If there were such things as men from Mars and they arrived right here on earth there are some things they would be able to do very easily.
Among them would be realising that the Mark 2 Volkswagen Polo and the latest generation, I think it’s the Mark 5 but cannot really be sure even though I have seen all the intervening ones, are very closely related. They have that evolutionary look that Darwin would have loved, that gradual change in essential characteristics brought about through natural selection of the best bits and rejection of the worst.
I sometimes wonder, though, if the judges of the European Car of the Year competition come from Mars. Last year they gave the prize to the Vauxhall Insignia when the more realistic but still futuristic Ford Fiesta was obviously the better car yet this year they have handed the prize to the Volkswagen Polo even though the greatly improved Vauxhall Astra, a far better car than the Insignia, was also placed before them.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the Car of the Year contest has become largely irrelevant even though us car types, and, more frequently, those in the marketing industry, await the outcome with something not quite akin to bated breath.
That’s not to say the VW Polo is an unworthy winner, far from it. In a year when there are two excellent cars topping the table one has to win, the other to lose. But last year proved the lack of logic, not for the first time, in the judges’ decision.
More surprising was that when my VW Polo test car arrived – the 1.2 litre SE five door, very reasonably priced at £11,895 – there was no sticker anywhere upon it proclaiming its victory.
Just as the BBC does now when extolling the virtues of its own products on-air, I should point out that other Polos are available, starting with the very reasonably priced S three door at £9,910.
Until the end of March VW is offering special finance on this starter model although the charge for credit on the three year deal is still £1,331, which I don’t consider that generous in what is hardly a captive market, even for a prize winning family hatch. Paying off the finance following 34 months at £109, plus a £2,891 deposit and finance fees of £185, will still cost you £4,459. However, if you can get most of that deposit out of a scrappage deal, it may be better value.
What of the car itself? You may think that a bulky family hatch with a 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol engine sounds as much fun as a holiday in a Chinese prison for political dissidents but in fact there is plenty to recommend it.
A 0-62 mph time of 16.1 seconds and top speed of 98 mph are not that feisty these days but as many Polos spend their time in town, where much of the travel experience consists of sitting still or moving slowly, the figures don’t matter that much. Anyway, as you pull away from the lights the typical three cylinder roar lets you think you are behind the wheel of something more powerful while the excellent 40 mpg plus economy makes you thankful you are not.
If you are young or an otherwise inexperienced driver but have money to spend on a new car, the group 4 insurance, even in the new 50 group format, will have you rejoicing at the lowish cost of cover. Like most things VW, this car is about being cheap to run.
When it comes to size, my trusty 1982 edition of World Cars shows that this new Polo is bigger in every dimension than a Mark 1 Golf, once viewed as the archetypal family hatchback. So, like royalty, you must realise that is better to play Polo than Golf although in this case both are equally sophisticated.
Spend a bit of time behind the wheel of the Polo and you’ll recognise that this is an excellent family car. It has space enough for a couple with three children or an older couple needing occasional passenger seats. It’s made like the traditional brick-built privy, too, so is unlikely to drop you in the sticky stuff for years. If you are drawn to long-term ownership, Polo is the game for you.
Maurice Hardy
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There’s plenty of attention to detail in the new Volkswagen Polo, just as you might expect from this maker of thoroughly engineered cars.
But sometimes the detail is just a bit too fussy, and the “matt chrome” trim surrounding the outer air vents on the dashboard is a good example. No doubt some interior stylist thought it a good idea but the result is it reflects badly in the side glass, intruding on the view, and therefore clarity, of the rear view mirrors.
For some reason, I also found the radio fiddly to operate. There didn’t seem to be any obvious drawbacks that I could put my finger on but it just didn’t seem the model of simplicity that it looks like it would be.
The styling is very much like that of the previous Polo but VW’s designers have managed to place some straight lines around the bodywork that contrast with the overall rounded shape and these break up the mass very well. There’s also a deep front spoiler with a lantern jaw effect that juts forwards below the grille to give two very distinct points, no doubt as some essential aerodynamic aid.
The overall effect of the new Polo is very pleasing. It may have evolved from previous generations but it still manages to look good and fresh. It’s unlikely to age very quickly, either.
Annette Hardy
Car: Volkswagen Polo SE 1.2
Does it fit your ego?...
0-62 mph: 16.1 secs
Top speed: 98 mph
Bhp: 60 @ 5200 rpm
Torque: 80 lb ft @ 3000 rpm
...and your wallet?...
Price: £11,895
Urban: 38.7 mpg
Extra urban: 62.8 mpg
Combined: 51.4 mpg
CO2 emissions: 128 g/km
Insurance Group: 4
Best bits: economical; well built; cheaper than you might imagine.
