Volkswagen Polo diesel 2006 review

We normally spend at least a week behind the wheel of the cars we test and write about, but even then it it is still easy to overlook things.

Our hearts goes out to the average punter forced to make a decision after just a few minutes shopping for a new car.

The more time we spend behind the wheel of Volkswagen's diesel Polo the more we appreciate what a little gem it is.

Explore the 2006 Volkswagen Polo range

• Volkswagen Polo GTI and DTI 2006 review
• Volkswagen Polo 2006 review
• Volkswagen Polo GTI 2006 review
• Volkswagen Polo diesel 2006 review

We've got about 7500km on the clock now and the fuel economy is getting better and better with each passing week.

On our last fill we topped 720km and have persuaded Volkswagen to let us have the car a little longer so we can have a crack at the 800km mark.

This is something of a milestone because neither of our previous hybrids - Toyota's Prius and the Honda Civic - were able to crack this nut.

Prius came the nearest with 777km.

Over the past weeks we have discovered our Polo excels on long trips, sitting in top gear on the motorway where fuel use is at its lowest.

Around town, however, consumption tends to rise, but it still remains very good.

We were especially keen to drive the Polo because at $22,990 it is the cheapest diesel- powered passenger car currently available here.

With a 1.9-litre turbocharged diesel engine, fuel consumption is rated at a miserly 5.0 litres per 100km.

The diesel engine delivers 74kW of power at 4000rpm and 240Nm of torque from a low 1800rpm.

It is mated to a five-speed manual transmission.

Apart from the obvious economy, the other thing that we have noticed about the car is that even fully loaded, it doesn't put much of a dent in performance.

This is in stark comparison with small petrol-engined hatches that are reduced to a crawl up hill with any more than two people aboard.

Many people point to the higher cost of diesel, but as we have discovered you get much better mileage.

The Polo has a 45-litre fuel tank but it seems no matter how hard we try, it rarely takes more than 40 litres to fill which puts 800km within our grasp.

Our fuel economy has ranged between 5.8 and 6.8 litres per 100km.

The Polo pulls like a steam train from second gear and cruises smoothly and easily on the motorway.

If I were a commuter (and I am) it would certainly be on my shopping list.

The TDi has a four-star safety rating, with two airbags, three point seatbelts for all occupants and four-wheel ABS disc brakes with electronic brake-pressure distribution (EBD).

Standard equipment includes climate air, cruise control, power windows and mirrors, height and reach adjustable steering wheel, remote central locking, tinted glass and four- speaker CD sound system.

Unfortunately, there's no auto available and we'd check out the cost of servicing.