Volkswagen Polo Reviews

VW Polo 77TSI and Holden Barina RS go head-to-head in this comparative review..star {width:135px;}#article-corpus {width:100%; padding-right: 0;}

VW has decided to give the Polo a little bit of a refresh. Now if you're sitting here wondering what has changed, well so where we. But rest assured, there's quite a lot going on here under the skin and some exterior changes, such as some new headlights and a re-designed front bumper.

If you're in the market for a new small car well then you're pretty much spoilt for choice these days because there are just so many excellent models to choose from.

Volkswagen Polo GTI and Ford Fiesta ST go head-to-head in this comparative review.  .star {width:135px;}#article-corpus {width:100%; padding-right: 0;}

Small cars no longer equate to poverty as they once did, today's little models are safe, perform well, and come packed with features.

Volkswagen Polo is a small car from a German giant, but hadn’t done a lot in Australia until recent years.

Light cars used to be the second car, the one that'd begrudgingly be taken to the supermarket when the real car was out. Not anymore. Light cars now make sense as the sole vehicle for city dwellers without kids - they're easy to park, will carry four adults in varying degrees of comfort and don't cost a fortune to fuel up. The rush to downsize means more than one in 10 cars sold today is from the light category. Carmakers have responded to that growing market with more standard gear at lower prices. They also understand a positive first experience could get you back to the dealership for your next vehicle, so you won't be ignored for looking at the “cheap” cars. They will try to upsell you into a higher model, though, so beware of alloy wheels and dual-zone aircon if steel rims and a power window is all you need. The average cost of the light cars in this field - entry level autos - is just north of $17,000. The Volkswagen is the dearest at $19,490 and is the only car here to demand premium unleaded petrol. It also feels to be the best built, but all of these cars are sturdy, reliable transport.  Budget buyers should consider the Mitsubishi Mirage if outright performance isn't an issue. It costs $15,290, is the cheapest to refuel and annual servicing costs are just $250. The Mazda2 proves this segment isn't entirely price-driven. The little hatch leads the sales field this year, followed by the Toyota Yaris and Hyundai i20. They're not the cheapest cars to buy or run but they have a reputation for reliability and value that - at least in the case of the Mazda2 - has it campaigning strongly despite its age. Honda's Jazz has the best resale of this bunch, reflecting the brand's (slowly waning) reputation for producing better-built vehicles. The Barina is the thirstiest, needing 7.3 litres to travel 100km. That's half a litre more than the Mazda2. Carsguide has used the national average of $1.49.4 for unleaded petrol and added 8 for the 95RON fuel needed to keep the VW on the street. We have each car travelling 15,000km a year for three years.   Price: from $17,290 Residual value: 48 per cent $8299.20 Servicing: $780 ($260 first year) Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49       Price: from $17,490 Residual value: 46 per cent $8045.40 Servicing: $840 ($280 first year) Thirst: 6.1L/100km $4090.05       Price: from $17,990 Residual value: 46 per cent $8275.40 Servicing: $740 ($246.67 first year) Thirst: 7.3L/100km $4907.79             Price: from $15,240 Residual value: 45 per cent $6858 Servicing: $750 ($250 first year) Thirst: 4.6L/100km $3092.58       Price: from 17,690 Residual value: 48 per cent $8491.20 Servicing: $1284 ($398 first year) Thirst: 6.2L/100km $4168.26       Price: from $17,440 (Neo) Residual value: 48 per cent $8371.20 Servicing: $1949 ($599 first year) Thirst: 6.8L/100km $4571.64       Price: from $17,990 Residual value: 55 per cent $9894.50 Servicing: $1711.58 ($537.42 first year) Thirst: 6.6L/100km $4437.18       Price: from $19,490 Residual value: 50 per cent $9745 Servicing: $1085 ($347 first year) Thirst: 6.0L/100km $4249.80       Price: from $18,590 Residual value: 50 per cent $9475 Servicing: $567 ($189 first year) Thirst: 5.9L/100km $3966.57       Price: from $18,290 Residual value: 42 per cent $7681.80 Servicing: $841 ($239 first year) Thirst: 6.3L/100km $4235.49    

