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Road Test

Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI BlueMotion

Test Date 05 December 2007  Price When New £13,540

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Verdict

Polo BlueMotion is one of those ideas that must have seemed brilliant on the PowerPoint presentation but is less satisfactory in reality. Three factors — its price, noise and poor equipment levels — contrive to spoil a lot of its appeal, even if this is balanced in no small part by the fact that it is surprisingly quick and decent to drive.

We think it is most likely to appeal to those who don’t like the idea of the Congestion Charge, do like zero-rated Vehicle Excise Duty and, above all, love the idea of a car from a smart brand that will allow them to parade their environmental credentials without having to resort to the even greater expense of a hybrid.

For the rest of us, however, while we applaud the sentiment behind it, it’s impossible to conclude anything other than that it asks too much of its owner while delivering not quite enough.

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