Volkswagen Polo Review 2022

It’s easy to overlook the sixth-generation of Volkswagen Polo as it does everything so well. Where some rivals stand out for the way drive such as the Ford Fiesta or their cabin space in the case of the Skoda Fabia, the Polo just gets on with doing everything very well. It might not outshine its rivals in any single area, but this is what makes the Polo such a great all-rounder because it’s always among the best. For anyone looking for a small car that works in every way as an alternative to a larger hatch, the Volkswagen Polo is ideal.

Effortless to drive, spacious and backed by an excellent range of petrol engines, the Volkswagen Polo is the best excuse you’ll ever need for downsizing your daily driver. Admittedly, it lacks the value of its talented rivals, but the refined and practical sixth-generation Polo is one of the most accomplished cars in its class. 

Mechanically speaking, the Volkswagen Polo is pretty much identical to the latest SEAT Ibiza. However, while it uses the same platform and engines as its Spanish stablemate, the Polo feels distinctly more upmarket, with higher quality cabin materials and better soundproofing. You also get more choice when it comes to tech, including the optional digital instrument display in place of the traditional needles and dials. 

The cabin is one of the most spacious and practical of any small hatchback, with a Tardis-like interior that provides comfortable transport for up to four large adults. The boot is huge too and far superior to anything you’ll find in the Vauxhall Corsa (280 litres) or Ford Fiesta (292 litres) when the rear seats are in place. In fact, with 355 litres on offer, the Polo is only a shopping bag short on the 380 litres you get in the Golf.

There's plenty of semi-autonomous safety tech, with Front Assist allowing the car to automatically apply the brakes if it detects a potential low-speed impact. The Polo has a five-star NCAP rating, while adaptive cruise control and blind spot detection make it to the options list, along with rear traffic alerts that will warn the driver of approaching traffic when reversing. That makes it an extremely safe and sensible first car for those that can afford something so new. 

The Polo isn't as fun or as involving to drive as the Fiesta, with its steering lacking the weight and purpose of the Ford. But the Volkswagen is safe and predictable in its handling, while its refined and quiet nature give it the feel of a much larger car on the motorway. The suspension absorbs most road imperfections, but cars on 17-inch and 18-inch wheels will transfer quite a few lumps and bumps into the cabin.

The best engine in the range is the 1.0 TSI. In our view it's one of the best turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine you can buy, with lively performance and claimed economy exceeding 60mpg. A performance-focused GTI model is also available, with a 2.0 TSI engine and 200PS. And only those covering long distances on a daily basis will need to consider the 1.6 TDI diesel.  

Efficient, comfortable and practical, the Polo is more Golf-like than ever before and certainly raises the bar for the once humble small hatchback. Admittedly, the Fiesta and Ibiza nudge ahead on value, with both getting better levels of standard equipment for similar money, but the classy Polo is an easy car to recommend for those who don't mind paying a little extra for comfort and refinement.

Looking for a second opinion? Check out heycar's Volkswagen Polo review.

No matter how tall you are or what shape your body is, the Volkswagen Polo will accommodate you with ease. Once you’ve honed this to your ideal seat placing, you will find the Polo also provides ample vision in all directions for the driver.

Access to the rear seats is good through the back doors as the swing open to almost 90-degrees. Once in, the bench is fine for two but the raised centre section makes it uncomfortable for anyone in the middle pew unless they are very small.

For bigger items, the Polo’s boot is among the more generous in the sector. With 355-litres of capacity on offer in normal use, the Polo’s cargo bay is not far short of that of the Golf’s.

This is the area where the Volkswagen Polo pulls out a very clear lead over its rivals. Everywhere your eyes or hands come to rest, the Polo’s interior reeks of build quality that is a cut above the common herd of superminis.

There are thickly padded surfaces on the dash-top and doors, while the other areas such as the door handles and steering wheel enjoy a classy feel most of the competition just cannot get close to.

The same is true when you reach further down in the Polo, so even the seat bases and door pockets have neatly returned, smooth edges.

Every Volkswagen Polo range has the Composition Media’s 8-inch colour touchscreen that’s easy to read and use. It includes Bluetooth, DAB radio, USB connection and six speakers. Pairing your phone is simple and quick. You also get the ‘Think Blue Trainer’ to encourage more efficient driving behaviour.

All but the base S model come with Car-Net that uses Apple CarPlay, Android Auto or MirrorLink to let you access apps from your phone. However, only the SEL trim comes with integrated sat-nav as standard.

You can also choose the optional Active Info Display for all but the S version. It brings a 10.3-inch colour

For a car with the upmarket image of the Volkswagen Polo in the supermini sector, it is not any more expensive to own than its key rivals. If you choose to pay for the car outright, it’s not the cheapest in this class but that is offset by the Polo’s strong residual values in the used market.

