Volkswagen Polo 2008-2014

Volkswagen Polo ( 2008)

61/100
our score
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Pros
  • Styling & Design

    Inoffensive

  • Engine Specifications

    Choice

  • Performance

    Slowly ...

  • Ride & Handling

    Competent

  • Interior & Ergonomics

    Carefully designed

  • Space & Practicality

    Class competitive

  • Safety

    Robust

  • Value & Running Costs

    Used value

  • Quality & Refinement

    Tough ‘n’ smooth

  • Equipment

    Not too sparse

  • Summary

    Residuals, reliability, running costs.

Cons
  • Styling & Design

    Dull

  • Engine Specifications

    Choose carefully

  • Performance

    ... but surely

  • Ride & Handling

    Not fun

  • Interior & Ergonomics

    Don’t be too tall

  • Space & Practicality

    Unexceptional

  • Safety

    Room for more

  • Value & Running Costs

    Expensive

  • Quality & Refinement

    A tad noisy

  • Equipment

    A/C is costly

  • Summary

    Dowdy, slow, expensive A/C.

Style & Design
4/10

Not the oddity it once was following its facelift in 2005, the Polo still won’t be winning any design awards. The grown-up Passat face is at odds with its boxy little body, while the flanks and glasshouse don’t show much imagination. The three-door version is less fussy than the five-door.

Performance
4/10

The Polo is NOT a fast car. The quickest model, GTi aside, takes 12.8 seconds to reach 100km/h. A Comfortline 1.4 is less than one grand more than a 1.2, and is well worth the extra (14.9 seconds versus 12.9 to 100km/h). As hot hatches go, the 8.2-second GTi is no ball of fire either.

Ride & Handling
5/10

Handling was never a Polo strong suit, with a too-soft suspension and too-light steering spoiling the fun. It has none of the adjustability or fluidity of a Fiesta or 207, for example, while the GTi goes too far the opposite way and is spoiled by a rock-hard suspension.

Interior & Ergonomics
8/10

As with all VW’s, there’s little wrong with the Polo’s ergonomics, but the lack of a telescopic steering adjustment mitigates against taller drivers. Seats are comfortable, everything is where it should be, and all the controls operate as you’d expect.

Quality & Refinement
8/10

The Polo’s residuals are directly proportionate to its high-quality finish, while many buyers also rave about its big-car feel. It rides well enough, but it can get a little noisy, particularly three-cylinder models that have to be thrashed. Overall, a solid product, though.

Safety
5/10

Compared to newer superminis, the Polo’s safety specification is only fair. Front and side airbags are standard, as are three 3-point rear seat belts and headrests. Curtain airbags and rear seat belt warning chimes aren’t available, and ESP is almost a grand more.

Space & Practicality
6/10

The Polo offers acceptable, though unexceptional, space for the class. Rear passengers aren’t exactly swimming in legroom, but the boot is sizeable and there are plenty of cubby holes around the dashboard.

Value & Running Costs
8/10

The 1.2 might seem the cheapest to run, but the 1.4 is actually 10% more efficient because it doesn’t have to work so hard. The 1.4 TDi is very economical, but not worth the premium. However, used values are spectacular, so whichever one you buy you will have no problem selling it on.

Equipment
6/10

Originally, the Polo was the most sparsely equipped car in its class, but things are different now. Electric front windows, a CD player, height-adjustable front seats and central locking are standard. Air conditioning is a steep €1,600 option, regardless of which Polo you buy.

Engine Specifications
7/10

The Polo has a great range of engines for a supermini, and they’re well suited to the Irish market. The basic 55bhp 1.2 is best avoided but the 65bhp revs hard and is fun to thrash. The 75bhp 1.4 is a better bet, but 80bhp diesel models aren’t worth the price premium.

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Key Facts

Make

Volkswagen

Model
Polo
Variant
Trendline 1.2
Car Category
Other
First Launched
2010
End of production
2014
Engine (L)
1.2
Gearbox Type
Manual
Gears
5 speed manual
Fuel type
Petrol
Body Type
Hatchback
Price New
€14,530

Running Costs

Tax
€270
Tax Band
B1
L/100km Combined
3.8
Average km/L
26
Fuel Tank Capacity (L)
45
Fuel Tank Range
1172 km
Cost of filling a tank
€59.13
Average Cost Per 200 km
€10.09
CO2 emmissions
128 g/km

Performance

Brake Horsepower
60 bhp
Max Power kW
45
Displacement - CC (Engine)
1198
Engine Cylinders
3
Engine Position
Front, transversely
Number of valves
4
Driven Wheels
Front
Top speed
157 (km/h)
Acceleration(0-100 km/h)
15.8 s
L/100km Urban
7.30 L
L/100km Extra Urban
4.50 L

Space & Practicality

Body Type
Hatchback
Doors
3
Seats
5

Safety

Euroncap Star Rating
4

Dimensions

Wheels
Front wheel drive
Tyre size front
175/70R14 mm
Length
3970 mm
Width
1682 mm
Height
1485 mm
Wheel Base
2470 mm
Front Track (mm)
1485
Kerb weight
1126 KG
Max trailer Weight (Kg)
1550

Technical Information

Engine Configuration
Inline
Engine Type
Front, transversely
Fuel Delivery
Multi-point injection
Power
60 bhp
16 Variants
Sort by:
Hatchback
€14,530
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 60 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 15.8 s
  • New Price €14,530
Hatchback
€14,930
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 60 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 15.8 s
  • New Price €14,930
Hatchback
€15,480
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 70 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.8 s
  • New Price €15,480
Hatchback
€16,600
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 75 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.8 s
  • New Price €16,600
City
€16,720
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 Speed Manual
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €120
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 75 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.9 s
  • New Price €16,720
Hatchback
€16,725
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 70 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.8 s
  • New Price €16,725
Hatchback
€17,000
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 75 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.8 s
  • New Price €17,000
Hatchback
€18,220
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 75 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 13.8 s
  • New Price €18,220
Hatchback
€20,550
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.5 s
  • New Price €20,550
Hatchback
€21,995
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 105 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.7 s
  • New Price €21,995
Hatchback
€22,280
i
  • Gearbox Automatic
  • Gears 6 Speed DSG
  • Fuel Type Diesel
  • Tax €200
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.6 L
  • Power 90 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 12.5 s
  • New Price €22,280
Hatchback
€23,780
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 6 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €270
  • Boot Capacity 952 L
  • Engine Size 1.2 L
  • Power 105 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 9.7 s
  • New Price €23,780
Hatchback
€27,920
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €636
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.8 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.2 s
  • New Price €27,920
Hatchback
€28,720
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €636
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.8 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.2 s
  • New Price €28,720
Hatchback
€28,815
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €636
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.8 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.2 s
  • New Price €28,815
Hatchback
€29,660
i
  • Gearbox Manual
  • Gears 5 speed manual
  • Fuel Type Petrol
  • Tax €636
  • Boot Capacity L
  • Engine Size 1.8 L
  • Power 150 bhp
  • 0 - 100 km/h 8.2 s
  • New Price €29,660