Hatchback Reviews

Joshua Dowling road tests and reviews the Honda Jazz VTi, Mazda2 Neo, Suzuki Swift GL and Toyota Yaris Ascent, with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

The starting price for the Volkswagen Polo is pegged at $15,990. On the road. So, why am I driving a Polo with a bottom line at $20,790, before it even leaves the showroom?Because, like most cars, there is the Polo you want and the Polo you can afford. The $15,990 drive-away deal that has just been extended until March 31 is for a Polo 66TSI manual, which means you get a pretty basic package and an engine that's more about fuel economy than response or performance. You do get cruise control, but no reversing camera.Jump to the $21,000 car and the Polo becomes much nicer, with a Comfortline upgrade for everything from that reversing camera to radar cruise control and an 81kW engine that gives the car some real punch. Pay a little more again, as many people do, and you also get a classy seven-speed double-clutch automatic gearbox.Everything is familiar, but a little different. And generally betterSo all Polos are not alike, and the 81TSI is a significantly different - and better - car than the basic model we had at the Car of the Year judging for 2014. For 2015 it has received a mild tweak, which is really only about some minor cosmetics. Otherwise is much as it started life.Sliding into the upscale Polo, everything is familiar, but a little different. And generally better.I immediately appreciate the camera in the tail, as well as the greater punch from the engine and the slick shifting by the DSG.The car rides as I remember, which means plush and compliant, but I'm sure I feel a little extra grip in corners than the 66 musters.The Polo has the substance that comes with the world's better carsThe seats are fine, the steering feel is good with a leather-wrapped wheel, and the Polo is quiet at everything up to freeway cruising speeds.I've driven a lot of baby cars recently, including the Renault Clio and Honda Jazz which both get The Tick, but the Polo has something extra. It's the solid feel.The Polo has the substance that comes with the world's better cars, something that gives it an edge over the Jazz, and makes you feel a little safer despite its compact size.Not that everything is happiness in the baby Volkswagen.It does feel dark and a bit cramped inside, the multimedia screen is too small - way smaller than the rival Jazz and Clio - and there is no satnav despite the premium price.I'm also unhappy about the way the car surges when the cruise control is running things, overcompensating for speed loss with big jabs on the gas.Comparing the car with its rivals, I'm also reminded that for similar money you could get a starter car in the next class. So that could mean a Hyundai i30, Mazda3 or Toyota Corolla, admittedly only with a manual gearbox and no frills.

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Peter Anderson road tests and reviews the Mazda 3 with specs, fuel consumption and verdict.

David Scott has done 25,000 trouble free kilometres in his 2012 Fabia 77TSI manual. He rates it the small car bargain of the year and praises its fuel economy, torque, roominess and boot space.Stephen Spinks says his Fabia RS goes well and handles quite good. He's not keen on the way it rolls backwards after a period stopped on a hill as if the hill-hold releases, but the dealer has told him that there is nothing wrong with the gearbox. He also says it uses a little oil.Hugh Rees is enthusiastic about his 2011 Fabia manual, which he says is fun to drive. He says the 1.2-litre engine is really good to drive once the turbo kicks in, the road holding is good, and interior is comfortable and roomy for its size. He gets 5.8L/100 km on average. His only complaint is of a dash rattle.NEWWhen Skoda returned to our market after a long absence it did so as part of the extended Volkswagen family.The company's cars were based on VW models, but carried less challenging price tags than the models they were based upon. The Fabia, for instance, was substantially cheaper than the VW Polo on from which it was derived.It arrived here in 2011 with the 77TSI hatch, which was joined a year later by the hot RS. At the same time the choice of body styles was expanded to include a wagon.While it's based on the Polo it's not obvious from the outside with its pleasantly chiselled lines and bright highlights that set it apart from its corporate cousin.The cabin is functional with comfortable accommodation for four adults. All have adequate head and legroom given the size of the Fabia, and there's a decent amount of boot space.Power for the 77TSI came from a diminutive 1.2-litre four-cylinder engine boosted by a turbocharger. Despite its size it packed plenty of traffic-busting punch, pulling enthusiastically from low revs, while at the same delivering impressive fuel economy. The downside was that it had a thirst for Premium unleaded.At launch there was only a five-speed manual gearbox available, but the options were expanded in 2012 to include VW's seven-speed DSG automatic. The RS hot hatch shared its underpinnings with the Polo GTi.That meant it was powered by the same 1.4-litre 'Twincharger' engine as the VW hottie with its combination of turbocharger and supercharger.With 132kW and 250Nm on tap the RS's performance was sizzling, the combination of supercharger for low-end grunt and turbocharger for punch at higher revs ensuring there was a strong urge all the way through the speed range.VW's seven-speed DSG self-shifting auto-manual gearbox complemented the Twincharger engine in making the most of its torque.On the road the Fabia felt planted and responsive, it was go-kart-like with direct steering and vice-like grip.Standard equipment included air-conditioning, cruise, Bluetooth, eight-speaker sound, MP3, leather-wrapped multifunction steering wheel.NOWBeing based on the VW Polo and sharing its mechanical package the Fabia suffers from the same issues as the little VW.There's the well-documented 'false neutral' issues of the seven-speed DSG gearbox, which was the subject of a voluntary recall by VW.Check any car fitted with the DSG gearbox to make sure a dealer has inspected it for proper function.Oil consumption can be an issue with the 1.4-litre Twincharger engine, particularly in the early stages of life when the engine is running in. In some cases an engine will settle down once it has a few kilometres on it, others take much longer. It's not unusual for the engine to continue to use some oil, as long as it isn't too much it shouldn't be a problem, but if you are concerned about it have a dealer conduct an oil consumption test for you and actually measure it.We know of cases of quite high consumption that have lasted for several thousand kilometres before settling down to an amount that VW considered 'normal'. Ask about the previous owner's experience with oil consumption, it's perhaps best not to take on an oil-burner.With the engine's reputation for consuming oil it's important to check the oil level regularly to ensure it doesn't run short and damage the engine.The 1.2-litre engine doesn't suffer the same issues as the Twincharger.Skoda's build quality is generally of a good standard, so squeaks, creaks and rattles are not normally a problem. Take notice of any you hear, they might indicate a car has been in a crash.Ask to check the service record of your chosen car before handing over your cash, maintenance is vitally important to a long trouble-free motoring life.SMITHY SAYS - 3.5 starsSound and solid, but struggles to match the competition for value.AT A GLANCESPECS:Price new: $18,990 to $21,990Engine: 1.2-litre, turbocharged 4-cylinder, 77kW/175Nm; 1.4-litre turbocharged & supercharged 4-cylinder, 132kW/250NmTransmission: 5-speed manual, 7-speed DSG automatic, FWDEconomy: 5.5L/100 km (1.2), 6.2L/100km (1.4TSCI)Body: 5-door hatch, 5-door wagonVariants: 77TSI, RSSafety: Six airbags, Electronic Stability Control, ABS brakes with EBD and Brake Assist. 

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