Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017) Review
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017) At A Glance
The Volkswagen Polo is a car that’s very hard to argue against. In this fifth-generation version, it’s lighter and more efficient than its predecessor, deliver a safe, undemanding drive and offers up plenty of cabin space when compared to most of its rivals.
There’s a good choice of engines and the option of an automatic gearbox, while the handling is safe and secure, even if it won’t inspire you in the way a Ford Fiesta will on a twisty road. More relevant to most Polo drivers will be the feeling of being in a car that is solidly built and decently equipped if you sidestep the entry-level models and go for SE trim or above.
Small cars don't have to be exciting to be successful as the Polo proves. It's been going since 1975 and has carved out a reputation as a well built and sensible small hatchback. There's certainly nothing wrong with that and more than 10 million people worldwide seem to agree as they've bought one. The latest version - which is now the fifth generation model - follows that trend. It's not radical or groundbreaking but it is attractive, well engineered and easy to live with.
This Polo is slightly bigger than the 2005-2009 model but actually weighs less which helps economy. And in terms of styling it's far more in line with its larger relation the Golf, than was the case with the previous model.
That's especially true at the front where it's easy to mistake the two from a quick glance. It's a huge improvement inside too with a far more appealing layout and a better impressions of quality. It's also roomier, especially noticeable in terms of elbow room for those in the front.
The standard Polo was available with a wide choice of engines. Most people choose the standard 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine which comes with either 60PS or 70PS. In 2014 the Polo was facelifted and this engine was replaced by a 1.0-litre from the Volkswagen Up. It's just as powerful with 60PS or 75PS versions, yet is more economical.
A Polo is an accomplished small car. It may not be as good to drive as a Ford Fiesta or as versatile as a Honda Jazz, but it remains a great all-rounder that's well built and thanks to the Volkswagen badge, holds its value well too. It was voted European Car of the Year in 2010.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017) handling and engines
- Engines range from 1.0 60 to 1.6 TDI 90
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 32–79 mpg
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Handling and ride quality
There is a lot to like about the way the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo deals with all sorts of roads and driving conditions. Where the previous model was prone to wallowing its way through corners, this Polo is a lot more enjoyable to drive.
We won’t pretend the Polo is as good to drive or as much fun as the Ford Fiesta that was launched in the same year, but then very few come close to the Fiesta in this area. Instead, the Polo strikes a welcome balance between agility and comfort. If you do want a Polo that errs more towards determined cornering prowess, there is the GTI model or, from 2014 onwards, the optional Sport Select suspension that used electronically controlled dampers to switch between normal and sport settings.
Whichever Polo you choose, the steering is light and the amount of assistance is just right for easy parking in town or filtering through traffic. At higher speeds, the Polo adheres to its more grown-up feel than most rivals with its stability on motorways, while the steering is a little weightier to further that planted sense. The only place where the steering doesn’t feel fully up to snuff is on switchblade back roads. Here, the Polo loses out to the Ford Fiesta’s precision, but few will worry about this when picking a Polo.
What they will concern themselves with is the excellent comfort provided by the VW’s absorbent suspension. On any surface, the Polo makes light work of easing its way over lumps, bump and ridges. Again, it’s not quite as polished as the Ford Fiesta, but you won’t find your posterior being pummelled as you head down the usual scarred surfaces that make up the road network.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Engines
Anyone looking to buy this generation of Volkswagen Polo has the choice of petrol and turbodiesel engines. We’ll start with the petrol options that most will lean towards. The 1.2-litre non-turbo petrol comes in 60- and 70PS guises and each is attached to a five-speed manual gearbox. Exciting? No, but each is able to get on with the job of powering the Polo with little fuss or drama even on the motorway.
The 1.4-litre petrol motor is not worth seeking out as it adds little in terms of performance and is thirstier and more polluting. Far better are the 60- and 75PS 1.2 TSI turbo petrols that arrived with the 2014 facelift of the Polo. Each is peppy and fun to use, and the 110PS version is surprisingly quick and fun to use. Both are three-cylinder motors, so they also have a distinctive and appealing note when revved harder. A four-cylinder 1.4 TSI turbo petrol with 150PS turns the Polo into a decent warm hatch, but this engine is rare.
On the diesel front, VW offered the 1.6-litre TDI unit in 75- and 90PS forms. The 70PS was soon dropped, leaving the excellent 90PS version to provide strong performance at all speeds and decent economy. You should also consider the three-cylinder 1.2 TDI with 75PS, particularly in BlueMotion trim where it’s even more efficient. It punches above its weight in terms of performance.
A 1.4-litre turbodiesel replaced the 1.2 unit in 2014 and is another easygoing, low-cost diesel for those who cover larger mileages. It’s decently refined and well suited to motorway driving.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Safety
The Volkswagen Polo came with only four airbags instead of the six that was rapidly becoming the norm in the supermini class in 2009. However, this should not be a cause for concern when buying as the side airbags inflated upwards as well as outwards to create the same cushioning area as cars with side and curtain airbags. As a result of this, the Polo scored an impressive five-star Euro NCAP crash test rating thanks to it adult and child occupant safety.
Every Polo in the range comes with ESP traction and stability control, as well as ABS anti-lock brakes on all models. There are also three-point seat belts for every person in the car plus two Isofix child seat mounts on the outer two rear seats. There is no airbag cut-off switch in the front passenger seat, so rear-facing kiddy seats have to go in the back of the car.
This Polo predates autonomous emergency braking technology, but there was the option of adaptive cruise control to help maintain a safe distance to the car in front even as speed varied. However, there are several contemporary rivals to the Polo that have more safety kit either as standard or as an option.
Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
---|---|---|---|
1.0 60 | 59–60 mpg | 14.3–16.5 s | 106–108 g/km |
1.0 75 | 59–59 mpg | 14.3 s | 108–109 g/km |
1.0 TSI 110 | 63 mpg | 9.3 s | 99 g/km |
1.0 TSI 110 DSG | 61 mpg | 9.3 s | 102 g/km |
1.0 TSI 95 BlueMotion | 67 mpg | 10.5 s | 94 g/km |
1.2 60 | 51 mpg | 16.1 s | 128 g/km |
1.2 70 | 51 mpg | 14.1 s | 128 g/km |
1.2 TDI | 72 mpg | 13.9 s | 102 g/km |
1.2 TDI BlueMotion | 81 mpg | 13.9 s | 91 g/km |
1.2 TSI | 53 mpg | 9.7 s | 124 g/km |
1.2 TSI 110 | 63 mpg | 9.3 s | 99 g/km |
1.2 TSI 90 | 60 mpg | 10.8 s | 107–109 g/km |
1.2 TSI 90 DSG | 60 mpg | 10.8 s | 109 g/km |
1.2 TSI DSG | 60 mpg | 10.8 s | 109 g/km |
1.4 | 48 mpg | 11.9 s | 139 g/km |
1.4 DSG | 49 mpg | 11.9 s | 134–135 g/km |
1.4 TDI | 74 mpg | 10.9 s | 93 g/km |
1.4 TDI 75 | 74–83 mpg | 12.9 s | 88–97 g/km |
1.4 TDI 90 | 74 mpg | 10.9 s | 88 g/km |
1.4 TDI BlueMotion | 91 mpg | 12.9 s | 82 g/km |
1.6 TDI 75 | 66 mpg | 13.9 s | 112 g/km |
1.6 TDI 90 | 66 mpg | 11.5 s | 112 g/km |
Blue GT 1.4 TSI ACT | 59–61 mpg | 7.8–7.9 s | 107–110 g/km |
Blue GT 1.4 TSI ACT DSG | 59–61 mpg | 7.8–7.9 s | 107–108 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
81%
Real MPG
32–79 mpg
MPGs submitted
1132
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017) interior
- Boot space is 280–952 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
Dimensions | |
---|---|
Length | 1453–4007 mm |
Width | 1682–1901 mm |
Height | 1450–1465 mm |
Wheelbase | 2468–2470 mm |
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Practicality
In the front of the Volkswagen Polo the driver and front passenger aren't cramped together.
That sense is helped by the Polo including a height adjustable driver’s seat in every model. Together with the depth and angle adjustment for the steering wheel and a footwell that doesn’t scrunch your shoes too closely when working the pedals, the Polo has a mature and very open feel to its driving position. Our only complaint in this department is the driver’s seat doesn’t adjust quite as low as we’d like, so taller drivers are left feeling as if they are perched on the car rather than in it.
In both the three- and five-door models, entry and exit to the driver’s seat is excellent, though beware the three-door version has longer doors that can make it trickier to get in and out in tightly packed parking spaces.
