Volkswagen Polo 2008-2014

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.