Polo shirt

The Volkswagen Polo is one of the cars we have had the most experience with in recent years - in several variants in long-term leases.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95 DSG

Posted 04/08/2019 by Terje Bjørnstad

Without either hybrid or electric drive, it is difficult for the Volkswagen Polo to assert itself on the sales lists in the same way as before. In July it was in a decent 20th place, but on an annual basis it may end up outside the top 30 list. Many Polos are acquired as a second car. In that market it is difficult to not choose a tax-advantaged electric car at the same price.

Running on the torque

The 1-litre engine with 95 horses and DSG does a great job as a means of getting around. The gearbox keeps the revs down to 1500 revolutions. There, the motor makes no more noise than an electric motor. Still, there's enough torque to power up ordinary hills. The comparison with electric cars is quite apt. With almost constant revs and good torque, it feels like driving an electric car. The drivetrain does not behave as efficiently when you want to leave the passive driving pattern and use revs to quickly pass a motorhome or slip into fast-moving traffic. It takes time. The DSG gear needs a couple of seconds to adjust, and the engine also needs time to get up to speed. Even from 1500 revolutions, there is a "leg" in the engine. "Paddle-shifts" on the steering wheel allow you to downshift a few seconds in advance. It's a great way to alternate between active and passive driving.

3-cylinder engine characteristics

The turbocharged engine only has 3 cylinders. Since the engine speed is kept low, you avoid the annoying sound that 3-cylinder engines usually give - at least during normal driving. The motor major is well damped and in a pleasant, low-frequency tone. However, the 3-cylinder characteristic is clearly felt at idle. Then the engine vibrates - and it spreads to the whole car - even when the idle speed was set at 1000 revolutions. I have also noticed this on other cars with the same drivetrain. Automatic "stop & start" helps to remedy this somewhat.

The Polo fits well with a "laid-back" small-town life in the border area between France and Spain. Here, electric cars are only for those who are particularly interested. The Polo with 95 horses is actually one of the smallest cars that offers acceptable space and comfort - and superb driving characteristics. The Spanish rental car with equipment level "Active", is alright equipped. In Norway, the equivalent level of equipment is "Business". You can sit straight in, adjust the steering wheel, seat and mirrors, - and drive away straight away. A quality German car manufactured in Pamplona, Spain.

Holiday car

My wife and I are a week into the summer holidays. Our daughter and her partner from London have just arrived. Four adults fit perfectly in a Polo. We use the car to go to the beach, to the "big city" Perpignan and to cross-border trade in "La Jonquera". It is the French's "Svinesund" where you can buy cheap wine, beer, ham, cheese, meat and designer clothes. Yesterday we took the trip over it old the border crossing, Perthus. While the traffic flowed in a steady stream across the freeway just a few hundred meters away, we stampeded in line for over an hour to get through the main street everyone had to pass through before the new freeway came in 1976. Back then, too, there were kilometer-long queues here. On one side of the main street is France - on the other, Spain. Many take the trip to relive memories of the past, others to shop. It is probably here that you can buy the cheapest spirits.

perth house — The right side is Spain, the left is France. The land border runs along the center line.

Watch out for the clutch in the DSG7 gearboxes

With lower weight and less energy loss, the 7-speed DSG (DQ200) is better than its 6-speed predecessor. Except for one point. Shelf life. "My" Polo had passed 45 km as a rental car, and the clutch clearly showed signs of being worn or damaged, especially when starting up. It took a long time to grasp, and when it did, it was with a powerful jerk. I'm glad it's not me who has to pay for the clutch change and overhaul.

If you drive a double-clutch gearbox in the wrong way, the clutch(s) in the gearbox are exposed to unnecessary wear and tear. If you hold the car with the brake in a slow moving queue, as you do with conventional automatic transmissions, the clutch will slip. The result is hot running and great wear and tear. I still have no doubts when I recommend the DSG7 for the Polo.