When in the driving seat, all of the controls are placed with VW’s usual attention to detail, which means you don’t have to think about where a control should be as it tends to be exactly where you expect. There’s also good vision for the driver in all directions.
For anyone looking to a supermini fulfil multiple roles that include carrying several passengers or plenty of luggage, the Volkswagen Polo is a car you must consider. Even the three-door model offers surprisingly easy access to the rear seats through the wide-opening front doors, helped by front seats that slide forward. The only thing to bear in mind here is the long doors might not swing open very much in narrow parking slots.
The five-door Polo addresses this issue with a pair of large openings to let adults and children hop in and out easily. Two grown-ups will fit back here without any complaints courtesy of good legroom, space for shoulders and their head not brushing the ceiling as they might in the Vauxhall Corsa. The Polo is also much more generous for rear seat accommodation than the Ford Fiesta, so kids will prefer travelling in the VW. A pair of Isofix child seat mounts also means you can securely attach kiddy seats into the Polo.
For loading luggage, the Polo’s boot is not as big as some at 280-litres, but it makes up for this with its wide opening. There’s also the load floor that can be lowered to create more space and the boot shape is a broad rectangle with no interruptions. Folding the 60/40 split rear bench opens up carrying capacity to a decent but not class best of 952-litres.
Unlike a lot of cars in the supermini class, most models in the VW Polo range come with a full-sized spare wheel. Some models replace this with a can of tyre sealant, such as the BlueMotion to save weight and improve its economy and emissions figures. So, best to check the spare is in good condition or the sealant kit is present and correct.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Quality and finish
As with the outside, there's a strong Golf feeling to the cabin of the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo. This is helped by the neat three-spoke steering wheel and a good quality stereo, and it certainly has a big car feel about it.
Volkswagen used a process called ‘slush moulding' for plastic surfaces such as the facia, which means they don't feel hard and cheap. This applies to the steering wheel and minor controls too.
Everything from the seat fabrics to instruments and centre console look classy, plus there's a lot of nice detailing, such as the chrome trim on the air vents, door handles and gear lever surround in all by the base S model.
As for the way the Polo is screwed together, it’s one of the best in its class and should resist succumbing to rattles and creaks even when it’s covered plenty of miles and seen lots of family use.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Infotainment
Pre-facelift Volkswagen Polos of this generation built up to the start of 2014 make do with a simple digital display for the stereo. The SEL trim gained the Multi Device Interface that could be paired with a mobile phone or iPod. It’s clear and simple to use, so it’s not quite as outdated as systems in other superminis of this period.
The 2014 facelift introduced Volkswagen’s generic infotainment screen to the Polo which will be familiar to anyone who has the same in a Golf or Passat. The 5-inch touchscreen comes with Bluetooth and USB connections, as well as DAB radio. It responds quickly to the touch of a finger and it’s easy to scroll through the various menus onscreen. There are also handy shortcut buttons arranged on either side of the display to take you to the important menus quickly, while a smaller screen in the middle of the main dash instruments can show sat-nav instructions.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017) value for money
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Prices
Look for a 2014 facelifted 1.0 TSI SE five-door with average mileage of approximately 50,000 and you’ll pay around £6500.
Early versions of this Polo can be had from £3500 in fine fettle in either three- or five-door shapes and in S and SE trims.
Volkswagen Polo (2009 – 2017): Running Costs
The most frugal Volkswagen Polo model from this generation is the 1.4 TDI BlueMotion launched in 2014. It can return an exceptional claimed economy of 91.1mpg. In theory, that means a range of 900 miles on a single fill of the 45-litre tank. However, Real MPG figures suggest this engine is more likely to return average of 60.7mpg. The 1.2 TDI BlueMotion beats this with a Real MPG figure of 63.7mpg.
Best of the petrol engine is the 10 75PS unit that offers a claimed 58.8mpg and a Real MPG number of 51.2mpg.
The cheapest Volkswagen Polo to insure will be the 1.2-litre petrol model in S or SE trim as it falls into group 4 for its cover.
Choose the 1.0 75PS in SE trim and it sits in group 10, while a 1.4 TDI BlueMotion model comes in with a group 15 rating.
The most expensive non-GTI Polo to get cover for is the Blue GT model that sits in group 23 due to its 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine and swift performance.
Almost all Volkswagen Polos of this generation will have been registered before 31 March 2017. This means several enjoy free road tax thanks to their emissions falling below 100g/km of carbon dioxide emissions. That includes the BlueMotion models and some of the 1.2 TSI versions.
The popular 1.0 75PS-powered models sit in Band B for Vehicle Excise Duty with emissions of 108-109g/km meaning an annual payment of £20. Event he Blue GT models with their 1.4-litre turbo petrol engines sit in this tax band.
Most expensive to tax is the 1.4-litre petrol with DSG automatic gearbox and 134g/km CO2 output to attract a yearly rate of £150.
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Dimensions | |
---|---|
Length | 1453–4007 mm |
Width | 1682–1901 mm |
Height | 1450–1465 mm |
Wheelbase | 2468–2470 mm |
Miscellaneous | |
---|---|
Kerb Weight | 1055–1238 kg |
Boot Space | 280–952 L |
Warranty | 3 years / 60000 miles |
Servicing | 10000–18000 miles |
Spare Wheel | |||
---|---|---|---|
Standard | Full-size spare wheel / Tyre-repair kit | ||
Alternative | Tyre-repair kit / Full-size spare wheel |
Costs | |
---|---|
List Price | £10,770–£20,605 |
Insurance Groups | 4–23 |
Road Tax Bands | A–E |
Official MPG | 47.9–91.1 mpg |
Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
---|---|
Adult | - |
Child | - |
Pedestrian | - |
Overall | 5 |
On sale until November 2018
On sale until April 2017
On sale until October 2015
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
SE 1.0 BMT 60 3dr | £12,585 | 60.1 mpg | 15.5 s |
SE 1.0 BMT 60 5dr | £13,215 | 60.1 mpg | 15.5 s |
SE 1.0 BMT 75 3dr | £13,110 | 58.9 mpg | 14.3 s |
SE 1.0 BMT 75 5dr | £13,740 | 58.9 mpg | 14.3 s |
SE 1.2 TSI BMT 90 3dr | £13,730 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE 1.2 TSI BMT 90 5dr | £14,360 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE 1.2 TSI BMT 90 Automatic 3dr | £15,105 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE 1.2 TSI BMT 90 Automatic 5dr | £15,735 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE 1.4 TDI BMT 75 3dr | £14,795 | 83.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
SE 1.4 TDI BMT 75 5dr | £15,425 | 83.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
On sale until April 2015
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
BlueMotion 1.4 TDI 75 3dr | £15,795 | 91.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
BlueMotion 1.4 TDI 75 5dr | £16,425 | 91.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
On sale until October 2014
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
SE DESIGN 1.0 BMT 60 3dr | £13,685 | 60.1 mpg | 16.5 s |
SE DESIGN 1.0 BMT 60 5dr | £14,315 | 60.1 mpg | 16.5 s |
SE DESIGN 1.0 BMT 75 3dr | £14,210 | 58.9 mpg | 14.3 s |
SE DESIGN 1.0 BMT 75 5dr | £14,840 | 58.9 mpg | 14.3 s |
SE DESIGN 1.2 TSI BMT 90 3dr | £14,830 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE DESIGN 1.2 TSI BMT 90 5dr | £15,460 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE DESIGN 1.2 TSI BMT 90 Automatic 3dr | £16,205 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE DESIGN 1.2 TSI BMT 90 Automatic 5dr | £16,835 | 60.1 mpg | 10.8 s |
SE DESIGN 1.4 TDI BMT 75 3dr | £15,895 | 83.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
SE DESIGN 1.4 TDI BMT 75 5dr | £16,525 | 83.1 mpg | 12.9 s |
On sale until May 2014
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
BlueGT 1.4 TSI ACT 3dr | £17,695 | 61.4 mpg | 7.9 s |
BlueGT 1.4 TSI ACT 5dr | £18,315 | 61.4 mpg | 7.9 s |
BlueGT 1.4 TSI ACT DSG 3dr Auto | £19,040 | 61.4 mpg | 7.9 s |
BlueGT 1.4 TSI ACT DSG 5dr Auto | £19,660 | 61.4 mpg | 7.9 s |
BlueMotion 1.2 TDI 3dr | £15,795 | 80.7 mpg | 13.9 s |
BlueMotion 1.2 TDI 5dr | £16,415 | 80.7 mpg | 13.9 s |
Match Edition 1.2 60 3dr | £12,205 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Match Edition 1.2 60 5dr | £12,825 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Match Edition 1.2 70 3dr | £13,080 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
Match Edition 1.2 70 5dr | £13,700 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
Match Edition 1.2 TDI 3dr | £14,425 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
Match Edition 1.2 TDI 5dr | £15,045 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
