There have been a lot of new cars released lately which are exactly all that new.
Take the new polo for instance.
Bar some reworked engines, extra kit and some styling tweaks it’s pretty much as before.
For instance does it look any different to you from the outside?
Only the VW anoraks will be able to spot the new lights….
Different bumpers….
And a fresh grill.
It’s the same story inside the Polo’s well made if a little bit conservative cabin…
The only major change is the addition of a touchscreen like Golf’s.
It has a proximity sensor and you can swipe it like your phone.
It comes with a digital radio, USB, Bluetooth and a range of apps.
You can add sat nav for £700 or or 150 you can link it up to your phone to mirror your
phones screen on its screen, though it won’t do anything irresponsible like let you watch
videos while driving.
As before the Polo is a practical little car, it’s one of the very best superminis for
in car storage spaces and it’s boot is right up there too.
Not only is it large but if you put the false floor in the highest position and fold the
seats down you get a flat load bay which makes it easier to load and unload…
Space in the back is just as good.
The rear doors of the five door open nice and wide – handy when you are trying to
fit child seats.
As ever I have that seat in my usual driving position and I’m five foot 11 and have enough
head and legroom so kids will be just fine – which I’m not surprised about because
it’s the same as the old Polo.
To be fair Volkswagen has added some new safety kit.
Anti skid control, hill start and a system that applies the brakes if someone rear ends
are all standard while on the options list there’s now automatic cruise control and
emergency city braking to prevent low speed collisions.
The final changes are a raft of updated engines which are up to 23 per cent more efficient.
You can get a diesel which can do over 80 miles per gallon so is perfect if you do high
miles.
If you don’t the new three cylinder 1.0-litre petrol in this car will do you fine and still
give around 60mpg.
But make sure you get the higher power version as the lower power version is painfully slow...
So then what do I like about the way the Polo drives.
Well visibility is good, tick, seats are comfy, tick, the steering is light in town, tick,
the cabin is very quiet, tick, and the suspension deals well with bumps – better than some
larger cars actually, double tick.
The only real problem is that if like me you the think a supermini should be cheeky and
a bit of a laugh - get a Ford Fiesta as it’s more of a giggle to drive…
Maybe this has something to do with why the Polo didn’t even rank in the top 100 in
the 2014 owner satisfaction survey… and don’t forget this is pretty much the same
car….
Still they have good residual values, decent kit, if you avoid the entry car and are reasonably
well priced.
But if it’s value you are after check out our review of the Kia Rio or fun then watch
our review of the Ford Fiesta.
Click here for our latest video and on our logo to subscribe to our channel.