Price from £21,210 What Car? rating
10 Volk swagen Polo
STUART MILNE
stuart.milne@haymarket.com
Target Price is the maximum we think you should pay for your new car. It’s set by our team of mystery shoppers, who continually monitor the discounts available across the UK.
Target PCP is a fair monthly payment to aim for if you’re taking out a personal contract purchase (PCP) finance agreement. It’s based on a 48-month term with a 15% deposit and an 8000-mile annual limit, unless stated otherwise.
A FEW MOMENTS of peace; those unexpectedly warm and sunny winter days; a surprise phone call from a friend. It’s easy to take these wonderful things for granted. And in a world dominated by SUVs and continuing electric car narratives, you might argue the same is true of the Volkswagen Polo.
This small hatchback is a superb all-rounder, and in most specifications it’s nearly viceless. It’s easy to think of the Polo as the VW Golf ’s little brother, but in many regards they stand toe to toe.
It’s good to drive, although it’ll find more favour with those who seek a smooth drive than among pursuers of B-road thrills. Only the very nastiest of urban potholes can upset its composure, and motorway pockmarks cause only the mildest of fidgeting.
Aside from the breathless 79bhp version of the entry-level 1.0-litre engine, there aren’t really any duffchoices, and the 94bhp 1.0-litre is our pick of the bunch. Its output might sound weedy, but most buyers will find it more than punchy enough – so much so, in fact, that it’s not really worth paying the extra for the more muscular 114bhp version.
For a small car, the Polo makes for a surprisingly effective long-distance companion. The seats are comfortable, although highmileage drivers might prefer the even more supportive seats in higher-spec models.
There’s plenty of space inside and you can carry four six-footers with relative ease. The Honda Jazz has more space in the rear quarters, though, and it also has clever flip-up rear seat bases, something neither the Polo nor any other small-car rivals can provide.
The boot is among the biggest in the class, although bear in mind that if you choose the optional Beats audio system over the distinctly average standard set-up, the subwoofer means the boot floor is raised, robbing luggage space.
‘The Polo will find favour among those who seek a smooth drive’
All models have an 8.0in infotainment touchscreen. It’s far more basic than the set-ups in VW’s latest electric models, but it’s responsive and – with physical buttons for several functions – easy to use. Our recommended Life trim doesn’t come with sat-nav, but all models have Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, so you can use your smartphone’s navigation apps. Otherwise, you get all the basics: 15in alloys, air-con, automatic wipers and heated, power-folding door mirrors. If you want more big-car kit, stepping up to Match trim costs around £1600.
In previous years, the Polo has finished poorly in the What Car? Reliability Survey, but in the latest results it climbed to third place in the small car category; only the smaller Kia Picanto and Toyota Aygo X performed more strongly. In fact, owners reported that the Polo is now proving to be more reliable than many of VW’s more expensive models.
Polo’s supple ride is a greater draw than its handling, but it’s far from a chore on a twisty road
9 Volvo XC40
Price from £36,310 What Car? rating
STEVE HUNTINGFORD
steve.huntingford@haymarket.com
The XC40’s smooth ride adds as much to its sophisticated feel as its plush, well-built interior
WHEN THE XC40 was launched in November 2017, it was a game changer for Volvo; it showed that the brand could beat premium rivals on their own turf.