June 30 is D-Day. The end of the financial year is the best time to buy a new car because there are always special deals in showrooms. As carmakers and dealers aim to clear their outdated stock, Toyota uses a June push to cement its showroom leadership. Some of the special deals are on cars that have done demonstrator duty, or were built in 2012, or are just not selling as well as expected. So they're not the tastiest fruit in the bowl. But there is great buying across the board as demand for new cars fuels one of the longest growth periods in motoring. The bottom line is that you can save money -- and lots of it. So here's a look at the June sales, with Carsguide's assessment of the best deals on wheels. CITROEN The new importer is pushing hard so the Aircross SUV starts at $31,990 drive-away front-wheel drive or $33,990 with AWD, a saving of $3800. There's $5000 off the C4 Seduction turbo diesel auto hatch at $25,990. Carsguide says: The Aircross isn't great, but the C4 discount is tasty. FORD The death notice for the Falcon and Territory has not helped buyer confidence but a 2.9 per cent finance push on Fiesta and Focus still looks good. The superseded Kuga SUV from $31,990 drive-away is a $10,000 saving. You can save about $3000 on a 2012 Escape SUV from $27,990 drive-away. The Territory gets a $6500 tickle, the TX seven-seater at $38,490 drive-away (third-row seat usually costs $2500). The impressive Mondeo liftback starts at $29,990. Good buying on Falcons, thanks to the arrival of the VF Commodore, from $33,990 and better if you haggle. HOLDEN As the VF Commodore creates queues, the outgoing Z-Series starts at $34,990 with five years' warranty and roadside assist. That also applies to the SV6 at $35,990 and the Cruze SRi and SRi-V at $23,490 and $26,990. Last year's Barina CD hatches are $15,990 drive-away with a sunroof. The Colorado is $39,990. Hard to see past the excellent Cruze SRi. HONDA Clipped prices and free on-roads. The City VTi sedan is $17,990 and the (slightly) more lavish VTi-L automatic version starts at $21,990. The bigger Civic sedan is being cleared from $21,990. Free auto on the Jazz VTi at $19,990. The Civic is worth a look at $2500 off. KIA Free on-roads, discounts and $1000 gift vouchers on many models. A five-door Rio S is about $3K off at $15,990 drive-away with a $500 gift card; the three-door Rio is $14,990 and the five-door Si is $18,990. Runout Cerato TD sedans start at $17,990 for the S, saving about $5000, the Si sedan is $23,990 and hatch at $17,990. All get a $1000 gift card. Cerato SLi and SLS have drive-away pricing but miss the gift card.  All Optimas have free on-roads. A 2012-build Optima Platinum is $37,990, saving about $4000 with a $1000 gift card. Most Sportage SUVs include on-roads and a $1000 gift card. Carnival and superseded Rondo pricing is drive-away. The Sportage diesel and Optima are top-notch. MITSUBISHI The manual Lancer gets an old-school value pack on the Special Action Model for $19,990 drive-away. The Mirage is $12,990 drive-away for the ES manual, with a $500 cash-back that also applies to the auto. Driveaway prices also for the compact ASX at $24,990 for the 2WD manual, the Outlander LS 2WD auto at $29,990, Pajero GLX-R auto at $54,990 or $59,990 for VRX. Both come plus $3000 cash-back, saving about $6000. The Triton ute is now tackling Great Wall from China at $19,990 drive-away for a GL single-cab 2WD with alloy tray, or add luxury for a GLX dual-cab 4WD diesel at $31,990 drive-away with $2000 cash-back, saving about $14,000. The utes look good at those prices. NISSAN A 2.9 per cent finance package, with agreed value after three years, makes the Pulsar ST sedan look good at $49 a week or $19,990 drive-away. The X-Trail ST 2WD petrol manual cops a $4000 reduction to $25,990 drive-away, while the Navara RX 4WD dual-cab manual is cheaper than ever with a $9500 cut to $30,990 drive-away. The Pulsar sedan deal is attractive. OPEL There are drive-away deals across the range. The basic Corsa is down by about $2500 to $16,990 drive-away, the Astra is from $22,990 drive-away for the 1.4-litre turbo petrol hatch with three years of free servicing, saving about $5500. The top-line Insignia sedan is from $39,990 drive-away with heated leather seats. The Astra is easily best of this breed. PEUGEOT Free on-roads at Peugeot on most models but not the cool new 208. The 4008 SUV cops a $1500 saving from $29,990 drive-away and there are deals on the outgoing 4007. Nothing to see here. RENAULT A Koleos from $26,990 drive-away looks even better with interest-free