I have previously reviewed our Skoda Yeti. As as second car we bought a VW Polo 1.2 TSI about 6 months back. We got it new from the local VAG dealer. We paid Euro 14900 (or about £12500) OTR. It is not the most basic model, but with some FFE. List should have been about Euro 18000/ £15000 plus.

As with the Skoda, one of our key guidelines was fuel economy. The Polo was a replacement for a well-used and increasingly expensive to run Honda Stream 1.6 Automatic, which on a good day got 25 mpg, or 11.3L/100km, though usually we got closer to 20 mpg, or 14l/100km. We were looking to use the second car in place of the Yeti on some journeys, to reduce the load on that car.

Before we bought we looked also at the VW Golf, Ford Fiesta and Mondeo, Honda Jazz/Fit, Renault Clio, and Toyota Yaris, including the Hybrid, from local main dealers, as well as low mileage second hand in the local market. The Price of S/H cars is however quite high for anything reasonably new with low mileage, so much so that it can be worth looking at a “nearly new” import from the UK despite the Euro 3000 cost to transport and put on the road, for a reasonable s/h car with reasonable CO2 emissions.

Since delivery we have done about 11000 Km or about 7300 miles, or about 420 km/265 miles per week. This is more than we were doing in the Honda, but then we are using the Polo in substitution for some of the longer journeys the Skoda was doing.

The roads in Cyprus are mostly undulating, and once away from the main highway (dual lane Motorway) many are narrow and twisting country lanes which are mostly closer to good English “B” roads at best. This can lead to frequent gear changing and use of the accelerator pedal. The ups and downs are quite marked. We live about 4km (just under 3 miles) from the beach and are about 110 m or 350 feet or so up. If we go the same distance further inland, we climb another 200m, or so, or about 650 feet, and are at about the 300m /1000 foot mark.

All of this has a marked impact on fuel consumption. On the (mostly) downhill run to the office of about 2 miles/3km I can get 6.5 l/100 or 44 mpg. Going home it is usually about 10l/100km or 28 mpg.

On the most regular journey, a 30km school run, which I do four times a week each way, I can manage 6.3L/100km or 45 mpg on the morning drop-off run and … on the after-school pick-up run.

On the 85km/53 mile trip on the main highway to Nicosia, which has some steep climbs on it, and keeping to about the speed limit of 100kph/62 mph we can get the consumption down to an average of 5.8 L/ 100 Km or about 48 mpg. This reduces to 5.6 L/100 or about 50 MPG on the return (more down than up).

Long term average is closer to 7l/100km or about 40 mpg. Not quite as good as the Yeti, and not as good as the official figures, but OK.

The car steers well and is very predictable. Cornering is sharp. There is no hesitation or sluggishness when pulling away and if you just tap the accelerator a bit more the rate of acceleration picks up very quickly, but at a cost to consumption.

Seating for a family of 4 is quite spacious. Inside it does not seem like a small car; though luggage capacity is limited. We can just about get all the essentials for the beach, or the weekly shop, in. This car has an upgraded sports style of seat, which I thought I would find uncomfortable, as the back part felt like it squeezed me, but I do in fact find it very good. The gear stick is easily to hand. There is a hinged arm rest but this is only really useable when one does not need to use the hand brake much, eg on the longer highway runs. It spends most of its time folded up out of the way.

The main rear view mirror has an automatic anti dazzle system, which is generally effective.

The climate control is good, as we can dial in a temperature. This is important where in summer one can have 40c and in winter 1.5 C, even less in the mountains. I found the best technique to cool the car in summer is to set the initial temperature quite high then gradually reduce, otherwise the fan noise is excessive. Setting to recirculate the cabin air helps.

It has the cd 530 system with a six cd changer but no bluetooth for the phone. I am slightly disappointed that this model does not a USB input equipped audio system, but the car has an SD card slot which is almost as good.

I can thoroughly recommend this car as a 4 seater.

Update after two years.

The car has been mostly reliable. One problem with a loose nut on suspension. I have managed to get the mpg on the Nicosia run down to 55mpg or 5.1l/10km, that meant under 2 gallons for the 100 mike trip. That is achieved by sticking as close as possible to 100kph, the speed limit, which is easy with cruise control. Round town I am still clocking closer to 35 mpg and tge school run, now 5 times a week, is still about 45 mpg, better if I leave more time, and if the traffic conditions are good..

The car is a pleasure to drive.