Road Test
Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI BlueMotion
Test date 05 December 2007
Price as tested £13,540
For Outstanding economy and emissions, construction quality, good fun to drive
AgainstToo expensive, miserly equipment list, poor refinement, weak brakes
What you’re looking at here may appear to be just another VW Polo. In fact, it is arguably the first significant landmark on the car’s recently plotted new route from its perceived role as a habitual ecological criminal to a pillar of environmental good citizenship. For this is the first car to go on sale with double-digit emissions.
That means this Polo emits lower levels of greenhouse gases than a Toyota Prius, adding further weight to the arguments of those who claim hybrid technology has less to offer than its advocates suggest. These emissions exempt the Polo not only from the London Congestion Charge but also Vehicle Excise Duty, something not even the Prius can escape.
The Polo is the first of Volkswagen’s BlueMotion cars, a term coined to describe the most economical, environmentally considerate car in any given range. Coming soon are the BlueMotion Passat and Golf, but in time there will even be a BlueMotion Phaeton.
The Polo BlueMotion was first seen in February 2006 at the Geneva motor show, although sales have only just begun in the UK.
There are two BlueMotion models available, but only the entry-level BlueMotion 1 has sub-100g/km emissions and can only reach that number because it has no air-con. Even in this pared-down form VW is asking £11,995 for the car, a seemingly startling sum for a small and poorly equipped hatchback.
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