| First Drive | Sardinia, Italy| Volkswagen Polo |

A miniature Golf in all but name, the new Polo shares its design language with its bigger relative. It's similarly solidly built, classily appointed inside and refined too, making it the perfect choice for buyers wanting a Golf, but facing a hole in their finances.

In the Metal

The similarities between Volkswagen's Golf and the new Polo are striking. At first glance the new Polo could well be mistaken for the bigger car. That's no bad thing really as the Golf is highly respected among the chattering classes, with kudos that's well above its mainstream rivals. The Polo is nicely positioned as its understudy. The rear lights are the most obvious difference between the two cars, but other than that it's like looking at a Golf parked in the distance. Longer, lower and wider than the old Polo, the new car undoubtedly looks sharper and more dynamic: it's likely to appeal to a wider audience than its rather dowdy predecessor - without putting off existing buyers.

What you get for your Money

Aside from being one of the best looking superminis on sale, the new Polo receives a decent amount of standard kit. ESP is as standard across the entire range in the UK and all models also get four airbags and whiplash protecting headrests. Electric front windows and central locking also feature across the range, though further details of exact specifications for the British market will be confirmed nearer its October on-sale date. With prices starting at £9,000, four petrol and three diesel engines, a seven-speed auto option and the availability of upmarket kit like two-zone climate control and touch-screen navigation on the options list there'll be a Polo to suit every buyer and budget.

Driving it

Lighter, lower and wider than the outgoing model, the Polo promises a sharper and more involving drive than its capable, but rather insipid predecessor. It's certainly a step forward from VW for its supermini but it's not able to match Ford's Fiesta for outright dynamism and behind the wheel grin-inducing handling. The Polo's steering is decently weighted, but low on information, the first real indication that you're reaching the car's cornering limits being squealing from its Michelin energy tyres. Neat and tidy if you're not in too much of a hurry, it rides well - even when specified with larger alloy wheels - and insulation is good; wind, road and engine noises being nicely isolated from the cabin.

In left-hand drive cars, the pedals are slightly offset, but otherwise the driving position is excellent, the firm seats offering great support and comfort. The dashboard is tidy and the instrumentation very clear; neat touches include a lidded cubby within the glovebox to hold the Polo's manual, while not-so-clever details include an armrest between the driver and passenger that, when down, obstructs both the gearshift and handbrake. Four petrol engines are available: two 1.2-litre units with 59bhp or 69bhp, a 1.4-litre with 84bhp and a TSI turbocharged 1.2-litre with 104bhp. Joining them are two 1.6-litre turbodiesels in 74bhp and 89bhp outputs. Only the 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine from that lot feels particularly brisk, the diesels smooth and economical, but not offering the slugger-punch mid-range that we'd hoped for.

Worth Noting

The new Polo is a good deal better economically than its predecessor, VW claiming as much as a 20 percent fuel economy saving. That's largely down to it being a little lighter and advances in engine, aerodynamics and tyre technology. The diesels - in either output - boast a 67.3mpg official combined fuel economy figure, but if you're really after a fuel-sipping Polo then you'll need to wait until 2010 when the BlueMotion version is introduced. It'll feature stop-start, regenerative brakes, a 74bhp three-cylinder turbodiesel and drag-reducing aerodynamics and tyres to enable it to achieve a provisional combined consumption figure of 85.5mpg. Emissions of CO₂ will be a tax-dodging 87g/km, too.

Summary

Volkswagen's new Polo isn't about to go chasing a Ford Fiesta down a back road, but its mature-feeling drive, refinement and comfort allied to decent - if unremarkable - dynamic ability and capable performance make it a very rounded supermini. It's classier than anything else available, feels nicely built, has decent space and is refined. Grown up then, but still enjoyable enough to drive to put it in the mix for driver pleasure among everything but Ford's standout Fiesta and its close Mazda2 relative.