Match Edition 1.4 3dr | £13,520 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match Edition 1.4 5dr | £14,140 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match Edition 1.4 DSG 3dr Auto | £14,780 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match Edition 1.4 DSG 5dr Auto | £15,400 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
R Line 1.2 TSI 3dr | £15,590 | 53.3 mpg | 9.7 s |
R Line 1.2 TSI 5dr | £16,210 | 53.3 mpg | 9.7 s |
R-Line Style 1.2 60 3dr | £12,060 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
R-Line Style 1.2 60 5dr | £12,680 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
R-Line Style 1.2 70 3dr | £12,935 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
R-Line Style 1.2 70 5dr | £13,555 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
S 1.2 60 3dr | £10,770 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
S 1.2 60 5dr | £11,515 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
S 1.2 70 3dr | £11,570 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
S 1.2 70 5dr | £12,190 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
SEL 1.2 TSI 3dr | £15,970 | 53.3 mpg | 9.7 s |
SEL 1.2 TSI 5dr | £16,590 | 53.3 mpg | 9.7 s |
SEL 1.6 TDI 90 3dr | £16,415 | 65.7 mpg | 11.5 s |
SEL 1.6 TDI 90 5dr | £17,035 | 65.7 mpg | 11.5 s |
On sale until March 2013
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
Match 1.2 (60ps) 3dr | £11,775 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Match 1.2 (60ps) 5dr | £12,395 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Match 1.2 (70ps) 3dr | £12,650 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
Match 1.2 (70ps) 5dr | £13,270 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
Match 1.2 TDI 3dr | £13,995 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
Match 1.2 TDI 5dr | £14,615 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
Match 1.4 3dr | £13,085 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match 1.4 5dr | £13,705 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match 1.4 DSG 3dr Auto | £14,345 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
Match 1.4 DSG 5dr Auto | £14,965 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
On sale until December 2012
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
SEL 1.4 3dr | £14,580 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
SEL 1.4 5dr | £15,200 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
SEL 1.4 DSG 3dr Auto | £15,840 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
SEL 1.4 DSG 5dr Auto | £16,460 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
On sale until July 2011
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
Moda 1.2 (60ps) 3dr | £11,515 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Moda 1.2 (60ps) 5dr | £12,135 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
Moda 1.2 (70ps) 3dr | £12,190 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
Moda 1.2 (70ps) 5dr | £12,810 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
SE 1.2 (60ps) 3dr | £11,515 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
SE 1.2 (60ps) 5dr | £12,135 | 51.4 mpg | 16.1 s |
SE 1.2 (70ps) 3dr | £12,190 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
SE 1.2 (70ps) 5dr | £12,810 | 51.4 mpg | 14.1 s |
SE 1.4 3dr | £12,820 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
SE 1.4 5dr | £13,440 | 47.9 mpg | 11.9 s |
SE 1.4 DSG 3dr Auto | £14,080 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
SE 1.4 DSG 5dr Auto | £14,700 | 48.7 mpg | 11.9 s |
SE TDI 1.2 3dr | £13,735 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
SE TDI 1.2 5dr | £14,355 | 72.4 mpg | 13.9 s |
On sale until November 2010
Hatchback | |||
---|---|---|---|
Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
SE TDI 1.6 (75ps) 3dr | £13,240 | 65.7 mpg | 13.9 s |
SE TDI 1.6 (75ps) 5dr | £13,840 | 65.7 mpg | 13.9 s |
Model History
- March 2009: New Polo unveiled
- February 2010: Polo BlueMotion available to order
- July 2011: Polo Match launched
- June 2012: Bluetooth made standard
- October 2012: Polo Blue GT prices announced
- January 2014: Revised Polo unveiled
- March 2014: Facelift Polo open for orders
- December 2014: Orders opened for Polo 1.0 TSI 95PS Bluemototion
- April 2015
- December 2015: Polo Match introduced
- May 2016: Volkswagen Polo Beats announced
- December 2016: Volkswagen Polo Match Edition announced
March 2009
New Polo unveiled
The fifth generation of Volkswagen's Polo, was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, 34 years after the original went on sale in the UK. Sharper, lighter, safer than ever before. Not only does the Polo weigh 7.5 per cent less than the Polo it replaces - despite being marginally wider and longer - but it's also stronger, promises greater refinement and efficiency and features new packaging to make it the most versatile Polo yet.
The 2009 Polo is 36 mm longer than the car it replaces, 32 mm wider, yet 13mm lower. Head, shoulder and legroom have all increased, load volume now minimum of 280 litres and a maximum 952 litres. White backlit dials are set into a dashboard constructed out of high-quality, soft touch plastics. Subtle aluminium highlights around the interior, the option of an air conditioned glovebox (for drinks) and an easily accessed connection point for an MP3 player. In addition, and for the first time on a Polo, the RNS 310 touchscreen satellite navigation system can be specified along with a three-spoke, multifunction steering wheel.
At launch the 2009 Polo was powered by a mix of naturally aspirated 1.2-litre 3-cylinder and 1.4-litre 4-cylinder engines as well as a new turbocharged 1.2-litre 4 cylinder chain cam TSI petrol unit joining another all-new 1.6-litre belt cam TDI common rail diesel engine. All are equipped with either five or six-speed manual gearboxes as standard and, for the first time on the Polo, selected variants can be specified with Volkswagen's advanced and lightweight seven-speed DSG gearbox.
A Polo BlueMotion joined the range shortly after launch. Powered by a highly efficient 1.6-litre 90 PS TDI common rail diesel engine and linked to a five-speed gearbox with lengthened ratios in third, fourth and fifth, the new BlueMotion achieves 74mpg while emitting just 96 g/km of CO2 - bettering the outgoing Polo BlueMotion model which is itself one of the most fuel efficient vehicles currently on sale. In 2010 a second generation Polo V BlueMotion will follow.
The new Polo features a comprehensive roster of standard safety equipment including for the first time on all models four airbags, anti-lock brakes, Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP) and ISOFIX anchor points all fitted as standard. 1.2-litre TSI 105bhp 6-spd and 1.6-litre TDI 90 5-spd arrived later.
3,952mm long x 1,682mm wide x 1,454mm high.
February 2010
Polo BlueMotion available to order
Prices starting at £14,445 on the road for the three-door, and £15,045 for the five-door model, deliveries from May 2010. The new Polo BlueMotion adopted an all-new 1.2-litre TDI three-cylinder common rail diesel engine developing 75hp and 180 Nm of torque available from just 2,000 rpm. This new engine, combined with longer gearing through the five-speed manual gearbox, regenerative braking and an automatic Start/Stop system, help the new Polo BlueMotion emit just 91g/km of CO2 while returning an impressive 80.7mpg on the combined cycle. This grants the new Polo BlueMotion a theoretical range of over 800 miles on one tank of diesel.
Several cosmetic changes help maximise efficiency: Bespoke bumpers, side skirts and an extended roof spoiler along with 15-inch ‘Greenland’ alloy wheels fitted with low rolling resistance tyres, they contribute towards making the new Polo BlueMotion among the most efficient vehicles currently available in the UK. The Polo BlueMotion accelerates from a standstill to 62 mph in 13.9 seconds and on to a top speed of 107 mph.
Comfort levels remain high with manual air conditioning, cruise control and leather steering wheel fitted as standard. As with all models in the Polo range, a number of safety features are also fitted, including four airbags, ABS and ESP (Electronic Stabilisation Programme). First deliveries May 2010.
July 2011
Polo Match launched
Volkswagen’s Polo range now offers customers even greater value for money, thanks to the addition of a new Match model which replaces the existing SE and Moda trim levels and provides £650 worth of equipment – but with a pricetag that means it costs £215 less than those models. Prices for the Polo Match start at £11,300 (RRP ‘on the road’) for the 1.2-litre 60 PS manual version.
The Polo Match combines the most popular features of the existing SE and Moda trims that it replaces, while adding extra specification. Exterior highlights include stylish 15-inch ‘Castille’ alloy wheels, front fog lights and heat-insulating tinted rear windows. Comfort and convenience are the main focus inside the cabin with manual air conditioning, an RCD 310 radio / CD player, multifunction computer and MDI (Multi Device Interface) with iPod connectivity all standard. The model is also fitted with electric windows and a comfort pack, incorporating remote central locking and electrically adjustable exterior mirrors
June 2012
Bluetooth made standard
All Polo models from the BlueMotion up now came fitted with the Touch Phone Kit, which was previously a £245 option. The Touch Phone Kit adds a 2.8-inch colour touchscreen to the Polo’s dashboard. This can display a phone book, call lists, reception status and more, depending on the make and model of the phone to which it is connected. All Polo models also came with DAB digital radio as standard.
