What they said when the Volkswagen Polo was new…. (Oct 28 2005)
MY mate had a Volkswagen Polo when we were at college some 20 years ago. It was on its last legs and the heater didn't work so I necessarily hated it with a vengeance.
But the cheap and nasty thing I remember is nothing like the sleek and modern marvel the Germans have produced this year to celebrate the model's 30thanniversary.
The interior is classy in a way that suggests a family saloon rather than a supermini. High quality fabrics are used and the instrumentgraphics have been redesigned as has thesteering wheelwhich adjusts for height and reach. The sports seats fitted in the front are absolutely supportive. They adjust for tilt, reach and height via the easy-to-use pump action handle similar to that on the Golf.
There's a handy new compartment on top of the dashboard and other storage pockets in the back of the front seats plus a plethora of cubby holes. Drawers under the driver's and front passenger's seat allow valuable items to be concealed from view. There's plenty of head and leg room front and back making the cabin an extremely pleasant place to be.
Long motorway journeys are handled with the same aplomb as jaunts into town. The boot is easy to access thanks to the high opening tailgate and offers a competitive 270 litres of space which expands to1,030 litres when the rear seats are folded. Rear wheel arch intrusions are minimised and four load lashing points add to the car's practicality.
When the lights are on, the dials are lit with a classy purple glow - a small point I know but the Polo benefits from this attention to detail. The model is available in four different spec levels - E,S, SE and Sport - with three and five door versions. All models get anti-lock brakes and several electronic safety aids, driver and front passenger airbags, central locking and engine immobiliser, a basic radio/CD player and power steering. The top of the range Sport comes with 15-inchalloy wheels, front fog lights, a sports suspension, air conditioning, leather rimmed steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake grip, plus a revamped radio/CD system.
The 1.9 turbo diesel engine is frugal, returning an average fuel consumption of56.5mpg. But it can be a little noisy when pushed hard and it's 0-62mph time of 10.7 seconds isn't going to set anyone's hair on fire. Other power units include a three-cylinder1.2-litre petrol engine and various 1.4-litres in both petrol and diesel form.The Polo makes an excellent job of eliminating road noise and wind roar from the cabin.
It gives off a big car vibe that's enhanced by the excellent chassis. A composed and comfortable ride adds to this impression and the handling is reassuring making the Polo extremely easy to drive. The steering, with electronic power assistance, is light, but low on feedback making the car competent rather than exciting.
When it comes to price the Polo isn't cheap, but the upside of this is when you come to sell it on it will have held its value better than many competitors.
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