finance. The Megane hatch is from $22,990 drive-away with finance pegged at 1.9 per cent. The slow-selling Fluence and Latitude sedans are available with 2.9 per cent finance. The Megane CC convertible goes from $43,990 including on-roads. The sporty Clio RS is from $34,990 drive-away and the hotrod Megane RS has 2.9 per cent finance. Commercial deals start with the short-wheelbase Kangoo petrol manual with dual sliding doors from $20,990 drive-away, moving up to the Trafic short-wheelbase manual for $29,990 and the long-wheelbase manual for $32,990, while the Master large van starts from $46,990 drive-away. There's a five-year/200,000km warranty on all light commercials ordered in June. Hard to argue against a $3000 bonus on the Koleos but stocks are tight. SUBARU Drive-away pricing -- for savings of $3000 to $4000 -- is the bait, with Impreza pricing from $23,990 (excluding the WRX, of course). The Tribeca from $54,990 now includes on-roads but you need to visit a dealer to get the full story. Nothing outstanding. SUZUKI The front-drive SX4 gets a Navigator pack with voice-controlled 6.6-inch satnav with Bluetooth for $19,990 drive-away for the manual and $21,990 auto. That also applies to the 2WD auto Grand Vitara at $29,990 drive-away, including reversing camera and satnav with Bluetooth. The Alto GL manual also gets satnav for $11,990 drive-away for the manual, with the Swift GL manual at $17,490 drive-away including cruise control and Bluetooth. The Grand Vitara is a polished piece. TOYOTA There's 2.9 per cent finance on Aurion and Camry with the Camry Altise looking best at $29,990 drive-away. Other drive-away deals include $15,990 for the Yaris YR five-door, $21,490 for the Corolla Ascent automatic, $39,990 for the Kluger KX-R 2WD five-seater, $60,990 for the Prado GXL turbo diesel auto and $39,990 for the HiLux SR 4WD dual-cab ute. The right time for the cabbies' new favourite, the frugal hybrid Camry. VOLKSWAGEN Drive-away pricing on passenger cars and zero finance on commercials. The Polo is $16,990 on-road, the Jetta is down to $25,990 and the Passat $36,690. The Polo is Carsguide's 2010 COTY. VOLVO Fuel and servicing for three years or 60,000km plus roadside assistance. There are conditions -- with a pre-paid BP card based on 15,000km a year and $1.50 a-litre pricing -- and the latest V40 hatch is excluded. Clever twist on bargaining but a pity it doesn't apply to the V40. Paul Gover's 10 COMMANDMENTS You must still do your homework. You must still check the fine print. You must still be prepared to haggle and compromise. But do it right, crunching the numbers and running right to the dealer's deadline, and you can drive away in something special at a special price. The starting point is all the deals, from sticker specials to cheap finance and steak knife-style free extras, being offered by most of the 60-plus brands in showrooms today. If something you want is on special, go for it. But check that the car was built in 2013, and is not a geriatric old-timer from 2012, and ensure your target is exactly what you want - not a stripped-out stocker, perhaps missing an automatic gearbox - that will cost thousands to get the way you want it. Once you lock down a target, don't think the advertised special is the end of the deal. You also need to negotiate for a better price on delivery and on-road costs, and avoid the trap of buying over-priced extras such as paint and upholstery protection, window tinting and extra-long warranties. No-one can expect to go into the ring with a showroom professional and expect to win, because buyers only get a new car occasionally and sales staff are dealing every day. But, by concentrating on the real bottom line - the changeover price - and being prepared to compromise, you can come out ahead. The best tips are the simplest. Run as close as you can to June 30 to sign the deal and get the car, because dealers are all aiming for targets that can mean tens of thousands in bonus money from headquarters. Also be prepared to take a car they have in stock, even if it's not your favourite colour, because dealers are aiming to clear everything they have on the lot. And have your finance in place before you arrive, especially if you're taking up a special deal, because that makes things quicker and you'll also be spared any hassle and potential extra costs. Watch out for 2012 cars because the warranty clock has already been running, don't forget that a big discount today will also mean less at changeover time, and remember that a demonstrator car could have had a hard life already.  

