#02#VW's rise has been well documented on these pages over the last few years. On the back of class-leading style and quality (particularly in terms of interiors) VW now appears on everyone's shortlist of chosen cars in almost every class. The enthusiast has been somewhat neglected, but with the latest
Golf GTI the company has even managed to worm its way back into our hearts, minds and wallets in a big way. All that is needed now is sprinkle the magic dust on the
little Polo.
The latest generation Polo GTI further cascades VW's stylish cues further down the range. It looks very much like a shrunken Golf GTI and does cause something of a double take for a confirmation of clear identification from a distance. The lights and grille are very similar, as are the wheels which share an identical design, but of an appropriately reduced diameter.
The interior is typical VW quality with the evocative patterned cloth emblazoned with the GTI logo and the now customary leather-bound sports wheel giving the cabin its sporting bias. The fit, finish and ergonomics give it the quality feel also now expected in the VW range. As a small hatch it's impressive and drives like a much bigger car both around town and at a cruise. It is composed and well mannered, comfortable and easy to drive; all the things we'd expect in a junior VW.
We've been here before though with the Mk IV Golf; all the quality and class, but not necessarily a good GTI. To really satisfy the hot hatch buyer the talent needs to run deeper. The chassis needs to involve and entertain and it's here, as a driving machine that the Polo falls short of the mark, particularly faced with the onslaught of talent from below and above in the price ranks. The weakest link is the steering; bereft of feel and overly light, it simply isn't what one would expect in a small hatch with sporting intentions. Putting this aside, the chassis offers a good ride and handling compromise.
The repertoire includes good turn-in, plenty of grip and nice flat cornering. The problem is that it lacks communication, intimacy and therefore involvement. It brings to mind previous generation Golfs and Audi A3s, both of which shared that same detached feeling. The Polo is from the tail-end of that generation and appears to have been blighted by the same handling ideology that is so refreshingly absent in the latest Golf GTI.
#p##07#
This shortcoming would be excusable were we living in barren times, but a squint at the line-ups of rival manufacturers yields such names as Clio Renaultsport 197,
Ford Fiesta ST,
Suzuki Swift Sport, and we could go on. We expect more from the new generation of hot hatch, and the anticipated thrills don't come to the fore in the Polo. Brakes, gearshift and steering in general lack the degree of feel so craved by keen drivers; they're all just a little too wooden.
The 1.8-litre turbocharged engine has seen action for many years in a variety of vehicles and does good service here in the Polo. Plenty of torque is available in the low and mid-range giving the small car appreciable urgency, but it lacks composure at the top end, deteriorating into a thrashy nature over the final 1000rpm up to the red line. It also has a healthy thirst when extended, but the naughty exhaust burble is a new and welcome addition.
Overall then, if it's dynamism you're after, we'd recommend you look elsewhere, but as a stylish, comfortable and quality small hatch then the Polo is worthy of consideration. In fact, driven at 6/10ths it's a decent enough fun car, but beyond that it struggles and doesn't appeal or excite as it should. Due to this, I would question as to whether the GTI tag is appropriate; it's potentially misleading as the character and talent of the car cannot deliver the implied performance and fun.
Think of the Polo as a luxury small hatch with decent performance, rather than a seat of the pants giggle and you won't be disappointed. Driving enthusiasts should skip it.
2007 VW Polo range overview
| Model | UK (£ on-the-road) | Ireland: (€ on-the-road) |
| Volkswagen Polo E 3 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £7,585 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo E 5 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £8,185 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo E 3 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £8,200 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo E 5 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £8,800 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 3 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £9,195 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 5 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £9,795 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 3 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £9,595 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 5 door 1.2 ltr 5 speed manual | £10,195 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 3 door 1.4 ltr 4 speed auto | £10,750 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 5 door 1.4 ltr 4 speed auto | £11,350 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 3 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £9,905 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £10,505 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S TDI 3 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £10,690 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo S TDI 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £11,290 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE 3 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £10,615 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £11,215 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE 3 door 1.4 ltr 4 speed auto | £11,460 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE 5 door 1.4 ltr 4 speed auto | £12,060 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE TDI 3 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £11,720 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo SE TDI 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £12,320 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Sport 3 door 1.6 ltr 5 speed manual | £12,670 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Sport 5 door 1.6 ltr 5 speed manual | £13,270 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Sport TDI 3 door 1.9 ltr 5 speed manual | £13,635 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Sport TDI 5 door 1.9 ltr 5 speed manual | £14,235 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo GTI 3 door 1.8 ltr 5 speed manual | £14,995 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo GTI 5 door 1.8 ltr 5 speed manual | £15,595 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Dune 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £12,805 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo Dune TDI 5 door 1.4 ltr 5 speed manual | £13,650 | n/a |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 COMFORTLINE 3DR 65BHP | n/a | €15,870 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 COMFORTLINE 5DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,290 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 COMFORTLINE AC 3DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,410 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 COMFORTLINE AC 5DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,830 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SPORTLINE 3DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,375 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SPORTLINE 5DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,795 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SPORTLINE AC 3DR 65BHP | n/a | €16,915 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.2 SPORTLINE AC 5DR 65BHP | n/a | €17,335 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE 3DR 80 BHP | n/a | €17,095 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE 5DR 80 BHP | n/a | €17,515 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE A/T 3DR 75BHP | n/a | €18,720 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE A/T 5DR 75BHP | n/a | €19,140 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC 3DR 80 BHP | n/a | €17,635 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC 5DR 80 BHP | n/a | €18,055 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC A/T 3DR 75BHP | n/a | €19,260 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC A/T 5DR 75BHP | n/a | €19,680 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC TDI 3DR 80 BHP | n/a | €20,785 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE AC TDI 5DR 80 BHP | n/a | €21,220 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE TDI 3DR 80BHP | n/a | €20,245 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 COMFORTLINE TDI 5DR 80BHP | n/a | €20,680 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE 3DR 80BHP | n/a | €18,100 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE 5DR 80BHP | n/a | €18,520 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE AC 3DR 80 BHP | n/a | €18,640 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE AC 5DR 80 BHP | n/a | €19,060 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE AC TDI 3DR 80 BHP | n/a | €21,820 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE AC TDI 5DR 80 BHP | n/a | €22,225 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE TDI 3DR 80BHP | n/a | €21,280 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.4 SPORTLINE TDI 5DR 80BHP | n/a | €21,715 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.6 SPORTLINE 3DR 105BHP | n/a | €22,220 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.6 SPORTLINE 5DR 105BHP | n/a | €22,650 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.6 SPORTLINE AC 3DR 105 BHP | n/a | €22,760 |
| Volkswagen Polo 1.6 SPORTLINE AC 5DR 105 BHP | n/a | €23,190 |