October 2012
Polo Blue GT prices announced
Cost from £17,400 OTR. Has belt-cam EA211 1.4 TSI with ACT producing 140PS and 250Nm of torque, with an official 61.4 mpg with emissions of 107g/km whether six-speed manual or the seven-speed DSG transmission. Top speed is 130mph and 0-60mph 7.6 seconds.
Model | Engine derivative |
CO 2 , g/km |
Combined mpg | Price, £ RRP OTR |
Polo BlueGT 3dr | 1.4-litre 140 PS TSI ACT 6 spd man | 107 | 61.4 | 17,400 |
Polo BlueGT 5dr | 1.4-litre 140 PS TSI ACT 6 spd man | 107 | 61.4 | 18,020 |
Polo BlueGT 3dr | 1.4-litre 140 PS TSI ACT 7 spd DSG | 107 | 61.4 | 18,745 |
Polo BlueGT 5dr | 1.4-litre 140 PS TSI ACT 7 spd DSG | 107 | 61.4 | 19,365 |
January 2014
Revised Polo unveiled
Volkswagen Polo updated with a range of new technologies and efficient engines, along with a makeover inside and out. Available to buy from summer 2014.
All revamped Polos equipped as standard with an Automatic Post-Collision Braking System which automatically brakes the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy significantly and thus minimise the chance or consequences of a second impact. Options include a Driver Alert System and Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and Automatic Cruise Control.
A new optional Sport Select suspension system was offered, using electronically controlled dampers to switch between two suspension settings. Meanwhile a new electro-mechanical steering system improves efficiency and offers more precise control.
Volkswagen’s modular infotainment system, familiar to Golf drivers, was introduced across the Polo range. This touchscreen system includes a proximity sensor and a function that reacts to wiping movements by the fingers (as used on smartphones).
Under the bonnet, the revised Polo featured a range of new EU6-compliant engines offering fuel efficiency improvements of up to 21 per cent over the old units. New three and four-cylinder petrol engines lead the changes. There are two 1.0-litre MPI units, with 60PS or 75PS and two 1.2-litre four-cylinder TSI engines with 90PS or 110PS. As before, a 1.4-litre TSI engine with cylinder deactivation (ACT) was available, this time with power increased by 10PS to 150PS. A range-topping Polo GTI with increased power became available in 2015.
In the UK, the diesel-powered Polo BlueMotion was replaced with a new petrol-powered Polo BlueMotion TSI, which returns 68.9 mpg on the combined cycle and emits just 94 g/km. It uses a new turbocharged three-cylinder 1.0-litre engine that produces 90PS.
Diesel power is provided for by two new three-cylinder 1.4-litre TDI engines (previously these were 1.2 and 1.6 litres), with 75PS and 90PS.
Exterior changes include more precise lines on the redesigned front bumper and grille, with a chrome line that separates the front fog lights. Optional LED headlights are a first in this class, and have a distinctive light signature. At the rear there are new lights and a new bumper, while five new alloy wheel designs complete the look. Inside, the driver faces wholly redesigned instruments and a new steering wheel, while a refreshed centre console with new heating and ventilation controls ensures ease of use.
March 2014
Facelift Polo open for orders
The Polo range starts with the S. As well as a six-speaker Composition Audio System with 5.0-inch colour touchscreen, SD card reader, DAB radio and USB and aux-in connections, the S includes features such as a height-adjustable driver’s seat, illuminated vanity mirrors, cup holders, and stylish ‘gloss black’ interior highlights. The S A/C model adds manual air conditioning.
Moving up to SE trim brings more equipment including 15-inch ‘Lyon’ alloy wheels; a chrome-trimmed front air intake; body-coloured door handles and electrically adjustable door mirrors; a leather-trimmed three-spoke multi-function steering wheel (plus leather-covered gearlever and handbrake lever); a multi-function trip computer; remote locking and an alarm with interior protection; manual air conditioning; and a Composition Media System with 6.5-inch colour touchscreen which adds a glovebox mounted CD player and more graphical interfaces. Inside there are chrome highlights throughout the cabin, while five-door models get electric rear windows.
The SE Design model adds more style, with exterior features that include 16-inch ‘Portago’ alloy wheels; a black gloss radiator grille and door mirror caps; front fog lights, dark-tinted tail lights and rear windows; and LED number-plate illumination. Inside, there is ‘Pyramid’ cloth upholstery with a choice of light-coloured ‘Ceramique’ or darker-coloured ‘Palladium Grey’ panels, and ‘Ceramique’ fabric inserts in the doors. There are dash panels in ‘Dark Rhodium’, front sports seats and aluminium-capped pedals (made more noticeable by the white footwell illumination).
The SEL model builds on the specification of the SE, adding 16-inch ‘Rivazza’ alloy wheels; front fog lights; tinted rear-windows; illuminated front footwells and a front centre armrest with storage compartment. Front and rear parking sensors are also standard.
The top of the range Polo at launch is the powerful yet parsimonious BlueGT model, which comes with a 1.4-litre TSI 150 PS engine with ACT cylinder deactivation. The BlueGT rides on 17-inch ‘Montani’ alloy wheels and 15mm lower sport suspension, while it is distinguished visually with its unique body styling kit, including side skirts and unique bumpers, gloss black radiator grille and door mirror caps. Inside there are sports seats trimmed in ‘BlueSpeed’ cloth with Alcantara bolsters and a black roof lining. An XDS electronic differential lock for improved traction and handling is standard, as is cruise control and a Driver Alert System.
Trim and engine | Gearbox | Doors | Combined mpg* | CO 2 g/km* | RRP OTR (£) |
S | |||||
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 106 | 11,100.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 106 | 11,730.00 |
S A/C | |||||
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 106 | 11,820.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 106 | 12,450.00 |
SE | |||||
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 106 | 12,435.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 106 | 13,065.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 58.9 | 108 | 12,960.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 58.9 | 108 | 13,590.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 107 | 13,580.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 107 | 14,210.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 7-spd DSG | 3 | 60.1 | 107 | 14,955.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 7-spd DSG | 5 | 60.1 | 107 | 15,585.00 |
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 83.1 | 88 | 14,645.00 |
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 83.1 | 88 | 15,275.00 |
SE Design | |||||
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 106 | 13,535.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 60 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 106 | 14,165.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 58.9 | 108 | 14,060.00 |
1.0-litre MPI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 58.9 | 108 | 14,690.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 60.1 | 107 | 14,680.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 60.1 | 107 | 15,310.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 7-spd DSG | 3 | 60.1 | 107 | 16,055.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 90 PS | 7-spd DSG | 5 | 60.1 | 107 | 16,685.00 |
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 83.1 | 88 | 15,745.00 |
1.4-litre TDI 75 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 83.1 | 88 | 16,375.00 |
SEL | |||||
1.4-litre TDI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 3 | 83.1 | 88 | 16,120.00 |
1.4-litre TDI 90 PS | 5-spd man | 5 | 83.1 | 88 | 16,750.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 110 PS | 6-spd man | 3 | 57.6 | 110 | 15,610.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 110 PS | 6-spd man | 5 | 57.6 | 110 | 16,240.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 110 PS | 7-spd DSG | 3 | 60.1 | 110 | 16,985.00 |
1.2-litre TSI 110 PS | 7-spd DSG | 5 | 60.1 | 110 | 17,615.00 |
BlueGT | |||||
1.4-litre TSI ACT 150 PS | 6-spd man | 3 | tbc | 109 | 17,710.00 |
1.4-litre TSI ACT 150 PS | 6-spd man | 5 | tbc | 109 | 18,340.00 |
1.4-litre TSI ACT 150 PS | 7-spd DSG | 3 | tbc | 107 | 19,085.00 |
1.4-litre TSI ACT 150 PS | 7-spd DSG | 5 | tbc | 107 | 19,715.00 |
December 2014
Orders opened for Polo 1.0 TSI 95PS Bluemototion
Emits 94 g/km of CO2 and returns 68.9 mpg on the EC combined cycle. 95PS and 160Nm torque from 1,500-3,500rpm.
Based on the S trim, the BlueMotion models add even more equipment including a styling pack which includes uniquely shaped front and rear bumpers, radiator grille, side skirts and rear roof spoiler, body coloured door handles, body coloured door mirrors with integrated indicators, front fog lights and static cornering function and unique BlueMotion badging.