VALUE Volkswagen Polo GTI provides strong performance for a pretty modest price, carrying a recommended retail of just $27,790. On road costs have to be factored in, but even so, the Polo GTI won’t be a lot over the 30 grand mark before it’s yours. TECHNOLOGY As is the way with many new European cars, Volkswagen has fitted a smaller engine than in the superseded Polo GTI. That model had a 1.8-litre turbocharged engine, the new model has a 1.4-litre ‘twincharger’ powerplant. It has both a turbo and a supercharger. The supercharger pumps extra fuel into the engine at low revs, the turbo at higher engine speeds. There’s some overlap between the two air pumps to give strong torque over a wide band, with the supercharger being de-clutched at 3500 revs, when the turbocharger takes over completely. Maximum power from the Polo’s twincharger engine is 132 kilowatts. This clever engine produces a strong 250 Newton metres all the way from 2000 to 4500 revs. In everyday driving you will have the engine sitting at peak torque virtually all the time. Sadly Volkswagen Australia can’t sell you a six-speed manual version of the hot Polo as it has opted to import only the seven-speed DSG automated manual. While we are aware the DSG equipped Polo is quicker than the six-speed manual, we feel there are enough ‘real’ drivers out there to justify bringing in some manuals as well. Here’s hoping the decision is reversed some time soon. DESIGN Polo GTI is lifted in appearance from the rest of the Polo range by having blacked out honeycomb front grilles, as well as black backing to the headlamp surrounds. There are red highlights above and below the main grille. A bolder front bumper ties in with the extended door sills and complements the 15 mm lower suspension. At the rear are chromed exhaust outlets and a diffuser look to the back bumper. Over the rear window sits a neatly shaped wing. The quick little Volkswagen GTI looks good without going over the top in style. Inside are tartan covered seats, red-leather trimmed wheel and gear lever knob and sports instruments. DRIVING This little Volkswagen road rocket takes only 6.9 seconds to get to 100 km/h from a standing start. The six-speed manual would probably increase this to the low sevens, but that’s still excellent performance. All the more so when you consider the bargain price. There’s a lot more than simply drag racing to 100 km/h to make driving enjoyable. We love the near instantaneous reaction from the engine and the way it just keeps on producing stacks of grunt. Overtaking is ridiculously easy, simply click down a gear or two, give the right pedal the message, and the Polo GTI leaps past slower traffic is a short and safe distance. Another advantage of using a smaller engine is that the reciprocating components are lighter, so the engine is only too happy to rev harder the moment you ask it to do so. You don’t buy a high-performance car to save fuel, but VW’s latest technology minimises consumption and emissions. Open road driving will see the Polo using fuel at the rate of seven to eight litres per hundred kilometres. It’s unlikely to use more than ten litres per hundred in normal driving. Handling is nicely balanced and the use of an electronic sports differential means the Polo can easily be controlled on the throttle. It turns in neatly, holds its line well and is small enough to be able to use a lot of its own side of the road while still taking the ideal line through bends. Ride comfort in the VW Polo is good for a sports model riding on 17-inch wheels, though some passengers may find it too firm on rough roads. VERDICT High-performance cars aren’t supposed to come with low price tags. Yet Volkswagen Polo GTI gives you the driving excitement for a very modest outlay. Volkswagen Polo GTi Price: from $27,790 Engine: 1.4L/4-cylinder; 132kW/250Nm Transmission: 7-speed sports automatic dual clutch, front wheel drive Thirst: 6.1L/100km combined 

