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| Launch Report Volkswagen Polo |
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Something New
With well over 10 million Polos sold worldwide since the start, and more than a million of those in the UK, it seems UK buyers really do like the model. It's not hard to see why, as brand-conscious buyers are comforted by VW's reputation for solidity and reliability. While that hasn't always been completely deserved in the past, the Volkswagen range has never been stronger or better built than now. Whereas the Mk6 Golf launched last year was little more than a rehashed Mk5, the Polo – which takes its design cues from its bigger brother – really is a new car. There's an all-new structure which is longer and wider than before, but it's also lighter. When this is combined with more efficient engines and transmissions, slicker aerodynamics and various other refinements, the result is a significant improvement in fuel economy of up to 20%.
That's impressive enough, but what's even more enticing is what's on the way; a BlueMotion edition that was first seen as a concept at Geneva earlier this year. With an all-new 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbodiesel equipped with stop & start plus regenerative braking, revised gearbox ratios, optimised aerodynamics and low rolling resistance tyres, the Bluemotion is capable of up to 85mpg with CO2 emissions of just 87g/km – now that's impressive. We didn't get to drive the Bluemotion though; instead we had to satisfy ourselves with 1.2 TSi, 1.4 and 1.6 TDi engines, all equipped with manual gearboxes. The 1.4 lump carried over from the old Polo is the least impressive of the engines we tried, but it's also the only one offered with VW's excellent DSG transmission – but without any paddle shifts. That's a tragedy, because the other two engines are rather better; they're offered as manuals only because the addition of DSG would simply make the cars too costly in such a price-sensitive sector. Still, the manual gearboxes are slick enough; all cars feature five ratios except for the 1.2 TSi which has six.
The 1.6 TDi engine is an all-new unit that's offered in 74bhp or 89bhp forms, both capable of an official 67.3mpg and each emitting just 109g/km of CO2. Equipped with common-rail fuel delivery and a fashionably low compression ratio of just 16.5:1, the result is an engine that's more like a petrol with its quietness and smoothness, but offers the torque and economy of a diesel – the best of all worlds. There's also a 1.2-litre option in naturally-aspirated or supercharged (TSI) guises. It's the former unit which will represent the entry-level Polo when the first cars are delivered in October, but we didn't get to try it. However, we did get to sample the 104bhp TSI unit, and it's a cracker. As you'd expect of a supercharged engine, the power delivery is linear while there's ample torque and power for any real-world driving scenario. Perhaps the most unusual thing is that initially it's hard to tell the TDi and TSI engines apart. While the petrol engine has a red line set rather higher, both offer linear and smooth power delivery. However, with the TDi engine offering more torque but less power than the TSI unit, the performance levels of the two don't feel especially far apart. The move to a lower compression ratio and common rail fuel delivery reduces the low-down torque that was a key characteristic of VW's previous TDi units, but it has also given the powerplant the smoothness and quietness of a petrol unit – although it can still return significantly greater fuel economy.
The rest of the mechanics are just as impressive; reassuring brakes are a given, but the ride is better than you might expect. For such a small car the Polo offers amazing composure; the handling is great if not class-leading, while the suspension doesn't get crashy even when the road surface deteriorates. The steering is also excellent; there's the right amount of feel and the levels of feedback are just the ticket too. In short, the Polo is genuinely great to drive, which comes as a pleasant surprise to those who expect a Volkswagen to be merely competent rather than fun. While the Polo's dynamics throw up some pleasant surprises, the interior doesn't. It's exactly what you'd expect from VW, with little in the way of design flair as the focus is rather more on bank vault-style build quality. From the optional multi-function steering wheel to the switchgear and cabin decor, everything will be familiar to the existing VW owner. Rear seat space will be tight if all your friends are rugby players, but for a small family there's plenty of room, while boot space isn't bad, with up to 952 litres of stowage space on offer.
As somebody who has long felt that VWs are too conservative aesthetically and dynamically, I wasn't expecting to be especially taken by the Polo, but it really is a cracking car. Great to drive, refined, solidly constructed and potentially economical too, it also looks great, if somewhat predictable. VW's biggest hurdle will be getting buyers to pay a premium for a car which overall is arguably no better than a Fiesta. However, it's long had that to contend with and seemingly never struggled – and this car is definitely a big advance over the old one.
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