2021 Volkswagen Polo review
If you are wanting an impressive small car that is spacious and great to drive, then the Volkswagen Polo will meet your needs.
Not only does the interior look and feel plush, but there's also a large boot and it's a sound choice in the competitive supermini segment.
The rivals include the very good Ford Fiesta and the Audi A1, but the Polo manages to raise the bar for other superminis to meet.
The latest version is more sophisticated and slightly bigger than the model it replaced, which helps to make it all-round impressive offering.
And while some of the options list includes equipment that other rivals will have as standard, there’s still a lot to recommend the Polo over them.
Good range of engines for the VW Polo
There's also a good range of engines for the VW Polo that will meet most needs. However, the 1.0-litre petrol engine producing 79bhp feels underpowered, particularly when overtaking on motorways.
The pick of the engines is the turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine which produces 94 bhp. The engine delivers a responsive car that is enjoyable to drive.
There's also the potential of the 1.0-litre unit producing 108 bhp for more fun behind the wheel, and the impressive Polo GTI that gets a turbocharged 2.0-litre unit.
The Polo’s power is delivered
There's no longer a diesel engine choice and the Polo’s power is delivered using either a five-speed manual box, while the 108bhp unit gets a six-speed manual box that delivers good performance.
We also really liked the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission that is available as an option on most variants as this delivered a comfortable ride around town and was a slick performer on motorways.
Fuel consumption for the 94bhp engine is around 54mpg, with emissions of 120g/km.
That makes it a nice choice for company car drivers wanting to lease a decent supermini with an affordable Benefit-in-Kind (BIK) rate.
Handling for the Volkswagen Polo
The handling for the Volkswagen Polo is set for enjoyment and is particularly impressive at speed.
The steering gives good feedback and if you spend most of your time driving around town, this is a rewarding car to be in.
The suspension also impresses by smoothing out rough roads and delivering minimal body lean.
The cabin is spacious, including for those sat in the rear seats, and the overall build quality impresses as everything feels solid.
Polo models feature autonomous emergency braking
All Polo models feature autonomous emergency braking, an eight-inch infotainment screen and LED running lights.
Standard safety features impress, and the car achieved a five-star rating when crash-tested by Euro NCAP.
The Polo also features pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control.
Options include a park assist system which will self-park the Polo – an ambitious offering for the segment.
Polo looks very similar to its Volkswagen Golf
From the outside, the Polo looks very similar to its Volkswagen Golf sibling and is only available in five-door guise.
Standard equipment includes air-conditioning, parking sensors and electric windows.
Other models come with front fog lights, alloy wheels and privacy glass.
The SEL trim is worth considering with automatic windscreen wipers, dual-zone climate control, and chrome additions to the exterior and interior trim.
The rather expensive Polo R-Line comes with a body kit, larger alloy wheels and various interior upgrades.
Volkswagen Polo undoubtedly impresses
As a supermini, the Volkswagen Polo undoubtedly impresses but the real surprise is that the Polo takes on the likes of the VW Golf - and there's a lot to recommend buying the supermini, rather than the better-known Mk8 Golf. So, save some cash, search for used Volkswagen Polo cars for sale on DesperateSeller.co.uk and enjoy a car that delivers what the Golf offers.
DesperateSeller.co.uk rating: 4.5/5
