MoTorIng
With all the doom and gloom plenty of space. The Polo is unmis-
VITAL STATS - VW PoLo
stories about what bad shape takably VW with clear ergonomics;
our economy is in and with fuel with the standard blue glow of the
Price £10,035
costs creeping up to ridiculous central instrument panel and a lay-
levels again, it would only be out virtually identical to any other
Engine 1198cc Petrol
prudent to start being a little modern VW. Most surfaces have a
BHP 59 @ 5200 rpm
more frugal. Don’t get me wrong, soft touch to them and you would
I’m not suggesting anything radi- be hard pressed to find fault in its
Torque (lb ft) 80 @ 3000 rpm
cal like refraining from using build quality. The interior design
Fuel economy 51.4 mpg (combined)
sugar in your tea to save on your is as inoffensive as they come, and
grocery bill (well, not yet any- in an age where mood lighting and
Co2 128 g/km
way). But if you’re in the market piano black are all the rage, it feels
0-62mph 16.1 seconds
for a new car and don’t want to sell a little less ‘fun’ than the likes of
off a kidney, yet want something say the Alfa Romeo Mito or BMW’s
Top Speed 98 mph
a little more upmarket than your Mini. Something I wasn’t used to
Insurance group 2
average shopping trolley – the new seeing were items like electric win-
Volkswagen Polo may just be the
ticket.
“Volkswagen must be doing something
So yes, here we have another
supermini which appears to look
right with the Polo; after all, they haVe
overweight like many of its rivals, been selling it for the last 34 years. eVen
but being expensively trimmed
my mother used to driVe one.”
and thoroughly honed for today’s
mass market taste with the oh so
important VW badge, it’s a car to dows and a decent MP3 compatible takes to covering ground, but the
seriously consider. Volkswagen stereo which are standard even on highchair curse of modern vehi-
must be doing something right the entry level models. cles hasn’t escaped my notice and
with the Polo; after all, they have The new Polo isn’t even close accentuates the lean into corners.
been selling it for the last 34 years. to being the best handling super- The dampers feel less aggressive
Even my mother used to drive mini money can buy, however. at keeping everything tied down
one. It was great at the time and That award falls to the Ford Fiesta especially on rippled and lollop-
even with its four-speed gearbox followed by a number of French ing roads, but this all bodes well
it was a hoot to drive. There was offerings but that said, the Polo for a car that feels grown up and
one small problem, though – it was isn’t a huge disappointment, espe- relaxing to drive. If you press too
pink. So, maybe a young boy driv- cially around the city. Its good to hard into a bend and run amuck,
ing around in a pink Polo didn’t do drive but it won’t astound you. it’ll still tuck in swiftly as you lift
much for my image. Nevertheless, Some may prefer the Polo for the off the throttle. The brake action
when you have just passed your softer more relaxed approach it was a tad too sharp and I found
driving test, being handed the keys
to anything that doesn’t require
pedal power will soon make you
ignore the people pointing and
laughing at you whilst you drive
around in a fluorescent, bub-
blegum coloured car.
Those expecting a car capa-
ble of turning heads at a hundred
yards may be a little let down by
the Polo’s conventional looks. That
said, the newcomer is a clean piece
of design that borrows elements
from existing VWs, such as a nose
almost identical to the new VW
Golf and Scirroco. It provides a low
wide stance which affords a lean
and chiselled look. The rear lights
are definitely a welcome edition
especially when illuminated at
night in an L-shaped fashion.
Inside, it’s a similar story with
crisp lines, no-fuss design and
www.emel.com | emel magazine 71
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