Additional kit over that on the S trim includes 15-inch ‘Buenos Aires’ alloys with low rolling resistance tyres, aero body kit, multifunction leather steering wheel, alarm with remote central locking, air conditioning, a front centre armrest, Composition Media and infotainment system, cruise control and Volkswagen’s Driver Alert System. This version of the Polo comes with a Think Blue, Trainer, which gives hint and tips on how to drive in a more economical fashion by analysing journey patterns.
April 2015
Factory fitted Convenience Pack available for Polo. Combines Light & Sight Pack (auto dimming rear view mirror, automatic headlights, coming/leaving home function and rain sensor) plus electrically foldable door mirrors) for £225 (£310 if ordered separately).
December 2015
Polo Match introduced
Replaces Polo SE in 3 or 5 door with more than £900-worth of extra equipment including cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, front fog lights with static cornering function, tinted rear windows and smart new 15-inch Stratford alloy wheels. Minor price rise of £100, from £12,735 RRP OTR rising according to rngine and transmission options.
May 2016
Volkswagen Polo Beats announced
, incoprorating Californian Beats electronics, from £13,910. Has a "state-of-the-art sound system" comprising a 300-watt, eight-channel amplifier that is fitted with a digital signal processor (DSP). The DSP in the Polo Beats delivers high-performance audio processing that gives clarity and definition to each of the seven high-end loudspeakers. The speakers comprise two tweeters located in the A-pillars, two woofers in the front doors, two broadband speakers located in the back with a subwoofer integrated into the spare wheel well to deliver powerful and punching bass tones.
Standard equipment includes 16-inch ‘Knight’ alloy wheels. Also darkened rear light clusters and 65 % tinted rear windows, radiator grille in ‘High Gloss Black’ and the car is enhanced with ‘Flash Red’, ‘Pure White’ or ‘Black’ door mirrors with integrated indicators. Unique ‘Beats’ badge on the B-pillar combines with ‘Beats’ decals on the side skirts to complete the exterior styling additions.
Cortina Silver’ trim on the centre console and air vent surrounds along with leatherette door panels and chrome trim. Front and rear carpet mats have red stitching, while doors have ‘Beats’ sill protectors.
Sporty seats have Alcantara side bolsters and a special ‘Beats’ cloth centre section, and thin vertical red stripes in the seatbelts. LED footwell lighting rounds off a cabin that benefits from the style and audio of Beats plus the technology and functionality synonymous with Volkswagen.
1.2-litre TSI petrol offers 90 PS and comers with a five-speed manual gearbox or a seven-speed auto DSG ‘box. It has a CO₂ figure of 107 g/km (109 g/km for the DSG) and both have a fuel economy figure of 60.1 mpg (combined).
Volkswagen Polo Beats | |||||
Engine | Transmission | No. of doors | Power | CO₂ (g/km) | OTR Price |
1.0 BMT | Five-speed manual | Three-door | 60 | 106* | £13,910.00 |
1.0 BMT | Five-speed manual | Five-door | 60 | 106* | £14,540.00 |
1.0 BMT | Five-speed manual | Three-door | 75 | 108* | £14,435.00 |
1.0 BMT | Five-speed manual | Five-door | 75 | 108* | £15,065.00 |
1.2 TSI BMT | Five-speed manual | Three-door | 90 | 107* | £15,055.00 |
1.2 TSI BMT | Five-speed manual | Five-door | 90 | 107* | £15,685.00 |
1.2 TSI BMT | Seven-speed auto DSG | Three-door | 90 | 109* | £16,430.00 |
1.2 TSI BMT | Seven-speed auto DSG | Five-door | 90 | 109* | £17,060.00 |
1.4 TDI BMT | Five-speed manual | Three-door | 75 | 93* | £16,120.00 |
1.4 TDI BMT | Five-speed manual | Five-door | 75 | 93* | £16,750.00 |
December 2016
Volkswagen Polo Match Edition announced
Priced from £13,315 the Volkswagen Polo Match Edition includes Car-Net App-Connect which fully integrates a compatible smartphone to the Volkswagen Polo via a USB connection. Depending on the phone, Car-Net App-Connect uses Apple CarPlay, Google Android Auto or MirrorLink to bring the device’s functionality to the car by displaying apps on the infotainment touchscreen.
The Polo Match Edition also has body coloured electrically heated and folding door mirrors, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, LED rain sensor to turn on the wipers, see you home light delay, front and rear parking sensors, cruise control, 15-inch ‘Stratford’ alloy wheels and manual air conditioning.
Engine options for the Polo Match Edition start with Volkswagen’s 1.0-litre 60PS or 75PS petrol and 1.2TSI with manual or DSG. Also 1.4-litre TDI 75 PS engine.
Volkswagen Polo Match Edition | |||||
Engine | Transmission | No. of doors | Power (PS) | CO₂ (g/km) | OTR Price |
1.0 | Manual | 3 | 60 | 108* | £13,315.00 |
1.0 | Manual | 5 | 60 | 108* | £13,945.00 |
1.0 | Manual | 3 | 75 | 108* | £13,840.00 |
1.0 | Manual | 5 | 75 | 108* | £14,470.00 |
1.2 TSI | Manual | 3 | 90 | 109* | £14,460.00 |
1.2 TSI | Manual | 5 | 90 | 109* | £15,090.00 |
1.2 TSI | DSG | 3 | 90 | 109* | £15,835.00 |
1.2 TSI | DSG | 5 | 90 | 109* | £16,465.00 |
1.4 TDI | Manual | 3 | 75 | 97* | £15,525.00 |
1.4 TDI | Manual | 5 | 75 | 97* | £16,155.00 |
What to watch out for
Reports of excessive front tyre wear, lasting as little as 8,000 miles.
09-05-2011:More problems with the 1.6 diesel engine, especially used for short runs from cold starts at low revs. Reader bought a new Volkswagen Polo SEL 1.6 CR/DPF 90PS 5 speed manual in November 10, It now has 1,500 miles on the clock. It stalled at a junction soon after she bought it, then a few months later the engine cut out 3 times on a journey when driving at a slow speed appropriate to the traffic conditions On inspection at the VW garage they admitted there were faults and fitted :- 1) A new engine ECU: 2) new throttle body : 3) new exhaust pressure sensor: 4) new boost pressure sensor: 5) repair wiring to turbo and sensors. After the works were carried out , the car stalled again turning into a station car park and she returned the car to the garage. It was tested again and no faults were found, the mechanic then drove a similar model and the same thing occurred to him when driving at a low speed. She have now been told to adjust my driving technique as these models are so fuel efficient. However it stalled again yesterday when driving up to a junction. Basically she needs to use lower gears and rev the engine more.
06-06-2011:Complete engine failure of 1.2 TDI reported within a month of purchase, followed by failure of EGR system four months later.
27-01-2012:Happened again and dealer replaced power steering pump. Agasin and dealer changed the battery. Have now had car since April 4th and run variety of tests. Don't know what is causing the power steering to repeatedly fail and ordered a new circuit board. Probably a one off.
17-02-2012:Report of Polo GTI 1.4 TSI 180 Twincharger suffering from excessive oil consumption. Piston rings replaced, but this caused the consumption to drop to 400 miles per litre of oil. This resulted in a new engine being fitted at the end of October. Since then, reader had to top up with 2 litres of oil, the first litre after 1,770 miles, the second after a further 1,300.
24-02-2012:Now three separate reports of premature failure of front brake discs at 15 - 18 months old and around 15k miles.
01-03-2012:Yet more problems reported with the DPF of Polo fitted with 1.6 TDI engine that are not regularly driven far enough.
01-05-2012:Repeated loss of power reported from 1.2 model. Head replacement solved it for 6 months, then problem returned.
03-05-2012:Oddball report of repeated electric power steering pump failure. Dealership replaced a cable on
22-06-2012:Volkswagen is now admitting that 1.2 TDI is not suitable for repeated short runs from cold. "15 months ago we bought a new VW Polo 1.2 TDI. We told the dealer our driving habits were mostly short journeys with several long journeys a year, 12-15000 miles/yr. After 9,500 miles the EGR system blocked and we were told this was due to too many short journeys. Soon after that, at the first service, the dealer handed us a VW Group notice about the DPF, dated march 2010, which contained specific warnings about unsuitability for short journeys. The last paragraph said "make sure you are aware of and understand the above guidelines before ordering a vehicle fitted with DPF." We had not been given this notice prior to purchase."
10-07-2012:High mileage Polo (2 year old 1.4 SEL with 64k miles) suffering heat damage to headlight lenses from the DRL and also requiring replacement headlight bulbs.