Safety

Safety is measured by Euro Ncap in 2017. There, the new Volkswagen Polo received top position in its class. Good score in all disciplines. The 95 horse is also supplied with disc brakes on all 4 holes.

The Polo is a safe car also with regard to active safety – systems that prevent accidents from happening. All Polos come with automatic warning if something should appear in front of the car, and automatic braking at speeds below 30 km/h. The driving characteristics are exemplary for the class and are designed to correct driver errors.

consumption

After a week, the consumption is measured in sections. The first on the way out of the airport in 80 and 100 zones. Here, the consumption stabilized at 0,46 liters per mile according to measured on the instruments. As the motorway speed increased to 120 km/h, consumption went up to 0,54 liters per mile in heavy rain and windstorms. The weather was still quite cool so that the air-conditioning system did not have to go full blast. When the gauge creeps above 30 degrees, consumption easily exceeds 0,7 liters per mile, thanks to the cooling device running at full blast. It is no art to keep the engine at around 1500 revs all the way up to 80 km/h. Then you can get super low consumption. I myself measured 0,39 on a 35 km long drive before the sun really started to heat up. A trip to the beach (30km) ended up at a decent 0,37, but was down to 0,35 until we turned off the main road.

Based on experience from other cars with the same drivetrain, you can count on 0,46-0,54 in daily driving without thinking about consumption. With economical gas foot, you can easily get down to the 0,30s.

Polo has grown up

New models of the Volkswagen Polo are getting bigger and bigger. The latest edition is large enough to cover the car needs of many people. At the same time, it seems quite anonymous, at least when it is parked along the street with other cars. The youthfulness that characterized previous Polos is no longer as evident. Even behind the wheel, the youthfulness is toned down. With the TSI engine of 95 horses, the car offers safe and comfortable transport, without inviting active driving. Polo has not only grown up, but has also been brought in step with the times in relation to what the cars of the future will be like.

Set the adaptive cruise control, sit back and enjoy the ride!

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95 DSG - facts

Weights and Measures
Length/width/height in cm: 405/175/144
Wheelbase in cm: 255
Tank volume in litres: 40
Boot space in litres: 351 (11 liters more than the e-Golf)
– with seats folded down: 1125
Net weight: 1180
Total trailer weight with brakes: 1000
– without brakes: 590

Motor
3-cylinder. Turbo. Direct injection. Euro 6b.
Engine displacement in ccm: 999
Power HP/KW: 95/70
Torque in Nm: 175 at 2000-3500 revolutions
Gearbox: 7-speed DSG (dry clutch solution)

Performance and consumption
Top speed: 187 km/h
0-100: 10,8 seconds
Consumption city (NEDC): 0,57 litres/mile
Consumption highway (NEDC): 0,40 litres/mile
Average consumption (NEDC): 0,46 litres/mile
Measured consumption highway: 0,39 litres/mile
Measured consumption motorway: 0,46-0,54 litres/mile

Tires
Brand: Kuhmo EcoWing ES01
Dimension: 185/65R15 88H

Prices and extras
Price Polo Businessline: 264
Metallic paint: 4
Good sound: 6
Navi: 8
Keyless: 4
Line Assist and Side Assist: 6
Tinted panes from the B-pillar: 2
Panoramic sunroof: 9
Park Assist: 1
Reversing camera: 2
Towbar: 9

Misc
Km driven: Not yet returned
Mileage: 45636

Euro Ncap: Test results of safety in the Volkswagen Polo 6
Source: Volkswagen.no
Owner: Europcar.es

Parked along the street, the Volkswagen Polo looks quite anonymous.

See

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 65 HP

Posted 26/07/2018 by Terje Bjørnstad

The Volkswagen Polo 6 is quite nice in Reflex Silver Metallic.

A walk around Lake Raho, a simple lunch in Perpignan and return home across the vineyards to the sounds of Volkswagen's one-litre engine. The one without TSI.

