Hoot Car Reviews Volkswagen Polo

After 32 years in production it's hard to find fault with the Volkswagen Polo, but it's becoming equally hard to get excited about it, too.

Back in its middle 90's heyday, the Polo stood head and shoulders above the average small car in terms of build quality and performance. It won a string of awards, including the Which? Best Supermini of 1997 and the Top Gear Supermini of the Year in 1998, and earned itself an enviable and lasting reputation as the 'upmarket' or 'posh' choice in this class.

These days, however, it takes more than a little German engineering to better the opposition in what has become a bitterly competitive market. By the 2000's, practically every supermini manufacturer had caught onto the formula for success pioneered by VW - and while it hasn't exactly struggled, the Polo has lost much of its unique character along the way.

The current Mark IV model offers a highly refined and comfortable (if not exactly fun) drive, impressive fuel economy and the prospect of cheap VW car insurance. Also optional extras abound, but the minimum spec is sparse indeed.

The VW Polo at first glance
VW's design team must have been aiming for 'classy and understated' when it came to the Polo, but the car ends up looking rather bland, both inside and out. Build quality is faultless, but it isn't that much of an improvement on the much cheaper Skoda Fabia (which shares the same manufacturer's platform).

The Polo was always big by supermini standards and, in common with most of the other 'small cars' cars in this class, it's getting bigger still. The latest model actually takes up more room then a Mark 1 Golf, which VW marketed as a small family car.

What's it like to drive?
All that extra space gives the Polo a somewhat bloated feeling when you're at the wheel, particularly with one of the smaller 1.2 litre engines. Handling is light rather than tight, so cornering is ungainly and feedback is nonexistent.

However, the Polo offers a degree of refinement that's hard to beat in a supermini. Road, wind and engine noise barely penetrate the passenger section, and with the beefier 1.4 models the whole experience is more like gliding than driving.

Space and seating
All that extra size had to go somewhere, and thankfully a lot of it ends up in the Polo's roomy cabin. You'll have no trouble accommodating four adults in both the three- and five-door versions. Boot space is fair, but like many superminis it suffers from a high outside lip, which can make loading a nightmare.

Safety features
It's all there for the having, but at a price. Unlike many of the Polo's more generously equipped competitors, front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners are the only safety features fitted as standard on every model. Side- and curtain 'bags, along with stability control and others, are available at extra cost.

However where fitted, the Polo's safety features prove reassuringly effective. The car scored four stars overall in Euro NCAP testing, and maximum points for a side impact collision.

Price and running costs
Still trading on its reputation as 'the upmarket supermini', VW is pushing Polos at a comparatively high list price of between £7,612 and £15,622. However, residual values are similarly high, so you can expect good returns on your investment should you choose to re-sell it secondhand.

In terms of running costs: what the various Polo engines (there are seven in total) tend to lack in performance terms, they make up for in fuel economy; and car insurance quotes will be cheap across the range.

Buying secondhand
Why settle for the uninspiring Mark IV Polo when its award winning older brother is a steal on the secondhand market? The Mark III still costs more than the average used supermini, but prices became much more reasonable when it was superseded in 2002. A well looked-after example with good options and trim level makes for a worthy and rewarding purchase.

Looking for VW car insurance?
The car may be a little bland, but that doesn't mean you need a run-of-the-mill Volkswagen car insurance policy to go with it. Polos generally qualify for good motor insurance rates, but with Hoot Car Insurance Services you can really maximise on that potential.

Hoot policies cost so little because we don't waste money on stuff like advertising. Instead, we spend only what's necessary to maintain the standard of car insurance cover you require.

So for an idea of just how cheap VW car insurance cover can get, simply click below for a quote.