Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £12,460 to £12,960
Punchy 1.2 TSI, cabin quality, ride, interior's fine quality, classy looks.
Not as good to drive as the Fiesta, pricey, diesel's long gearing.
Fiesta is more fun, but the Polo is classier and a great all-rounder.
The old Polo range was merely competent on the open road. It was never engaging or enthusiastic on a tight and twisting road - for that you had to buy a Ford Fiesta. But the new Polo has narrowed the gap considerably.
For this you have to thank the underpinnings. The new platform introduces a completely redesigned front suspension and a wider track for greater stability. On the road this adds up to improved steering responses, greater agility and levels of engagement that all previous generation Polos have struggled to deliver.
Alas, it's not quite a Fiesta beater. The little Ford feels sharper and more alert with better steering, but the Polo feels mature and offers a better ride. Think of it as the grown-up supermini option.
Out of the new engine range, it's disappointing that our favourite engine is the most powerful (and expensive) 104bhp 1.2 TSI. The little petrol turbo not only feels lag-free, but helps the Polo sprint from standstill to 62mph in just 9.7 seconds. Furthermore, the Polo's torquey and relaxed attitude makes it a fine companion, even when you're not hurtling down a B-road.
We drove both 74bhp and 89bhp diesels and came away impressed with the common-rail's gain in refinement, but we were disappointed by overly long fourth and fifth gearing, particularly with the 89bhp version. However, the 89bhp averages an incredible 78.5mpg and emits 96g/km of CO2, which is why it's branded 'BlueMotion' in other markets.
We didn't get a chance to drive the least powerful petrol 1.2s, but we did drive the 1.4, which acquitted itself well but lacked the sparkle of the 1.2 TSI.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Polo
wrote on 03 03 2008
wrote on 29 05 2006