The very smallest engine

The new Polo 6 has been on sale for a year, but only now is it available with Volkswagen's smallest engine. The one-litre produces 65 HP and has a torque of 95 Nm from 3000 revolutions. It is an upgrade of the 60 HP engine we recognize from Up! and Polo 5. Naturally aspirated, 3 cylinders with Multi Point Injection and 4 valves per cylinder.

Daytrippers

We have a small house in the small town of Céret in the south of France on the border with Spain. The city is known, among other things, for its cherries, and the artists Pablo Picasso and George Braque, who once lived here. On Sunday we do as many French people do, - we go for a walk and have lunch. Although there is quite a lot of traffic, it goes smoothly and elegantly. It is Sunday after all. You have the whole day ahead of you. The small Polo engine hangs around. I quickly shift up and keep the car at low revs so that the sound of the 3-cylinder engine does not become too enervating. In contrast to it turbocharged 1.0 TSI (95 HP) more revs are required, especially during acceleration. Then you can't avoid the annoying, harsh, drumming engine sound. There is still enough energy to follow the Sunday traffic.

Coming up short on the highway

On the Spanish autopista the day before, I felt different. When two trains are side by side at 100 km/h, you have to go all the way over to the left lane to pass. Then you are forced to accelerate to at least 130-140 km/h so as not to annoy the Audis in the distance behind. Accelerating on the motorway is not "just-so". I tried my hand, but couldn't decide which gear went best. When the tachometer passed 4000 revs it felt like there was no power left. In practice, this means speeds above 120 km/h.

Acceleration is fastest between 3000 and 4000 revs on the engine. Outside of this area, not much happens.

On normal country roads, however, the little Polo works well. It sits well on the road, as the previous Polo did. I like the electromechanical steering very much. I found a comfortable sitting position, thanks to the height-adjustable seat and adjustable steering wheel. A/C is without automatic temperature control, but worked fine in 30 degrees. We know the Polo 6 better than many other cars. Changing to a newer model has never been a problem. Not this time either. Everything is where you expect it to be. No surprises. Super easy to drive.

Trim before meals

Lac-de-la-Raho is located a few km south of the city of Perpignan. It is an artificially dammed lake that will supply the district with water. A recreation area with swimming, beach and walks - a nice alternative to the beaches that are a few minutes away. The sea also has a function as a water reservoir. If there should be a forest fire nearby, the firefighting planes (the Canadairs) will come here to fill up. Then people who walk around the lake have to be careful, otherwise they will lose their hair - literally. The trip around the lake is exactly 6 metres. We finished in 150 hour 1 minutes at normal, Norwegian Sunday tour speed. By then we had probably burned enough calories that we could treat ourselves to a meal at the very "un-French" KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken). It's a shame that no one in Norway has found it profitable to start up this fast food chain. A bucket of lard-fried, grilled chicken pieces may not be the healthiest thing to eat, but the chicken meat is of good quality.

Bon appétit!

For most French people, Sunday lunch is the big meal of the week. Not only good food and good drink, but also the social gathering with family and friends. Then it is easy to drink too much wine. I never trust fellow road users to be within the alcohol limit on the way home from Sunday lunch. The blood alcohol limit in France is 0,5 and 0,2 for those who have held a driving license for less than 3 years.

We take the small roads home. Picturesque country roads that pass the vineyards and tie the small villages together. Unfortunately, these are the roads people use when they have been drinking. On the way home, we passed two fresh, abandoned car wrecks. One was a KIA that had knocked over several buckets far into the vineyards. The other, a red Peugeot 207 was smashed beyond recognition. Typical youth cars that had probably crashed during the night. Single accidents with young drivers behind the wheel.

Trendline

I stop along the vines for a small photo shoot. It's been a long time since I saw a brand new car with 14 inch steel rims, wheel covers and a plastic trunk without control levers. In terms of equipment, the Trendline is not a bad choice. You get Climatic, electric windows, height-adjustable front seats and an alright infotainment system. What you really need is delt fold-down rear seat. On "our" car, you had to shut down whole the back seat, - and then the car becomes a two-seater. According to information from the Norwegian importer, a partially fold-down rear seat is included, but I recommend getting this confirmed before any ordering.

