Today, we are looking at the 2013 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 Match which I hired for a few days towards the end of 2013 in Sheffield. With a 1.2 litre three cylinder engine producing just 60 bhp, this little car was surprisingly noisy and rather slow. Sheffield has lots of hills, and it struggled to get up some of them, despite protests and whining from the little motor. Loaded with five people and or a boot full of luggage was when it was most noticeable, but even with just a driver, it wasn't exactly brisk. Figures online suggest a 0-60 mph time of over 16 seconds....
The fuel economy, however, was pretty good, and it used virtually no fuel during the time that I hired it, which was probably over 100 miles. The interior space and boot space (especially as I didn't realise that it had an adjustable boot floor until later) was pretty average, although the quality of materials was pretty high. Like most Volkswagens (and Volkswagen Group products in general), the Polo does have a good feeling of solidity about it, and the styling of this generation has always been very neat and tidy in my opinion, especially with the 2014 facelift.
Despite just 60 bhp, once up to speed, the car did ride and handle perfectly well, and was comfortable to drive. The Match specification was very well equipped with an AUX input for the stereo, daytime running lights, parking sensors, a large central screen, electric windows and mirrors, air conditioning and, I seem to recall, cruise control.
The little 1.0 litre engine out of the Volkswagen Up!, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii (yes, that is how you spell all of those names) has now found its way under the bonnet of the Polo within the last couple of years, and despite the same number of cylinders and a similar power output, this is much, much better. Overall, the car is economical, handsome, well built and comfortable, but if you are going to buy a Mark 5 Polo, make sure it is the facelifted car with the improved engines.
