| Week at the Wheel | VW Polo 1.2 SE |

Inside & Out:

As ever VW has played things very safe with the new Polo. It's immediately familiar and only the front and rear light treatments really identify this as the newer version. VW's policy of subtle evolution of familiar shapes and strong family likenesses leaves the Polo looking entirely like a shrunken Golf, so much so that from some angles it's a double take to tell which is which. It's a shame that the Polo doesn't have its own more distinct identity. In the face of some much more exciting and individualistic rivals such as the Alfa MiTo, Citroen DS3 and MINI, the Polo looks a little flat.

Much the same can be said of the interior, which, whilst being completely practical, roomy and well screwed together, isn't likely to appeal to the particularly fashion conscious. It will, however, appeal to VW fans and repeat buyers; there's nothing garish or gimmicky, instead it relying on sound ergonomics, clarity of controls and gauges and an efficient layout. Ironically, the one stand-out part of the interior fitted to the test car, namely the upgraded touch screen satnav and hi-fi unit, was probably our least favourite part thanks to its less than intuitive controls.

Engine & Transmission:

Small cars typically mean small engines and our test car's 59bhp 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine is the bottom rung of the Polo powertrain ladder - a range that currently spans three diesel and three petrol engines. That is, in terms of muscle, rather than refinement or character. In practice the modest outputs aren't immediately obvious, the engine willing and able to scuttle around town in the lower regions in the rev-range. However, go for a gap in traffic, or venture out of town, and extend the engine a little further and the lack of grunt is more obvious. Over 4,000rpm power seems to ebb away and it actually takes a very long time to rev out to the redline, even in second gear. This is borne out in underwhelming performance figures of 0-62mph in a tad over 16 seconds and a maximum speed of 98mph.

This aside, in its preferred operating environment of urban roads, the small engine is a pleasing, warbling accompaniment to driving. The gearbox shifts lightly and smoothly and the ratios do their best to make up for a deficit of outright power whilst still allowing for some motorway cruising ability - where it remains composed and quiet. Economy isn't perhaps as strong as one may hope; we managed an average of just under 40mpg during our week with the car, which included a mixture of town and country driving, as well as extended motorway stints.

Ride & Handling:

As one would expect the Polo is comfortable and composed but a little short on excitement in this guise. It rides well - on all surfaces - and smoothes and soothes over scarred road surfaces, isolating occupants nicely - though transmitting quite a lot of road noise. When roads get more challenging it is capable of stepping up to the mark, though there is little to encourage extravagance and key interfaces such as the steering offer little in the way of feedback.

Let's be clear that VW isn't pursuing the Fiesta for class honours in the areas of dynamic excellence and driving enjoyment, instead focusing on a safe and secure chassis that has more than enough capability for the majority of potential buyers, with sufficient in the locker to provide some amusement.

Equipment, Economy & Value for Money:

The Polo range now contains four trim levels, the lowest of which, the S, still comes with a reasonable level of equipment and the full complement of safety features. The SE model sits above the Moda and below the SEL in VW's new pecking order. It comes with creature comforts such as air conditioning as standard. Also on the list is a reasonable quality six-speaker stereo with MP3 connectivity and 15-inch alloy wheels.

A list price of £11,895 reflects the quality of the VW, exceeding that of many rivals, though the best price we found online was £11,200, which undercuts the basic Fiesta offering. In terms of running costs, financial pains should be minimal with long servicing intervals, a low tax loading and cheap insurance courtesy of a group four rating. Only the relatively disappointing fuel economy undermines the Polo's case.

Overall:

As ever, Volkswagen's baby is a solid offering complete with the expected levels of comfort, quality and practicality. It's an appealing ownership prospect in terms of image and the ease with which it would fit into your life. If I were buying, I'd find the extra money for a slightly more powerful derivative, but that's personal taste rather than a major fallacy. On the downside, it's a shame that as capable as the Polo is, it can't do it all with a little more flair.