With a pair of inexpensive 15-inch alloy wheels, the car would look very good. I like the color. Reflex Metallic has existed at Volkswagen for several decades. The color brings out the lines of the Polo 6 in a nice way. The 65 horse is only available in Trendline, but it is not the equipment level which is the first thing you need to upgrade. It is motors. In the price list today, there is a jump of NOK 31 from the entry-level model to the next model, the 100 TSI 1.0 hp Business. This model therefore not only has a satisfactory engine - it also has a slightly better level of equipment.

Safety

Safety is measured by Euro Ncap in 2017. There, the new Volkswagen Polo received top position in its class. Good score in all disciplines. Even the cheapest Polo 6 comes standard with automatic warning if something should appear in front of the car, and automatic braking at speeds below 30 km/h.

It is good.

But I wish that Volkswagen had invested in disc brakes on the rear wheels as well. Today, all 1.0-litre engines have drum brakes at the rear, while larger engines (diesel and GTI) get disc brakes all around. I'm not sure what other waivers have been made on small engine Polos. In Spain, the Polo 5 with 1.0 engines was sold under the designation Paul A because they had a somewhat simpler undercarriage. You could tell by how the car lurched when you threw the car into a series of simulated evasive manoeuvres. Larger Polos, - those with, for example, the 4-cylinder 1,2 liter engine with 90 HP, behaved noticeably more steadily in the same manoeuvre. I feel that "our" new Polo behaves like a "big" Polo 5, nothing more, nothing less. I have not yet driven larger versions of the Polo 6, and therefore cannot comment on whether they have become correspondingly better.

Price and competitors

The entry-level model for the new Polo 6 costs NOK 207. I recommend upgrading to the 900 TSI. That engine provides far better driving pleasure, a more comfortable sound level because the engine works at lower revs, - and consequently lower consumption. I realize the price difference of 1.0 is a lot of money. If you upgrade the entry-level model with alloy wheels and a multifunction steering wheel, you will in any case get a car that to be looks good and for which you get good payment, when traded in.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95 HP

Competitors for around 200 include the Skoda Fabia, new Citroën C000 and Peugeot 3. The Fabia offers a better engine, 208 TSI with 1.0 HP. Citroën C95 and Peugeot 3 are both equipped with the PSA group's 208-liter with 1,2 horses. It is a little more vigorous, but the 82-cylinder engine has a rougher and more penetrating sound when the gas is applied. And it requires you to use the gas diligently.

consumption

I have not yet measured consumption from a full tank. On the car's built-in trip computer, we end up with around 0,48 liters per mile at a fairly steady road pace. It is not so easy to keep a steady pace. Both France and Spain love roundabouts. They are often close together along roads with a speed limit of 90 km/h. Then you have to constantly pick up speed from 30 km/h.

As we head over small mountain areas in the lower parts of the Pyrenees, the consumption easily rises to 0,65-0,70 liters per mile. The reason is that such road sections require the engine to rev well, preferably between 3000-4000 revs.

The factory consumption figure is 0,41 on country roads, 0,59 in the city and the so-called EU consumption is 0,47. Since the engine requires a lot of revs to go, I think it will be difficult in practice to get down to the stated highway consumption.

Conclusion

With the main focus on driving pleasure, we can safely say that the 65-horsepower is not suitable for fast motorways, southern city driving and mountain stretches. You always arrive, but hardly with a smile, - and the fuel consumption is nothing to write home about either. This is not a "keen driver's" car. It is a car for getting from A to B. The little you find of driving pleasure is in the way the car handles the road, and how easily it can be controlled under demanding conditions. Let's also not forget that, according to Euro NCAP, the Polo 6 is the best in its class in terms of safety.

