Volkswagen Polo review

Interior

Dashboard & tech

If you’ve ever sat in a VW Golf, the Polo will feel very familiar. The dashboard is clean, logical, and built from high-quality materials that put many rivals to shame. It feels built to last.

Even the entry-level models get an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system that is sharp, responsive, and easy to use. If you step up to the mid-range trims (like the SE), you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, letting you hook up your phone for music and maps without a fuss. It’s all very intuitive, meaning you won’t be distracted poking at confusing menus while driving.

Comfort

This is where the Polo really shines. The seats are supportive and comfy, making long journeys a breeze rather than a chore. The ride quality is excellent for a car of this size; it soaks up bumps and potholes with a maturity that makes it feel like a much larger, more expensive vehicle. It’s quiet, too, with very little wind or road noise creeping into the cabin.

Quality

Volkswagen has a reputation for solid build quality, and the Polo upholds it brilliantly. Everything you touch feels substantial. There are a few harder plastics if you go hunting for them lower down in the cabin, but overall, it feels a cut above alternatives like the Vauxhall Corsa or Renault Clio.

Practicality & boot space

Interior space

Thanks to being a bit bigger than the previous model, the latest Polo is genuinely spacious inside. There is plenty of room in the front for the driver and passenger to stretch out. In the back, two adults can sit comfortably with decent legroom and headroom, which isn't something you can say about every supermini. It’s only available as a five-door model now, which makes getting in and out (or wrestling with child seats) much easier.

Boot space

The boot is one of the best in its class. With 351 litres of space, it’s significantly larger than the old model and beats many of its rivals. To put that in perspective, it’s not far off the size of the boot in the bigger VW Golf. It’s a practical shape with a wide opening, making it easy to slide in a buggy or a week’s worth of heavy shopping bags.

Versatility

The rear seats split and fold down if you need to carry larger items, creating a nearly flat load area. Inside the cabin, there are decent door bins and cup holders, so you won’t be short of places to stash your phone, keys, and coffee.

Driving

Driving experience

The Polo prioritises comfort and refinement over sporty thrills. It feels incredibly stable and composed, inspiring confidence whether you’re nipping around a roundabout or cruising at 70mph on the motorway. The steering is light and accurate, making parking simple.

If you want a car that puts a huge grin on your face on a twisty back road, the Ford Fiesta is still the king of fun. But if you want a car that keeps you relaxed and comfortable on your daily commute, the Polo is hard to beat.

Performance

The engine line-up is mostly focused on 1.0-litre petrol engines. The non-turbo versions (with 64bhp or 74bhp) are fine for town driving but can feel a bit breathless if you spend a lot of time on faster roads.

We think the sweet spot is the 1.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine (usually with 94bhp). It’s punchy, eager, and handles motorway speeds easily without drinking too much fuel. There is a diesel option, but it’s rare and really only necessary if you cover huge mileage. You can choose between a slick manual gearbox or a smooth DSG automatic.

Running costs

Fuel economy & CO2 emissions

The Polo is generally very wallet-friendly. The popular 1.0-litre petrol engines are efficient, officially returning around 58-64mpg depending on how you drive. CO2 emissions are low, which helps keep tax costs down. The diesel is even more frugal, capable of over 70mpg, but unless you live on the motorway, the petrols are usually the better bet.

Value for money

Here’s the catch: the Polo is a desirable car, so it tends to cost a bit more to buy than a Skoda Fabia or Ford Fiesta. However, you do get a lot of car for your money, with decent standard equipment like that touchscreen and plenty of safety kit. Plus, because it’s a VW, it holds its value very well. That means when you come to swap it for your next car, you should get a decent price for it.

Reliability & Warranty

The Polo is generally robust and reliable. There was a recall related to the rear seatbelt buckles on early models (2017-2018), but this should have been fixed on used examples by now—just check the paperwork to be sure. It comes with a standard three-year warranty from new.

Safety

Safety features

Volkswagen takes safety seriously. The Polo scored a maximum five stars in its Euro NCAP crash tests, with high scores for protecting both adults and children.

Crucially, it comes with impressive safety tech as standard across the range. This includes Automatic Emergency Braking (which can spot pedestrians and stop the car if you don’t react in time) and a driver attention alert system. Higher trims add handy extras like parking sensors to save your bumpers in tight spots.

Trims & Engines

Trim levels

The trim structure is fairly simple to navigate:

• S: The entry-level. It covers the basics with the 8-inch screen and safety tech, but misses out on alloy wheels and smartphone connectivity.
• SE: This is usually the best balance for most people. It adds alloy wheels, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a leather steering wheel.
• Beats: A funky version with cool decals and an upgraded sound system for music lovers.
• SEL: Adds built-in sat nav, ambient lighting, and parking sensors for a more premium feel.
• R-Line: Gives you sporty body styling and larger wheels without the higher running costs of a performance engine.
• GTI: The hot hatch performance version with a bigger 2.0-litre engine.

Engines

• 1.0-litre MPI (64/74bhp): Good for new drivers (low insurance) and city dwellers, but slow elsewhere.
• 1.0-litre TSI (94/113bhp): Turbocharged petrols. The best all-rounders for performance and economy.
• 1.6-litre TDI: The diesel option. Great fuel economy but rarer to find.
• 2.0-litre TSI: A powerful engine reserved exclusively for the sporty GTI model.

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