11-01-2013: Warranty on 7-speed dry clutch DSG extended to 5 years or 150,000 kilometres in Russia and China. Followed by recalls in Australia, Singapore and Malaysia. Problem is with the Mechatronics unit, replaced in the Singapore/Malaysia recall.
The 1.4 TDI BlueMotion does have a DPF and can oversupply fuel to regenerate. Best advice is to check the engine oil regularly and as soon as it rises above the top mark of the dipstick have it changed because it will be contaminated by fuel oil and this can severely affect both the engine and the DPF. Forget 'Longlife' servicing. It may need the oil changed as frequently as every 3,000 miles.
03-06-2013:Injector failure reported on 2010 Polo 1.6TDI Bluemotion at 30k miles and just out of 3 year warranty. Quoted 2,400 Euros for replacements.
05-06-2013:Detailed report of DSG hesitation on a two year old Polo received.
25-06-2013:Another case of warped front discs, this on a 14,750 mile 2011 Polo 1.6 TDI. The discs appeared to have been replaced by the dealer by discs with more vents in them. VW denied any responsibility and blamed 'driving style', But the replacements were discounted to £100.
21-07-2013:Seems that parking brakes of Match models suffer a build up of brake dust that makes them difficult to release via the lever. The solution is to blow out the dust using an airline. Reader quoted £69 for this job on an 18 month old 1.2 Polo Match. Warranty claim refused.
02-08-2013:On 1.4 16v 80PS engines a fault with the cranskshaft position sensor causes poor starting in hot weather.
14-08-2013:Report of intermittently failing electric windows on 14,500 mile 2009/57 Polo 1.2S. Eventually fixed with a new control unit for £329 after 'contributions' from Volkswagen and from the dealer.
08-09-2013:Repeated injector problems on 2012 ex-demo Polo TDI bought with 7k miles, car in garage with faults unresolved for 4 months by September 2013.
18-09-2013:Yet another report of warped discs, this time on a 12,500 mile 2010/51 1.4 85PS SEL. Bill £239.
22-09-2013:Problem of cruise control failing to reliably 'set' on a Polo DSG.
21-10-2013:Complaint of instrument lighting intermittently going off on 9k mile South African built 2012 Polo. Suspect poor earth to instrument cluster.
07-11-2013:Severe oil consumption problem reported on 2011 Polo 1.4 TSI GTI despite a replacement engine, same as widely reported on Fabia vRS.
12-12-2013:Report of Polo 1.4 TSI GTI now on its third engine and still consuming a litre of oil every 300 miles. VWG may eventually be forced to buy these cars back at 'reasonable' market value. Additional complaint about 7-speed dry clutch DSG: "It either acts like an on/off switch, judders like driving over a cattle grid or bogs down at T-junctions leaving me stranded halfway in the road for a few hair raising moments."
03-03-2014:New Polo delivered 9-8-2013 leaked from day one and dealer was unable to repair it.
28-04-2014:Repeated failure of power steering of 27k mile 2011 Polo 1.2 TSI. Replacement PAS motor and earth did not cure it.
31-05-2014:Complaint of November 2013 Polo 1.4 BlueGT DSG continually pulling to the left, probably due to its 17" wheels and tyres.
22-07-2014:Complaint of new 1000 mile March 2014 Polo GTI 1.4TSI 180 DSG7 engine running shakily and unsettled, with a louder exhaust note after starting from cold
24-07-2014:Reader reported that his Polo GTI 180 Twincharger ran problem-free and used 10% less fuel on Shell V-Power.
25-10-2014:Reader suffered repeated battery failures with a 2010 Polo. Advised her of the VWG ECU software update that cured this in a SEAT Ibiza, so should also cure it in a Polo.
21-11-2014:2013 Polo 1.4 DSG had transmission fluid oil change as part of recall, but software was not upgraded causing severe flat spots and very erratic running and a couple of times it accelerated after foot was removed from pedal. Software upgrade cured this, but 4 months later problem returned especially in slow moving 5mph traffic. Accelerated with foot completely off the brake and needs to be held back with pedal. Might be engine idle speed when cold.
12-12-2014:Another DSG problem, this time with a 7k mile 2013 Polo 1.4 Match DSG.
19-12-2014:Clutch pack of 2010 Polo 1.4 DSG-7 failed at 16,700 miles. Transmission flud had already been changed. Not clear if this was a straight failure or due to an oil leak as has been the case with Fiesta dry clutch Powershifts.
09-02-2015:Two problems with a pre-reg March 2014 Polo Match Edition 1.2 70PS bought in April 2014. PAS failed in October 2014 and was replaced under warranty. Bluetooth making a noise when car was put in reverse. Fixed by local Volkswagen dealer at cost. Cost refunded by Volkswagen Customer Care.
13-04-2015:Report of rattling timing chain on start-up of 22k mile Polo 1.2 TSI. Two separate Volkswagen dealers checked it and said nothing to worry about.
09-05-2015:Another report of timing chain rattle on start-up of 17k mile 3.5 year old Polo 1.2 TSI. Rattle getting more pronounced. Happily this was eventually resolved by a full engine strip down and either a new timing chain or a complete new engine with all parts and labour costs met by Volkswagen and the dealer.
28-05-2015:Switch on heater/aircon fan of 2010 Polo failed. New fan motor prescribed at £340.
17-06-2015:Reliability issues with 2012 Polo bought 2nd-hand (that might have been inherited from the previous use of the car): Needed brake pads, had faulty lights (although they all work), engine management system keeps going faulty and the catalytic converter is about to go.
05-07-2015:Complaint of noisy wiper motor on new Polo 1.2. Three others in the showroom also noisy. Could be a bad batch of wiper motors.
08-07-2015:Failure reported of 1.4 16v engine of 2009 VW Polo at 26,000 miles. Dealer said cost £1943 to fix, involving 12 hours labour work, replacing the engines valves, stripping the engine for proper clean, then rebuilding the engine.
27-08-2015:Complaint of juddering of brakes of January 2015 Polo, diagnosed by dealer as warping, but possibly caused by the old Polo problem of material from the pads adhering to the discs.
27-08-2015:Timing chain failure reported on 2010 Polo 1.2 (3-cylinder or 4-cylinder not mentioned, but assumed to be 1.2 TSI) at 40,000 miles. Bought independently and has non-VW service history.
09-12-2015:Report of repeated failure of satnav in 2014 Polo and dealer unable to fix.
09-12-2015:'Official' CO2 and fuel economy figures of 2016MY Polo 1.0l TSI BlueMotion 70kW EU6 Seven-speed (DSG) to be reviewed but true figures are only very slightly worse.
30-12-2015:Report of premature failure of front brake discs and pads on 2 year old Polo at 14,500 miles. Replacement cost was £259.
31-01-2016:Report of 2014 Polo 1.2 TSI DSG changing down three gears at a time on an incline.
06-02-2016:Window winding cables snapped inside the doors of a 2010 Polo, within days of the same thing happening to another reader in a similar age SEAT Ibiza.
03-03-2016:Report of EPC light coming on in 2010 Polo 1.2 TSI and engine becoming sluggish. EPC = Electronic Power Control, which is the drive by wire system between the accelerator pedal and the engine. Local garage tried various remedies all of which failed but when the light comes on the reason is usually a duff brake light switch that VW uses to shut down the throttle when the brakes are on and is the reason why DSGs are often sluggish off the mark.
23-04-2016:Premature clutch failure reported on 2009 Polo 1.2 TDI. Driving style blamed.
29-04-2016:Report of 2015 Polo 1.2 TSI SE Petrol 5 Door suffering from engine judder. When manoeuvring at low speed, forward and reverse, applying power produces judder from engine. It is not clutch judder. Engine runs perfectly under all other conditions. Dealer says that this is a known problem on some cars but does not have a solution.
18-06-2016:Report of difficulty shifting from 4th to 5th in November 2015 Polo 1.0 TSI 6-speed manual. "Intermittently gets stuck when trying to change from 4th to 5th gear." Dealer stated he had not come across this problem before. Probably caused by a problem with the dual mass flywheel fitted in the drivetrains of VWG 3-cylinder 1.0 TSI models in order to absorb vibration.
27-06-2016:Trip meter of 2013 Polo 1.4 Match auto keeps self-zeroing and software reboots and replacement of column stalk cannot remedy it. Low mileage of 7800 results in battery often holding very little charge.
26-07-2016:Report of intermittent problem of 6-speed gearbox of 10,000 mile 2015 Polo 1.4GT intermittently getting stuck in 2nd gear. Suggests problem with 6-speed box may be with box itself rather than clutch or flywheel.
07-08-2016:Driveshafts of 2015 Polo reported to be knocking when turning left and right forward or reserve.