Facts

Weights and Measures
Length/width/height in cm: 405/175/144
Wheelbase in cm: 255
Tank volume in litres: 40
Boot space in litres: 351 (71 more than the predecessor)
– with seats folded down: 1125
Net weight: 1030
Total trailer weight with brakes: 800
– without brakes: 550

Motor
3-cylinder.Multi Point Injection. 12 valves. Euro 6.
Engine code: CHYC
Engine displacement in ccm: 999
Power HP/KW: 65/48
Torque in Nm: 95 at 3000-4300 revolutions
Gearbox: 5-speed manual

Prices and extras
Purchase price including delivery: NOK 207
Metallic paint supplement: NOK 4
15-inch alloy wheels: NOK 4 (recommended)
Small leather package (leather steering wheel and leather-clad gear lever and handbrake): NOK 1
Light and visibility package (rain sensor, automatic light switch and anti-glare mirror): NOK 2 (recommended)
Electric rear windows: NOK 1
Adaptive Cruise Control: NOK 2 (recommended)
Front/rear parking sensor: NOK 4
Dark rear windows: NOK 2

Competitors
Skoda Fabia 1.0 TSI 95 HP (NOK): NOK 210
Citroën C3 1,2 PureTech 82 HP (NOK): NOK 209
Peugeot 208 1,2 PureTech 82 HP (NOK): NOK 199

Links
Euro Ncap – Volkswagen Polo 6
Source: Volkswagen.no
Europcar.es
Tripadvisor.com: Lake Raho

PHOTOS

Click on the images to see them in a larger format.

6 Polo — Sharp profiles are nice, but I'm afraid parking dents are going to be very visible. The vines in the background belong to a local vintner and are sold under the "Appellation Roussillon".

See

Terje's cars — Volkswagen Polo 1,0 TSI 95

Successful facelift, but a new model is just around the corner. — Successful facelift.

1.0 liter summer car

Posted 16/04/2016 by Terje Bjørnstad

It is not only the engine that has been scaled down in Polos with a 1.0 liter engine.

If you order a rental car from one of the large rental car companies, you may drive off in a Polo. Many experience the Polo for the first time as a rental car. Unfortunately, one might say, - because even though the rental car companies have several types of Polo, most people choose the cheapest one. "No point in paying more for the same product!" What many people are not aware of is that there are relatively large differences between models with the smallest engines and those with larger engines. They are two completely different cars, even though they look the same on the outside.

Driving a Polo with 90 HP and above is like driving a slightly scaled-down Golf. Personally, I think it is the best car in its class in terms of driving pleasure. If you choose a Polo with a 1.0 liter engine, for example the 3-cylinder MPI engine with 60 horses (6C), you will, however, get a different chassis than the 90 horse. The differences make the two cars feel like two different cars to drive.

What differences are we talking about?

Volkswagen has not been particularly open about the differences between the small and the larger Polos. The same applies to the sister model Skoda Fabia. Skoda is equally reticent with information.

Technical specifications from Volkswagen tell about differences in tire dimensions and brakes. The smallest models have drum brakes at the rear, while larger models have disc brakes both front and rear. I have searched a bit skruvat.no and car wreckers, and have also found differences in the following parts: Front brake discs, front and rear springs, front (upper and lower) and rear stabilizer bars, and rear axle. One might think that the changes in the chassis are necessary because of different engines. I have no doubt that Volkswagen is doing this to be able to lower the prices of the smallest Polos and make them more competitive.

I wish Volkswagen had been more honest about the differences between the two variants. This is important consumer information that should have been in the brochure under technical specifications.

The smallest Polo offers a full-fledged instrument panel.

In terms of driving, the larger Polo feels firmer, and behaves more sportingly on the road. You have to provoke it a lot to create unsafe situations. The smallest Polo leans more and is therefore easier to provoke to the limit of the unsafe. Extreme situations can thus be experienced as more frightening in the smallest Polo than in the larger one. But let me also add that all Polos are safe cars.

