What they said when the Volkswagen Polo was new… (Oct 28 2002)
STEP back in time a few years and the words "worthy but dull" might have sprung to mind when you spotted a Polo in the car park.
But Volkswagen's evergreen supermini has come a long way since then and the most recent incarnation is a charismatic little cutie.
Small but perfectly formed, the Polo feels solid but looks chic, a winning combination in today's crowded small-car market.
The 1.4 turbodiesel may not be the cheapest model (prices for the range start a good £4,000 less), but it's so well-equipped and sp phenomenally frugal that it's easy to convince yourself the extra cash is a sound investment in the longer term.
VW turbos are a delight across the range, but this three-door is sufficiently light to be ideally suited to the award-winning 75bhp power plant, which can offer almost 50mpg around town and a lot more if you treat it nicely in the country.
Apart from boasting instruments which are bathed in a cool blue light at night, you also get some of the classier trim options found in much bigger VWs, along with semi-automatic air conditioning and body-coloured mirrors and handles.
Factory-fit options like an electric sunroof, alloy wheels and 6CD autochanger will up the price by another £1,300, but give you the sort of specification you might normally expect in an executive saloon.
Round front headlamps give the car a more appealing face than the Polo of old, while the turbodiesel is disarmingly responsive. The performance figures don't give you a comprehensive picture, because the car takes a reasonable time to get all the way up to 60mph-plus.
But within each gear ratio, acceleration is smooth and willing, giving you a pleasantly perky performance around town, where most Polos are likely to spend the bulk of their working lives.
Loads of torque is on tap to ensure that gradients don't pose any problems either and higher quality plastics contribute to the more sophisticated feel of the interior.
Space is organised well, with plenty of stowage trays scattered around to soak up your bits and pieces, extending to drawers under the front seats and a significantly improved bootspace.
With the group's Skoda and SEAT cousins also offering excellent value-for-money derivatives built on the same running gear, there's been a lot of pressure on the VW brand to maintain a sufficiently distinctive and appealing package to justify the higher price tags.
For the moment at least, the spirited little Polo turbodiesel delivers the goods.
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