01-09-2016:Number of problems with 2013 Polo due to poor component quality: A/C leaking gas diagnoses as condenser. Dealer wanted £800 to replace. A/c specialist did job for £400, then found that the evaporator was corroded and leaking, bringing the total cost of repair to £1500.
03-09-2016:Misfire on acceleration reported on 27k mile 2010 VW Polo 1.2TSI. Lost power and four warning lights illuminated: Engine management, Traction control, EPC & Tyre pressure. On stopping and restarting the engine the lights went out and the car drove normally but the misfire gradually got worse over the next 1k miles and the four lights came on again three more times within a short period. Local VW specialist hooked it up to his laptop and diagnosed a misfire on cylinder 3. He recommended and fitted a new non genuine ignition coil but this just made the problem worse so he replaced the original VW coil and insisted he change the plug leads with genuine VW parts. This did improve things but the warning lights illuminated the very same day and the misfire on cylinder 3 fault code returned - along with a misfire on load and at idle. The specialist seemed phased by this but advised owner to drive the vehicle until its next service (October) when he said he'd think about replacing the plugs and coil again. Despite all this it averages 45mpg. Likely to be the usual problem of a stretched timing chain.
17-09-2016:Report of emission fix being surreptitiously applied to a 75k mile 2013 Polo 1.2 TDI while in for a service. Reader was not told and only found out when after the service the car started to struggle on hills, power only came in after 2000rpm and he found that the Bluetooth connection was now in German. Dealer confirmed the fix had been carried out. Fuel economy no different. Tends to confirm that the 'fix' turns down the fuelling between 1000 and 2000rpm.
03-10-2016:Report of a/c playing up on a 2014 Polo 1.2 TSI SE. A/c ceased to function for 35-45 minutes at a time, then work again. Faint 'click' when it shut off and re-started. As the Polo was only 2 years old and under 3 years warranty, owner tried Breeze VW in Poole first. They found the air con pressure 25% of normal and a tiny leak from the condenser/radiator. They changed it under warranty and re-pressurised the system and checked the pressure again 4 weeks later and all is well. They told him that it would have cost £700 if it had not been under warranty because of the amount of dismantling involved.
01-11-2016:Report of 56k mile 2010 Volkswagen Polo 1.6TDI not running well for past 2 years. "Rough running, clouds of black smoke coming out of the exhaust, the engine judders and misfires, loss of power. It eventually clears and the car then runs smoothly." Supermarket fuel never used. DPF sensor replaced. Probably a choked EGR. Car has yet to be recalled for EA189 emissions fix. Previously both window cables had failed and needed to be replaced. Problem turned out to be injectors: 4 at £500 each. Dealer blamed a previous misfuel for sending shards of metal into them.
15-12-2016:Timing chain failure reported in 2012 Polo 1.2. Dealer offered to fit replacement engine FoC but owner asked to supply the replacement engine.
18-01-2017:Report of EGR of Polo EA189 1.6 TDI failing at 51,000 miles and engine stopping. Car had not yet been recalled for the NOx emissions 'fix'.
24-01-2017:Report of timing chain of 2010 Polo 1.2 TSI stretching and causing valve damage at 45,000 miles despite regular servicing at the dealer.
27-03-2017:Report of a 39k mile 2010 VW Polo 1.2 TDI regenerating its DPF much more frequently after the NOx emissions fix and eventually clogging its DPF entirely with soot. When first broke down RAC found 27 grams of soot in the DPF. When checked at dealer, oil level in engine was found to be too high, suggesting extra fuel for regen was not regenerating the DPF and was sinking to the sump, raising its level and the extra soot in the DPF was not being burned off, which is why the soot eventually blocked the DPF. When next broke down, apparently the EGR, the turbo and the DPF were all changed.
11-04-2017:Report of timing chain of 2001/61 Polo 1.2TSI slipping at 41k miles, bending the valves and damaging the velve seats. Owner thinks c amchain must have slipped round the sprockets due to weak oil pressure that starves the tensioner of pressure. More likely to be due to the variable quality of the chain links. £2000 repair bill.
28-04-2017:Engine failure reported in 42,000 mile 2011 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI. Using oil. Oil light came on. Took to VWG independent who said engine needs replacing. Burning oil through worn/defective piston rings. Cylinder 1 wet and cylinder 4 scored through cylinder bore. Car has full VW service history and 6 months used car warranty just expired.
03-07-2017:Report of Mechatronics of 2014 VW Polo 1.4 DSG, just out of VW warranty, failing at 33,000 miles. Dealer wants £2500 to fix.
31-07-2017:Report of timing chain of 2013 Polo 1.2 3-cylinder 70PS engine failing at 41,000 miles due to chain tensioner failing and timing chain jumping a tooth. VW initially refused any goodwill.
15-09-2017:Rear damper failure reported on 36,000 mile 2013 Polo 1.4. Owner quoted £186 by dealer to replace it.
02-10-2017:Handbrake of brand new Polo stuck on at traffic lights. Eventually released and car returned to supplying dealer who could not offer the owner a courtesy car because owner failed the dealer's insurance criteria.
13-10-2017:Report of rattle from 7-speed dry clutch DQ200 DSG of 40k mile 2012 Polo 1.4 between 1100 and 1250rpm. More likely to be the clutch pack than the Mechatronics.
07-11-2017:Report of loss of compression of 1.2 TSI engine of 2013 Polo at 30,000 miles. Dealer told owner “the cylinders are not getting any compression. There appears to have been metal shavings getting in somewhere (?) which has affected a belt”. Going to cost about £1500 to fix. Almost ceretainly failure of the timing chain (not belt) due to the links having been stamped out past the end of life of the link stamping tool.
10-11-2017:Series of problems reported with 2012 Polo 1.2TDI. September 2016 underwent NOx ‘emissions fix’. August 2017 had trouble starting and engine light came on. Owner took it back to VW who replaced 2x glow plugs. This seemed to work intially, then the problem came back. Two more separate times the car got returned to VW only for them to tell owner it had started for them every time and they couldn’t diagnose a problem. Problem persist until in mid October car failed to start completely and made a whirring noise suggesting a starter motor issue. It got towed to owner's local garage who changed starter motor, flywheel and clutch for £1,100. Following this, within two days, car still had problems starting. Went back to the local garage who could only suggest the battery as the problem. The battery got changed... within 24 hours the car still has problems starting. Makes a brief initial sound when key is turned, but it then cuts out, makes no noise and the lights go off the dash. Turn the key another couple of times it does absolutely nothing, no sound, no lights. After a couple more attempts and holding the key it makes a clunk and then starts to kick in, makes a noise the dash lights appear as normal and it starts. However the dash time, trip counter etc. reset to 0.
14-12-2017:Report of DSG of 2009 Polo 1.4 sticking in 3rd gear.
03-04-2018:Report of engine failure of 2016 Polo 1.2 TSI after clutch replacement by independent specialist.
17-04-2018:Report of "cat converter light" coming on in 2011 Polo TDI that has the NOx emissions fix in 2017. Dealer replacing sensors in the first instance.
26-04-2018:Report of clutch failure on base model May 2017 Polo S. Owner noticed burning smell in stop/start traffic and on hill starts. Took it back to dealer who found nothing wrong. Then at first service in April 2018 dealer noted clutch was biting high, indicating wear. Probably a good case for a free replacement clutch despite VWG's clutch wassanty of only 6 months or 6000 miles.
08-06-2018:Report of Mechatronics of DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG in 2010 VW Polo 1.4 failing at 55,000 miles and replacement Mechatronics quoted at £1,700 minus a controbution from the dealer of £275. Car had been bought used at 20,000 miles in 2013 so it is possible that the change of fluid from synthatic to mineral had been carried out prior to purchase.
13-06-2018:Report of noises from DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG of 2014 Polo 1.4bTSI auto.
06-08-2018:Report of transmission failure of 2016 Polo 1.2 TSI BlueMotion Tech R-Line (s/s) 5dr manual at 48,000 miles. Several weeks ago driver reversed out of a parking bay then pulled away in 1st gear, accelerated to go into second but before being able to select second gear, at nominally 2,000rpm, first gear failed. Driver continued to try and select second gear but the car stalled after engaging the clutch and had to be pushed out of the way until it could be towed to the VW dealer's garage. The VW dealer has declined to repair the gearbox under warranty. Dealer saying driver that he must have been over revving the engine or even that he must have been driving it fast in reverse then slamming it into 1st gear.
13-08-2018:Report of timing chain failure on 2013/63 Polo 1.2 TSI R Line at 70,000 miles. Full service history with 5 stamps in book. Last serviced was May 2018 at cost of £329.