In addition to the engine and chassis, there are also differences in equipment level. The most noticeable difference is interior noise. The smallest Polo I recently drove had a Spanish trim level called Edition. It had noticeably more rumbling noise from the road than in the larger Polos, especially from the rear through the boot. Hard plastic on the doors instead of fabric covers is also perceived as rather simple. The seats, on the other hand, are fine on all models.

But the 1.0-litre engine is sharper than you might think, and actually a positive surprise. It holds its speed nicely at European motorway speeds. With 4 adults in the car, you have to shift a little more often on hills than you would with a larger engine. The soundstage is good, even if you hear the 3-cylinder sound when you step on the gas. The gearbox is very easy to use, and the gear changes are very easy.

It's about price.

The price of the Polo 1.0 starts at NOK 192. Then you get a lot of car for the money. You get good interior space, city emergency brake function with Front Assist, air conditioning, and more. It costs 000 to upgrade to the 35-horsepower engine and higher level of equipment. Looking down the model range, it also costs 000 to upgrade from a normally equipped "Up!" with the same 90 engine. Thus, the smallest Polo covers an important price segment. If you are looking for a new car for the summer, and have the opportunity to put 35 on the table, it is difficult to get past the smallest Polo. However, I would recommend you to be sparing in choosing from the equipment list. What you really need is the upgraded chassis you get with the 000 horse. If you want equipment, I'd rather go up to the 1.0 horse rather than upgrade the smallest Polo. You should not choose a lot of equipment before the price advantage disappears.

The Polo is a sensible car choice. It is safe and just the right size. It will give you a completely problem-free car maintenance for many years. If you sell it after 10 years, you will still get a good price for it. Those who know the Polo as a rental car may associate the car with sun and sea on a southern holiday. It's not that bad. The Polo is a great car to drive to the beach - and for all other activities throughout the year.

Just make sure you test drive the same model you intend to buy.

The smallest Polo looks very good. Here in urano grey.. — The smallest Polo looks very good. Here in pepper gray metallic.

The engine is sprightlier than one would think, and a positive surprise.

Satisfies Volkswagen's "Bluemotion" eco-label.

See

The 1.2 TSI 90 HP is a perfect match for the Polo.

Peugeot 208 1,2 Style 82 HP is a good alternative.

The world's best Polo engine?

Posted 13/11/2015 by Terje Bjørnstad

I am sure that the 1,2 TSI engines will be found in the new Polo which is expected to arrive next year.

- Is Polo okay?

The man from the rental car company smiled broadly. The Polo costs a few tens more per day than the Corsa I had actually ordered. Deep down, I had wanted to try the brand new Opel Corsa instead of the Volkswagen Polo, which I have driven countless times in the past as a rental car. But I never say no to being upgraded.

Volkswagen will soon present its new Polo. The sister model, the Skoda Fabia, is already out in a new generation. It doesn't help that the Polo got a small facelift 2 years ago. Today's model is starting to age. But one thing the new Polo will inherit from its predecessor, namely the fine 1,2 liter TSI engines with 90 and 110 HP respectively.

Look and feel

Checkered seat covers in durable material. Seat cushion that can be jacked up and down at the back. Adjustable steering wheel. All control levers are where they should be. I noticed new radio. It delivers good sound and is perceived as a class up compared to the competition. Manual air conditioning worked well, but was not really required in the Catalan November weather.

On the outside, I noted the 15-inch alloy wheels. The nice pepper gray color (Urano grey) dresses the car, and highlights the glossy strip from the last facelift, which divides the upper and lower parts of the front.

Sensible, I think. It says a four on Look-and-feel.

