Car Statistics: Volkswagen - Polo Series (4 stars)

Styling (4 stars)

There's a sharpness and attitude here that the previous, bland Polo missed out on. The looks - more mini-Golf than ever before - are elegant and timeless, but the Polo strikes you as a mature car which doesn't have the 'youth' appeal that VW likes to talk up. It doesn't have the funk of the Fiesta, either.

Handling (3 stars)

The Polo handles safely, has a very rigid chassis and is nicely adjustable through corners. It's ruthlessly competent, but there's a sanitised feel and not a lot of driver involvement. VW knows that for most Polo buyers that'll do nicely, but there are livelier superminis out there though, notably the Fiesta or the Mazda 2.

Comfort (5 stars)

Very refined, very quiet for a supermini, and the ride is soothingly smooth unless you opt for the bigger 17-inch wheels which cause some intrusion. The driving position is totally adjustable, making it easy to get comfy.

Quality (5 stars)

What did you expect? The switchgear feels precise and looks extremely robust, and the cabin benefits from high-end textiles with just a bit of plastic panelling low down dropping the standard slightly. Paint finish, panel fit all achingly precise. A modern Polo will last for many years.

Performance (4 stars)

The Polo's saved in this area by the new 1.2-litre TSI engine, which offers nippiness while not ruining VW's efforts to bring range-topping frugality. Zero to 62mph takes 9.6 seconds and a 119mph top speed is perfectly respectable. The super-green, naturally aspirated petrol motors really are uninspiring though, and the diesel alternatives don't suit this city car well.

Roominess (5 stars)

Excellent cabin space, particularly in the rear, although headroom is a little tight for anyone over six foot. Luggage capacity is enhanced by a removable boot floor that deepens the load bay.

Costs (5 stars)

Range beating thanks to a line-up of incredibly efficient engines, most of which are capable of 50mpg and have very low emissions. All Polos will be in low insurance groups also the lowest benefit-in-kind company car rate.

Value (3 stars)

It's expensive compared with rivals, but you are paying for quality. The basic S spec isn't generously equipped - 14inch wheels, basic CD stereo - so you'll probably want to upgrade to the more expensive trims (SE, Mode or SEL) and this quickly adds cost.

Stereo (4 stars)

Both are first rate modern systems and the sat-nav is particularly intuitive to use (one of our test cars was German and we could still work it out). But to get sat nav and the good stereo with iPod plug-in and Bluetooth, you'll need to shell out for the higher-end editions of the Polo.