Category: Superminis 
Price Range: £12,460 to £12,960
Neat, confidence-inspiring shape, brilliant residual values.
Stodgy handling, not as well made as it's cracked up to be. The virtually identical Seat Ibiza (hatchback) and Cordoba (saloon and estate) are better value for money.
The image is better than the car.
The Polo boasts minimal depreciation, except for the saloon, which doesn't sell well.
Nevertheless, it's a pretty good used buy. Although customer satisfaction surveys suggest that Volkswagens are not as reliable as VW would have you believe, they are pretty durable. They last a long time, even if they suffer niggles along the way.
Plenty around, so choose carefully. Most have been looked after pretty well, though. Beware high prices from main dealers. The Polo used to be expensive for what it offered, but today's prices represent better value; there may well be some discounts on the pre-facelift stock in anticipation of the revamped models to be launched in February.
It's still no bargain, though, because the Polo isn't quite the quality job the Volkswagen name suggests it should be. The virtually identical Seat Ibiza (hatchback) and Cordoba (saloon and estate) do the same job, but are cheaper. What value would you put on the Volkswagen badge?
Latest Readers' Drives About the Volkswagen Polo
wrote on 03 03 2008
wrote on 29 05 2006