Autocar - First for car news and reviews

What is it?

It's the fifth-generation Polo, now virtually as big as a Mk3 Golf and the first Volkswagen to be designed entirely under the direction of Walter de'Silva. Revealed at the Geneva motor show, and due on sale in Europe next month and in the UK in September, the new Polo has a visual attitude wholly lacking in the previous version, a car which had almost entirely fallen off UK buyers' radar.

Volkswagen makes much of the new Polo's eco-credentials, with very low CO2 ...Read the full article

It's almost a shame that VW are carrying the old 1.2 and 1.4 engines over into this model - I know they will be the cheap option, but they do little to enhance the ground up redesign.

I now also await the barrage of criticism Autocar gets on here every time it mentions a Ford is better to drive at the end of its articles. Perhaps this could be avoided by publishing proper group tests here rather than just individual drives with a throwaway comment strapped to the end of articles "but the xxx is better" to give a more balanced view.

I think this could be the personification of the term 'Grown up small car'

Think it looks great and this TSI engine looks like a brilliant choice, its just a shame they have released the extreme low power versions as they stretch the term anaemic... 

Anyway a superb step forward over the current model.

A somewhat predictable outcome then. Great build, classy, understated, not as good to drive as the Fiesta. Is this really competing with the likes of the Fiesta though? The UK pricing structure will probably prove otherwise.

In my opinion the Fiesta is a great looking car and has received rave reviews for it's ride and handling. However, if you were to compare the two cars over a 'typical' 10 year, 120,000 miles life cycle I am confident the depth of quality and engineering in the Polo would become apparent. As a long-term ownership proposition it's probably the better package.

 

 More beautiful than the Golf (MPV?).

 

Looks good and probably satisfying to own. I'd guess that the 1.2 TSI will have a pretty hefty price tag attached, making it a rare car on UK roads.

Sensible money would go on a Fabia me thinks, especially if it gets the new diesels available here.

Glad to see VW hasn't pulled off the same con with the new Polo by simply facelifting the previous model and claiming it to be an all-new model as it has done with the Golf 'Mk 6'.

Looks good?? It looks dull as ditch water and totally predictable. Im sure this will be fine for many, but not for me. I had run a Passat as a company car, and while it was comfortable, well built, reliable, and all the other VW traits, it bored the pants off me with all its sensibleness. The golf and polo do the same. Fiesta for me please! If i had to choose that is. Actually, sack that idea, Mazda 2 would be my choice of the class. In that bright green colour to cheer me up on a miserable scottish winters day!

 The car looks good, my mum was thinking of getting a new Fiesta in the scrappage scheme,but she may prefer the more grown up feel of the Polo- I will definitly recommend she has a look at the 1.2 TSI version. Really looks likes its moving into Golf territory, with front centre armrests, DSG gearboxes and such.

I like the way they have designed this car, very smart looking. The TSI engine sounds like a gem, and hopefully it will make an appearence in other VAG cars to replace the ancient 102PS 1.6 N/A engine. I suspect this car will end up costing less than the Fiesta, much like the current Polo does. Fords list prices are currently extremely high, and its not hard to undercut them. Certainly VW have managed it with the Golf SE TDI 110 which costs less than the worse-equipped Focus Zetec TDCI 110.

As a car, again like comparing a Golf vs Focus, the Fiesta will drive better than the Polo but the Polo will have a better quality build and ultimately out last the Ford. I am talking from years of experience here, not just making things up.

"What is it?

It's the fifth-generation Polo, now virtually as big as a Mk3 Golf"

 I would rather buy a 1997 VR6 - that would lift my mood more than a superhugemini Polo or Fiesta.

I find this rather a depressing car, much like its big brother Golf any one of us could have drawn this car on the back of an envelope a year ago its so predictable.

We all knew it would have solid build quality, reasonable driving characteristics and an expensive feeling dash. It will sell well to default VW purchasers the world over........but you will have to spend three years in a dull car just to benefit from good resale.

wouldn`t you prefer something that excites the senses in some way or other?