When opting for a finance package, the monthly payments are affordable. VW periodically offers a contribution towards the deposit, so it’s worth looking for these deals. With the personal contract plan, you have the option to buy the car outright at the end of the finance term.

A used Volkswagen Polo from early on in this generation’s life cycle in 2017 will come in at around £8000 for a car with 30,000 miles. This will be for one of the more basic trims and with the less powerful petrol engines.

Seek out a two-year old 95PS 1.0 TSI SE and you’ll pay around £11,000, which shows how well the Polo hangs on to its value in the used market.

Look for a nearly new or pre-registered Polo in the same specification and you’ll be paying approximately £15,500, which is a £2000 saving over a brand new version.

The most economical Volkswagen Polo is the 1.6-litre TDI motor that returns an official maximum combined consumption of 57.6mpg. Few will choose the diesel, so the best of 51.4mpg offered by the 1.0 TSI turbo petrol is more representative. In Real MPG conditions, we’ve found this engine achieves 52.4mpg. The non-turbo 1.0 EVO engine also gives 51.4mpg.

Choose the Volkswagen Polo with the 1.0 EVO 80PS engine and you enjoy insurance premiums in group 1. A 95PS 1.0 TSI SE model falls into a reasonable group 8, while the most expensive non-GTI model to get cover for is the 115PS 1.0 TSI R Line version.

Most Polos with either of the 1.0-litre petrol engines will fall into Band G for road tax that will cost £175 in the first year and £150 in subsequent years. Opt for the seven-speed DSG gearbox or one of the higher trim levels with bigger wheels pushes the Polo into Band H and a £215 first-year Vehicle Excise Duty payment.

Most expensive of all Polos for road tax is the 1.0 TSI engine with DSG gearbox in the Match or Beats where it can trip into Band I with 151g/km to raid your wallet of a hefty £540 in the first year.

The Volkswagen Polo might not be as fun to drive as some of its rivals, but it's a comfortable and refined companion.

In town, the Polo is nimble and even without rear parking sensors fitted, it’s easy to guide into a bay thanks to the short rear overhang and good vision. Parking sensors are only fitted as standard to cars in high-level SEL trim.

The suspension is supple and cars on 15-inch or 16-inch wheels will provide a soft and comfortable ride quality on British roads. The Polo can also be specified with 17-inch or 18-inch wheels, but these convey more bumps and lumps into the cabin and should be avoided by those who prioritise comfort over style. 

The most-popular engine is the turbocharged 1.0-litre TSI petrol with 95PS. It's refined for a three-cylinder unit and a five-speed manual gearbox is standard and thanks to the engine’s flexibility you don’t miss the sixth gear that comes with the 115PS version of this engine.

All versions of the 1.0 TSI engine can be fitted with an optional seven-speed DSG automatic. A non-turbocharged version of the 1.0-litre engine is available with 80PS, but it’s noisy and slow.

Diesel options are limited to a single 1.6 TDI, with 95PS, which replaces the previous 80- and 90PS versions. It’s only offered in the SEL trim and only with a five-speed manual gearbox. There is little to be gained in economy, emissions or performance by choosing this diesel engine, so you’re as well off sticking to the petrol motors. Unsurprisingly, Volkswagen echoes this sentiment as says less than five per cent of Polos sold are with the diesel.

All Polos have Front Assist autonomous emergency braking and Post collision Braking to reduce the effects of an impact, while a Driver Alert System helps avoid fatigue.

Every Polo has twin front, side and curtain airbags, ESP traction and stability control, and a tyre pressure monitoring system. You also get Isofix child seat mounts on the two outer rear seats. A Hill Hold function is also standard.

All of this has earned the Polo a five-star rating from Euro NCAP in its crash test assessments. It did this with a superb 96 per cent rating for adult occupant safety and 85 per cent score for child occupant safety.

The Volkswagen Polo range starts with the S that has 14-inch steel wheels and a full-size spare wheel. Inside, there’s cloth upholstery, the 8-inch Composition Media touchscreen, air conditioning, electric front windows, and the We Connect Go DataPlug. The SE gains 15-inch alloy wheels and body-coloured door handles, and a drawer under the passenger’s seat, electric rear windows, and the Car-Net App Connect. On top of this, the Match version has front and rear parking sensors.

The Beats gains 16-inch alloys, rear privacy glass, and front foglights. It also has unique cloth for the seats, Velvet Red dash inserts, paddle shifters for those with the DSG automatic ’box, and an uprated stereo with eight speakers. The SEL has parking sensors front and back, ambient interior lighting, climate control, rain-sensing wipes, and a front centre armrest. You also get Discover Navigation. The sporty R Line has its own 16-inch alloy wheel design, chrome exhaust surround, and sports body kit. Carbon Flag cloth covers sports front seats, and it has stainless steel pedals, and a black headliner.