once you’ve upgraded to the turbocharged engine, it’s added another
£1,000 to the price. However, while it’s certainly not cheap, considering the entry-level trim is so generously equipped there’s little need to upgrade.
THE VERDICT
VW hasn’t made a huge range of tweaks on its Polo, but the ones that have been made are welcome as it now looks sharper, gets more technology and is far better equipped than before. It makes you question the need to upgrade to the class above, as it feels more Golf-like than ever, which is most certainly a compliment.