13-08-2018:Report of engine failure of 2015 Polo 1.2 TSI at 40,000 miles and 3 years 6 months old. Has later timing belt version of EA211 1.2 TSI engine. Car not serviced by Volkswagen dealer but apparently "serviced regularly and beyond Volkswagen guidleines." Volkswagen dealer wanted £450 to inspect the damage so owner had it taken to an independent engineer who reported: "The vehicle was recovered to our workshop from Harrogate VW for diagnosis and repair. The first impression was that the inlet camshaft drive pulley had collapsed. We stripped the cylinder head off the engine and stripped the head. Once stripped down it was quite clear the variable timing inlet camshaft pulley had suffered failure due to one of the retaining bolts coming slack and fouling the cam housing. There is obvious damage to the cam housing and cylinder head caused by the bolt rubbing/digging into the aluminium. In our opinion this damage will have occurred in a relatively short period of time, shortly before the failure of the pulley. The bolts which hold the toothed part of the pulley to the main body are fit when manufactured and have no reason ever to come out. The cambelt shows no signs of fatigue and is not due for replacement, however the belt has been damage due to the pulley failure. Conclusion to failure: The variable timing pulley bolts have worked loose for whatever reason, rubbed on the cylinder head until they have come out so far at which point have snagged and locked up the toothed drive on the inlet and the outer pulley has failed causing internal engine damage." Owner facing a bill of £2600.
14-08-2018:Report of wipers of 2014 Polo switching on at random when in the 'off' position. This can last for seconds, a few minutes or for longer periods. VW dealer cannot identify the fault.
31-08-2018:Report of timing chain failure on 2013 Polo 1.2 TSI R Line Style 5-door.
06-09-2018:Infotainment system problem reported with 35,000 mile January 2014/64 VW Polo. Owner inserted the key in the ignition on 32-8-2018. Immediately, the media screen in the central car panel (where the radio usually displays) turned blue with a white bar at the top displaying the words "Emergency Download". The screen then turned red with the words "No suitable update found. Please insert valid update! Will reset now". The screen then turned black (as if it was turned off) and this pattern of coloured screens repeated continually on loop. The loop continued even with the ignition turned off, the key out of the car & the car locked. According to the VW garage, the issue concerns the 5F control unit, part number 3Q0035820. The VW garage has advised that the part has failed - they cannot ascertain any particular cause for the failure and so are putting it down to "technical failure". The price of the part through VW is £2,289.84. They have priced the total cost of the work to have the issue fixed (part + labour, etc.) as £2,918.81. When the representative of the in VW servicing team was asked to explain the part with the issue, he described it as the box that sits behind the CD unit in the glove-box which connects into the radio 5F unit.
07-10-2018:Report of clutch failure of 2016 Polo 1.0 TSI Match in 2017 at 12,942 miles. Now, at 18,990 miles the smell of a burning clutch has re-occurred.
15-10-2018:Failed clutch and flywheel repeated on 2014 Polo 1.2 TSI at 22,000 miles.
21-10-2018:Report of ABS light on in 2011 Polo. Local garage replaced two wheel sensors, but light still on.
06-11-2018:Report of yellow emissions light on in 40k mile 2013/63 Polo Match 1.4 DSG from time to time. One garage blames the petrol the driver was using. Another replaced a sensor to no effect.
27-11-2018:Report that only possible to select gears 2, 4 and 6 in 2013 Polo 1.4 fitted with DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG. Could be a fault with the clutch pack or with the Mechatronics.
11-12-2018:Report of timing chain stretching and slipping in 2014 Polo 1.2TSI, valves hitting pistons and engine ruined. Dealer initially quoited £5000. VW Customer Care reduced it to £2500.
22-12-2018:Report of EPC light of 2015 Polo 1.4 TSI coming on and car loses power when changing from 1st to 2nd gear and then again from 2nd to 3rd. (The EPC warning light, also known as the Electronic Power Control warning light, is a vehicle warning indicator that indicates a problem the car's throttle system, such as with the throttle pedal, throttle body, traction control, or cruise control.)
26-01-2019:Report of intermittent fault with DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG of 2016 Polo 1.2 TSI 90 SE DSG with 19,000 miles. On occasions the car sticks in first gear and owner has to stop and start over again. Up to now the car has then worked normally. This can happen at any time in a journey when owner has to stop.
02-02-2019:History of problems reported with 2014/64 Polo 1.4 TDI over the years: At 16 months old (28,000miles approx), water pump and timing belt replaced. At 3+ years, (49,000 miles) Dual mass flywheel replaced by single mass flywheel. (Why?) At 4years (52,000 miles) water pump and timing belt replaced again. At 4 years, 3 months, exhaust valve and wiring replaced. Owner subsequently read that single mass flywheel on 3 cylinder engine causes torsion on crankshaft and affects badly on clutch and gearbox.
03-02-2019:Report of driver's seatbelt locking in retracted position in 2015 Polo Bluemotion. "Once it has retracted into its housing it can take hours to unlock. Once it has unlocked, it works normaly on braking. Owner uses a bulldog clip to prevent it retracting into its housing once unbelted. Quoted £285 to replace.
19-02-2019:Report of timing belt of 2014/64 Polo 1.2 TSI failing at 21,000 miles, significantly damaging the engine. Local dealer and Volkswagen Customer Services refused to help, presumably because the car had been independently serviced (using the correct parts). Had it been serviced by Volkswagen dealers, they would have advised to change the belt at 4 years or 40k miles. But still not a good enough excuse for such an early failure. Owner subsequently advised that an "inlet cam adjuster sprocket broken up into pieces and jammed up timing belt in lower cover / engine mounting". The total cost of repair was £1,060.81.
27-02-2019:Report of difficulty engaging 1st gear in 2016 Polo 1.2 TSI at 8000 miles. "The gear change is often stiff. This is particularly problematic when engaging 1st gear from neutral. It gets half way and then gets really stiff. Not wanting to force it home I engage 2nd and then into 1st and then it is better. This can be awkward at traffic lights as I can't always set off as timely as I would like which is frustrating for the vehicle behind. This doesn't happen all the time but maybe 25%. It is also often difficult to engage reverse gear and even selecting 3rd to 4th or 5th to 4th can feel stiffer than I would expect and needs a shove. This was investigated recently and the garage said they had reset the gear linkages. To be honest it probably feels a little worse than before now. The gear change has always been notchy." Might be caused by insufficient or contaminated transmission oil. There is a chance that a change of transmission oil might cure it.
02-03-2019:Report of "very expensive" timing chain replacement required on 2012 Polo.
13-04-2019:Report of Polo 1.2 TSI rolling down a drivewway with handbrake fully applied.
09-05-2019:Report that throttle body of 2015 Polo needed replacing at 40,000 miles at a cost of £750.
27-05-2019:Report of failure of DQ200 7-speed DSG transmission of March 2016 VW Polo, just 8 weeks out of warranty and with just 21,000 miles. Supplying dealer offered a 30% discount on the £2,000 bill, but no further support was forthcoming from VW.
29-05-2019:Report of shearing of bolt that holds alrernator to engine of 2011 VW Polo (didn't say which engine). Mechanic said would have to remove the engine to drill the stub of the old bolt out of the engine block in order to fix it.
18-06-2019:Report of DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG sticking between 3rd and 4th gear in 2012 VW Polo at 44,000 miles. Owners told it needs a new transmission.
14-07-2019:Relatively heavy oil consumption of 1,200 miles per litre reported by 2009 VW Polo 1.2.
23-09-2019:Report of failure of timing chain of independently serviced 2010 VW Polo 1.2SE at 95,000 miles (though hardly a legitimate complaint).
29-10-2019:Owner of 2010 VW Polo 1.6TDI SE quoted £1,600 to replace the front exhaust catalyset and DPF by an independent VW specialist. Effectively writes the car off as it is only worth £2,000 repaired.
03-01-2020:Report of failure of DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG in 2013 VW Polo 1.4 at 55,000 miles. Owner quoted £350 to inspect and £2,000 to repair by supplying dealer (thought to be a used car dealer).
06-01-2020:Report of DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG problems with 2016 VW Polo. Now and then it won't shift from "neutral" to "drive", and again, now and then, goes into "sports mode" unasked. Owned from new and main dealer serviced, it's only done just over 8,000 miles. Guessing at clutch pack.
06-01-2020:Report of engine management light coming on in 999cc 2014/64 VW Polo 1.0MPI. Independent VW specialist updated the software, the light went out and the car passed its MoT. Within a day the light came on again. Might need a replacement timing belt.
09-02-2020:Report of timing chain failure of 1.2 3-cylinder MPI engine of 2011 VW Polo. No damage to valves and pistons, bill for replacement chain was £575.