Car Buyers Guide to the VW Polo Mark 5
What’s good:
- Strong
- Safe
- · Upmarket image
- · Efficient engines
- · Good to drive
- · Spacious cabin
What’s bad:
- · Costly to buy
- · Some models spartan
Intro:
When it comes to desirable superminis, few have the cachet of the Volkswagen Polo. In a segment that’s filled with cheap and cheerful transport, the VW gravitates above many of its rivals, thanks to its classy exterior design, premium cabin and high-tech engines.
But you pay for these; high new prices and strong residuals mean you’ll pay for the privilege of owning a used Polo.
However, with most of the attributes of its bigger brother the Golf, but at lower prices, if you’re looking for a quality supermini and you’re not on too tight a budget, the Polo could be just the ticket.
The Polo has always made a great used buy, but it’s easy to lose sight of just how good the Mk5 edition is.
Much more fun to drive than its predecessors, more refined, safer and with more efficient engines than ever, the Polo Mk5 is thoroughly deserving of its Car of the Year status – it scooped the award in 2010.
Evolution:
Oct 2009: The fifth-generation Polo arrives in five-door hatch form. There are 59bhp or 69bhp 1.2 and 84bhp 1.4-litre petrol engines plus a 1.6 TDi in 74bhp or 89bhp guises.
Feb 2010: A three-door hatch is introduced along with a 1.2 TDi engine, in 104bhp or 74bhp forms, the latter badged Bluemotion. The 177bhp GTi debuts too, with 1.4-litre TSI power.
Jul 2011: The high-value Polo Match replaces the SE and Moda.
Apr 2012: The sporty-looking R-Line appears and most models get extra standard equipment.
Jun 2012: All Polos now feature Bluetooth and a DAB radio as standard.
Oct 2012: The Polo GT has a 138bhp 1.4 petrol engine, yet can average 61mpg.
Jul 2014: A facelift brings a refreshed nose, a redesigned dashboard, extra optional and standard safety kit plus a new touch-screen multi-media system. There are also new or overhauled engines including a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit (1.0 MPi) and a four-cylinder 1.2 TSI. The diesel-engined Bluemotion is also superseded by a 1.0 TSI petrol unit and a 1.4 TDi replaces the previous 1.2 TDi and 1.6 TDi powerplants.
Feb 2016: The Polo Match replaces the SE, with extra standard equipment.
Buying checklist:
- · The front tyres can wear out quickly; it’s not unknown for them to need replacing after just 8,000 miles.
- · Some 1.4-litre petrol cars need an ECU update, but there’s no official recall for this. Check it’s been done.
- · Some owners have found their TDi models have diesel particulate filter faults; again, an ECU update will often fix things.
- Not all cars have a front passenger airbag that can be switched off, so if you carry small children in the front, find a Polo with this feature.
- Some owners have found their headlight lenses have been heat damaged by the daytime running lights being on for long periods of time.
- Check that the brake discs aren’t worn or warped (feel for juddering under braking); some owners have found the discs wear quickly.
Running costs:
One of the key selling points of the Volkswagen Polo is its low running costs. High-tech engines mean that real-world fuel consumption is admirably low; the diesels can return 60-70mpg or even more if you drive carefully.
The petrol engines are more likely to return 45-50mpg although the official rating for the 1.2 TSI for example is 53mpg.
Road tax costs should also be low thanks to official CO2 ratings being decently low. The thirstiest engine, the 1.4 TSI seen in the Polo GTi, is rated at 139g/km (and 47mpg) but the 1.2 TSI is pegged at 124g/km while the diesels are even better.
Worst of the lot is the 112g/km of the 1.6 TDi while the 1.2 TDi is rated at 102g/km – or 91g/km in Bluemotion form. The 1.4 TDi is listed at 88g/km and 83mpg while the 1.0 MPI is pegged at 106-108g/km (and 58-60mpg).
Polo owners can choose between fixed-interval or variable servicing. The former requires maintenance every 12 months or 10,000 miles, while the latter allows up to 20,000 miles and two years between garage visits, depending on how the car is driven (18,000 miles is normal). Once a car has reached its third birthday, fixed-price servicing is available which helps cut costs significantly.
All engines apart from the 1.2-litre units (including the TSI) need a fresh cam belt every four years, but there’s no fixed mileage for this. The brake fluid should also be renewed after three years, then every two years, and on top of this the air-con should be regassed every two year as well.
Which one?
The 1.2-litre Polo is fine for local runs, but it can be hard work on longer journeys, so we’d recommend going for a 1.4, a TSI or a TDi model.
It’s the TSI and TDi models that are the best to drive as they’re zippy and frugal but if you don’t do many miles be wary of buying a diesel-engined Polo with a particulate filter as these get clogged up without a regular high-speed run.
The three-door Polo looks more stylish than the five-door, but the latter is more practical and it’ll be easier to sell on. Check if any potential purchase has had a service plan taken out on it; Polo owners can pay into the scheme in advance, so routine maintenance is already paid for when it’s due; it’s transferable between owners.
We’d avoid S-trim cars as they’re rather spartan; instead you should aim for at least an SE (or Match) with their standard air-con and ESP. The Match also features cruise control, electric windows, alloy wheels, Bluetooth, electrically heated and adjustable door mirrors plus rear parking sensors.