Until the introduction of the cute little Volkswagen up! the Polo was the smallest Volkswagen sold in Australia. As is often the way the Polo grew in size over the years and later models are similar in size to older VW Golfs. This means that a late model Polo can be used as a family car if the kids are in their pre-teen years. The Volkswagen Polo has a solid feel that’s not the norm in Asian competitors of this size. Owners love them and say they feel safe and secure within them. Sales of the Polo were slow in its earlier days in Australia, but picked up after significant price cuts. Better styling helped as well, the new model introduced in July 2002 was more stylish than some of the somewhat bland earlier versions. The 2010 model further improved the looks and Polo is starting to become a serious contender in the small car market in Australia. Most Polos sold in Australia are hatchbacks, with either two or four passenger doors, but a four-door sedan, tagged as the Polo Classic, was imported from China during 2004 and 2005. The latter wasn’t a success due to dubious quality control. Another interesting model is the Polo Open Air of 1998 to 2000. Though a five-door hatchback it had a huge sunroof that could let in plenty of fresh air when fully open. It wasn’t a success either, so is comparatively rare on the used-car front. Handling was nothing special in the earlier days, with too much understeer. It can show up in anything more than moderate cornering and is presumably in there to maximise safety in the hands of clumsy drivers. This was improved in Polos from 2002 onwards. Most Polos in Australia have petrol engines, however turbo-diesels have really started to sell in good numbers in recent years. Petrol engine capacities in the standard models are 1.4 and 1.6 litres. Performance from the smaller engine is better than you might expect due to the little VW's relatively light weight. The 1.4 engine from the year 2000 was a more modern unit than the one it superseded and has a good combination of economy and performance. Interestingly, the petrol 1.6-litre engine used in the Polo Classic has a twin-cam setup, whereas the others have a single-cam head. In both cases there are four valves per cylinder. Transmission options are five-speed manual and four-speed auto until the new model of 2008. The Polo Classic sedan, pre-2010 GTI, and TDI diesel are only sold with the manual. From 2008 a six-speed automatic was installed, this expanded to seven speeds in 2010. Manuals remained at five-speed units. Polo GTI in its early versions wasn’t the pocket rocket its name might suggest, chiefly because the turbocharged 1.8-litre engine is running only modest boost. However, it works very nicely in mid-range torque. The real strength of the Polo GTI is its nimble handling. Firmer suspension and added precision through the steering means it gives you a lot of driving fun at a pretty modest price. Engine power in the latest Polo GTI, launched in November 2010, was increased from 110 kilowatts to 132 kW thanks to a new TwinCharger (supercharged and turbocharged) engine. Finally the Polo GTI had the grunt to back up its name. Volkswagen has undergone a revolution in Australia in recent years thanks to a smart new management team. This has led not only to better sales results, but also an increased number of dealerships, many with impressive high-tech facilities. Service and repairs are moderate in price, though they can be higher than for equivalent sized Asian cars. We have heard of no real complaints about the cost or availability of spare parts. A good amateur mechanic should be able to do a fair bit of their own work as the Polo has a simple mechanical layout and the underbonnet area isn’t too crowded. Have a repair manual at your side, and keep well clear of repairs that could affect the car’s safety. Insurance costs are about average for a car in this European class although you are likely to be charged extra, possibly substantially extra, to cover the Polo GTI because of its turbocharged engine. WHAT TO LOOK FOR The VW Polo is generally well built, however the quality of assembly on the Polo Classic sedan left something to be desired. Check the interior as it can be on the rough and ready side. Ensure the engine starts quickly and idles reasonably smoothly immediately it fires up. Older VW Polo engines aren't the most refined of units, but if one seems too bad it may be due for major repairs. Gearchanges should be light and easy, with no crunching when you shift down quickly. The clutch should be smooth and predictable in its operation. Look inside the boot for signs of harsh treatment as cars in this class sometimes get treated as small trucks by inner-city residents carting things around. Interior trim that has been continuously scorched by the Aussie sun through lack of undercover parking may fade. The dash top and luggage cover will be the first to suffer, look and feel for cracks, as well as for a dry feel in the plastics. CAR BUYING TIP Try to do any test drive with the car in stone-cold condition, after an overnight stop is ideal. Mechanical problems are often aggravated by cold weather.