Relationships are funny things aren’t they? Firstly you go through the does she/doesn’t she like me phase, then the awkward first date, slightly better second (if the first went to plan) before deciding somewhere further along the line to officially become a couple. Then it’s great fun for a few years before people tend to become restless and window shopping sometimes becomes far more. The bible was spot on with this adultery malarkey being bad news. The idea of course is that the grass is always greener on the other side, or more pertinently with a car dealer from a different manufacturer – something that could be levelled at owners of a Volkswagen Polo.
You see much like a long term relationship, the Polo has been around for many years. Owners know its good and bad points, how to get the best out of it and the cost of things to keep it happy and working. In recent years however, temptation for Polo owners to break up with their cars has become increasingly apparent. A raft of small, nimble and stylish hatchbacks adorn the car market and on first viewing the alternatives seem prettier, less hassle and cheaper to run.
Don’t be fooled though. I’d be lying if I said the competition didn’t have their plus points and some are certainly more attractive than the Polo – new Fiesta I’m winking at you. As has always been the case with the Polo it’s only class leading in one department – the interior. This may seem like the least important thing initially, but as it’s the one area you’ll always see and interact with it’s essentially the car’s personality. As with all German cars, the standard of materials used is far higher than you’d realistically expect a small hatchback to contain.
All the switchgear and dials are not only bullet proof, but are well laid out which may seem obvious, but too many modern cars are style over substance and look like the dials have been sneezed onto the dashboard. So you say, if it’s only class leading in the above, I’m better off going elsewhere as personality means nothing to me. Wrong. The Polo may not come top in any driveability, buying costs or practicality polls, but it’s close and as a result is the best all rounder.
The styling isn’t the prettiest as I alluded to earlier, but it’s anything but ugly, more quietly beautiful like the girl with glasses in the corner of your school classroom who blossomed without them at the prom. The front end is near identical to the much larger and prestigious Volkswagen Golf and the profile view is perfectly proportioned. The rear end is the standout feature with a simple chrome circle surrounding the light clusters, making the car look surprised and futuristic simultaneously.
To drive the Polo is poised and responsive, particularly in its natural habitat around town. Visibility is good, particularly when reverse parking and the car feels light and nimble through traffic calming measures and tight corners. Perhaps unsurprisingly it suffers more on the motorway with road noise and buffeting ever present. Whichever road you drive on though, the overall ride comfort is excellent, with soft suspension meaning speed bumps and potholes won’t break your back.
The engines don’t let it down either, assuming you go for a 1.4 litre petrol or 1.4 litre TDI diesel engine. The diesel runs the petrol close on performance (they both push out 75bhp) while it also returns 60mpg on average (compared with 45mpg from the petrol derivative). Of course diesel is diesel so it isn’t as refined to drive or initially as responsive as a petrol engine so think whether economy is the be all and end all. The entry level 1.2 is best avoided unless you enjoy rolling backwards down hills.
Volkswagen has a great reputation for building reliable cars. However the Polo surprising scored badly in the JD Power customer satisfaction survey for reliability at the turn of the millennium. No such worries with the latest cars which mirror the interior in terms of build quality and materials used.
To buy, the Polo isn’t the cheapest and the list of standard equipment is dwarfed by the majority of its rivals. Mind you given the choice of a hundred gadgets that won’t work and will most probably fall apart after some mileage or a basic specification that is beautifully assembled I know what I’d choose.
To conclude, the Volkswagen Polo does everything well and nothing spectacularly. The grass may seem greener elsewhere, but upon closer inspection the Polo really is marriage material.
Author Resource:
Pete J Ridgard is a writer and a car enthusiast. He currently writes for the automotive industry. Here he discusses buying a VW Polo from a http://www.motorparks.co.uk/index.jsp Car Dealers.
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