Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) Review and Prices
The Volkswagen Polo is a smart small car that’s easy to drive and efficient, but it’s not cheap, fun to drive or as roomy in the back as similar models
- Cash
- £11,488
- Used
- £7,995
What's good
What's not so good
Find out more about the Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017)
Is the Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) a good car?
The Volkswagen Polo – it’s a good car if you’re after a small hatchback with simple controls and a range of fuel-efficient engines. It’s comfortable, relatively practical and has that desirable Volkswagen badge on the front.
It was released in 2012 and updated in 2015 with new bumpers, a restyled dashboard and a new infotainment system. On the outside it looks much like its bigger brother – the Volkswagen Golf – and it’s more conservatively styled than similar small cars such as the Vauxhall Corsa, or even a Ford Fiesta. The Polo is more expensive than those cars, too, and the hit-and-miss interior quality is at odds with its posh exterior. It’s worth noting that the Polo is available in three-door and more practical five-door forms – both of which are covered here – and a powerful hot-hatch version, called the Polo GTI.
Considering the amount you pay, you’d expect the Polo’s interior to be made out of nicer plastics – but its infotainment system is one of the best out there. All Polos come with a colour touchscreen system as standard, which not only makes the dashboard look a bit more modern and less dull, but can mirror your smartphone’s sat-nav and media apps.
Speaking of equipment, the Polo is really well kitted out – so long as you ignore the entry-level S model. Go for the Match Edition version and you get everything you really need, such as a leather steering wheel, cruise control and all-round parking sensors.
The Polo is a good small car – it's just not the best small car
If you like to pack a lot into your small car then the Polo is definitely worth a look – the boot is a good size and shape for a small car, and up front there are big door bins and a large glovebox.
You better be ready for complaints from the back seats though – there’s not much headroom or knee room for tall adults, and if you regularly carry adults in the back then the Vauxhall Corsa is a roomier choice. The Polo should be safe though – as well as having a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating (albeit from the less stringent test in 2009), it’s available with some optional safety kit from the more expensive Golf.
The Polo is a doddle to manoeuvre around town thanks to a great view out, very few blind spots and light steering. It’s perfectly at home on the motorway so long as you avoid the weedy 1.0-litre non-turbocharged petrol engines. The best petrol engine is the 1.2-litre turbocharged option with 110hp because it’s smooth and powerful enough for a relaxed motorway cruise. Some of the Polo’s engines are available with a quick-shifting DSG automatic gearbox that takes the effort out of stop-start driving, but you can’t have an automatic Polo with a diesel engine.
The Polo’s suspension soaks up bumps pretty well but it doesn’t feel as fun to drive fast down a twisty road as a Ford Fiesta, but do you really care? It does most of the things that really matter including comfort, quietness and practicality – and does them well enough to make it a consummate all-rounder.
How much is the Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017)?
The Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) has a RRP range of £10,990 to £20,665. However, on Carwow prices for a new Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) start at £11,488 if paying cash. The price of a used Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) on Carwow starts at £7,995.
What's it like to drive?
The Polo’s comfortable, easy to drive and comes with a choice of economical engines, but it’s not as much fun on a country road as a Ford Fiesta
The 1.2-litre petrol engine is fun – it's a shame the rest of the car isn't. It does get good fuel economy though
What's it like inside?
The Polo’s interior is comfortable, the boot is usefully shaped, and the optional smartphone mirroring works really well – but the dashboard looks a bit drab and some of the plastics feel cheap
Volkswagen Polo (2014-2017) colours
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- Cash
- £11,488
- Used
- £7,995