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 Polo, like the Golf, has made significant gains in refinement and comfort. Wind, tyre and suspension noise are all well-suppressed at 70mph.
We will have to reserve full judgement on ride quality, since the Italian roads we drove were smoothly surfaced and well-maintained, a million miles away from the near-lunar landscape British drivers face - but early impressions are good. Even on the biggest 17" wheels, the Polo remained comfortable, soaking up big bumps and the occasional rut.
Inside the cabin the seats are supportive and comfortable, and there's just enough room for a six footer to sit beside another six footer thanks to the lengthened wheelbase.
The boot is average for the class at 280 litres.
As far as kit count goes for each of the four trims, expect the base 'S' level trim to be sparsely equipped and lack both air-con, alloys, rear electric windows and even a remote function for the central locking to help it come in at the £9,000 price point.
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Polo
wrote on 03 03 2008
wrote on 29 05 2006