Driving pleasure

On our way north from Barcelona, we went up along the C-32 which meanders along the coast. With the evening mist seeping inland, we experienced a more beautiful road than the highway we normally take, - the one that goes into the country, - which continues into France, - and where the right lane consists of a continuous column of semi-trailers. Unfortunately, the nice C-32 came to an abrupt end and we had to enter a normal two-lane national road with unclear bends, hilltops and roundabouts in the direction Mediterranean Highway south of Girona. The other cars on the road were clearly known locally and kept a high pace. A bit in the fastest team, I thought, but still kept up. Occasionally I misjudged a bit, and almost had to throw the car into bends, or brake hard just over hilltops and out of bends. That's when you notice if you have a good car. The Polo is such a car. No surprises. It responds exactly as I expect, and I know exactly where I have it.

The engine delivers an almost flat torque curve from approximately 1400 to 4000 revolutions. During rapid acceleration from a standstill, the engine's sound pattern tells when the turbo is active. The good torque gives the feeling of driving a bigger car - at least a bigger Polo engine than 1,2 litres. During active driving, it is necessary to use the gear lever a bit to keep the engine speed where the good torque is located. During rapid acceleration there is therefore no point in pulling the engine all the way out on the gears, otherwise no problem as the 5-speed gearbox is easy to work with. If this isn't the best Polo engine, it's a lot of fun once you get to know it.

Comfort

The seating comfort is not up to the Peugeot 208. You have to have a bit of luck to find a decent sitting position when the height adjustment only raises the rear edge of the seat, but you still pass.

Plus the low noise level. I noticed that Volkswagen has done a good job of reducing road noise in connection with the latest upgrade. In addition, the TSI engine has a very pleasant sound, even when pushed. If you try to push it from a standstill, it sounds like not all cylinders are firing before the turbo kicks in. I would also like to highlight the radio which I notice has been upgraded. Good sound and intuitive touch screen.

Place

If you don't absolutely have to drive a car with straight arms and a straight ankle on the clutch foot, it's fine to sit 4 grown men in this car on a long drive. It's tight for fifth man, but it works. I myself am 1,88 and can barely sit behind myself. The luggage compartment with the seats folded down holds more than you realize, but with the seats folded up you only have 280 liters available in a two-part luggage compartment. It is in the middle of the tree for cars in the 4-metre class.

Safety

The newest Polo is probably one of the best in its class when it comes to active safety. I would particularly like to highlight the braking properties. Please note that only the models from 90 HP onwards have disc brakes both front and rear. The 3-cylinder models have rear drum brakes.

The Polo scored highly in NCAP when it was introduced in 2009, and still keeps pace with the latest cars. Switchable airbag on the passenger side and ISOFIX for child seats. New models can be ordered with adaptive cruise control for just NOK 2.

Economy

Our Polo with 90 horses costs 212, and is imported to Norway only in the Highline edition. There is a lot of driving pleasure for the money. For 800 you get 219 horses. It is an engine that is well suited to the Golf as well, but the price difference between the Golf and the Polo has never been more favorable than it is now. Previously, the "big" Polos moved well into the Golf's price range.

If you are thinking of buying the Polo, I recommend taking the DSG automatic transmission for a drive. The 1.2 TSI with DSG is a fantastic drive unit, with both 90 and 110 horses.

With mixed driving, it should be possible to drive well under a pint per mile with our test car. Even after 10 days, I have to admit that I never took any real measurements. I experienced the petrol consumption as low, and do not doubt the stated consumption figures: 0,60 (city) and 0,40 (country road). The petrol tank only holds 45 litres, but gives an OK range. Our car had start/stop and recovery (recuperation) of the braking force which supplies power to the battery.

If you buy a new Polo today, you can probably count on a slightly higher loss in value in the very first years than if you had waited for the new model, which will probably arrive next year. But the outgoing Polo seems reasonably priced right now, at least compared to its big brother Golf. If I were to single out something that could drag Polo's used car prices down, it would have to be Volkswagen's scandal with the emissions measurements. There have been signals that this also includes the TSI models.

So far the 1.2 TSI is perhaps the world's best Polo engine?

The torque in the motor
Very good and safe driving characteristics
Quiet

No one special.