Used Volkswagen Polo (09-18) long-term review
Does buying the last of the previous-generation Volkswagen Polo make more financial sense than a new one? And how does a small 1.0-litre engine cope with a myriad of real-world driving conditions...
- The car 2017 Volkswagen Polo 1.0 75 Match Edition
- Run by Max Adams, used cars reporter
- Why it’s here To find out if buying the old model makes better sense than the latest model
- Needs to Cope with the daily commute on a mixture of motorway, dual carriageway and town traffic, along with occasional long-distance trips, and prove itself against the newer model
Price when new £15,505 Price on arrival £11,650 Approx value now £10,741 Mileage on arrival 2276 Mileage now 5235 Test fuel economy 46.7mpg Official fuel economy 58.9mpg
Prices based on a standard car with no optional extras
10 May 2018 – all the small things
In this line of work, we are very privileged to be able to drive many different cars. It gives us a frame of reference that better enables us to judge how one car compares with its rivals. It’s also good for finding out how easy it is to get settled back into a long-term test car; and the VW Polo always surprises me in this regard because, in most cases, it feels like I’ve never been away. It’s a testament, undoubtedly, to the level of polish Volkswagen has put into it.
There are also lots of nice touches in the Polo, such as the reminder to take your mobile phone with you when you switch the car off (that didn’t stop me from doing just that just when I first picked it up from the dealer, though). You can also raise or lower the windows by holding down the lock or unlock button on the key – that's particularly useful on a hot day.
Then there is the generous Match Edition specification that brings big-car luxuries; for instance, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and electric folding door mirrors. It’s remarkable to think that you can get all this and an easy-to-use infotainment system for the money, because the car certainly doesn’t feel like a bargain-basement special. And don't just take my word for it; because colleagues on both the used and new car desks have all mentioned how nice this Polo is. High praise indeed.
