Used Volkswagen Polo 2018-present review

What's the used Volkswagen Polo like?

Not to be confused with the mint with the hole, the clothing line or the horsey sport, the Volkswagen Polo is a small car through and through. This is the sixth-generation model and – spoiler alert – it's really rather good. It has a smart interior and a comfy ride, for starters, and that's just a taste of its appeal.

In this used review we'll be looking at all areas of the Polo, including the good and the bad. We'll also tell you how it compares with its rivals: the Ford Fiesta, Renault Clio and Skoda Fabia.

Overview

The classy and spacious Volkswagen Polo ranks among our favourite small cars, while affordable used prices only sweeten the deal. Reliability's looking good, too.

Pros

• Supple ride
• Generous interior space
• Quiet on the move

Cons

• Seat Ibiza is similar yet more fun
• Noisy diesel engine
• Seatbelt issue

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Volkswagen Polo

1.2 S Euro 5 5dr

£495

Volkswagen Polo

1.2 S 3dr

£595

Volkswagen Polo

1.2 S 5dr

£595

Volkswagen Polo

1.4 Twist 5dr

£595

Volkswagen POLO

1.4 TDI PD SE 5dr

£699

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1.2 E 3dr

£950

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1.2 S 5dr (a/c)

£990

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1.4 Dune 5dr

£995

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£995

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Engines: The engine range starts with a non-turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder unit with 64bhp, 74bhp, or – in later cars – 79bhp. There's also a turbocharged version of that engine that increases power to 94bhp or 114bhp in higher-specification Polos. Meanwhile, there’s a 197bhp 2.0-litre unit in the Polo GTI hot hatch, as well as a 1.6-litre diesel with 79bhp or 94bhp.

Trims and equipment: Even the entry-level Polo S comes with air-conditioning, automatic emergency braking (AEB), electric front windows and an 8.0in colour touchscreen. If you upgrade to SE trim, you get 15in alloy wheels, electric rear windows, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to connect your smartphone to the car’s infotainment system.

The Beats edition includes some styling upgrades and a 300W stereo, while SEL has front and rear parking sensors, sat-nav and auto wipers. If you want a sportier-looking Polo, R-line has bespoke bumpers and side skirts, along with sports seats inside. Then there's the GTI, which should appeal to those who demand impressive poke out of their small car.

From 2020, S and SE trims were replaced with Match, which basically gets you everything SE had but adds front and rear parking sensors and tinted rear windows. A United trim also entered the range. It sits below SEL and comes with niceties including cruise control, heated front seats, sat-nav, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror and auto wipers.

Ride and handling: To drive, the Polo falls on the side of safety and comfort rather than entertainment. If you're looking for fun, go for the Seat Ibiza or (even better) the Ford Fiesta. The Polo is tidy enough, with light steering, decent body control and a smooth ride. This car scores big time for long-distance driving too, with remarkably low wind and road noise at motorway speeds for a small car.

Interior and practicality: People in the front won't have much cause for complaint when it comes to space, with generous leg, head and shoulder room. In fact, it puts you more in mind of the space offered by family cars from just a few years ago.

There are also plenty of places to store oddments in the glove box, centre console and large door bins. Interior quality is good, and everything feels and looks like a step up from rival small cars.

Rear leg room and boot space have been improved significantly over the previous Polo and the new car easily trounces the Fiesta for interior room.

It’s worth remembering that SE cars and above come with the very useful variable-level boot floor that removes the annoying load lip (the entry-level S model doesn't get that).

Facelift: The Polo was facelifted for 2021, and the front fascia and rear lights were altered to tweak its overall look. A new 8in digital instrument display (that replaces the car's otherwise traditional dials) became standard across the range, and the model's trims had a couple of name changes. The range became entry-level Life, mid-range Style and range-topping R-Design. The GTI remained a variant, too.

"The Polo is a great all-rounder. I often find myself recommending it, particularly to those looking for a first car." – George Hill, Used Cars Writer

If you're interested in finding a used VW Polo or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Cars For Sale pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Ownership cost

What used Volkswagen Polo will I get for my budget?

Prices for a used Volkswagen Polo start at around £6000 for a 2018 version with high mileage. If you increase your budget to £9000, you'll be able to find plenty of 1.0 TSI SE cars with relatively low mileage. A diesel-powered Polo will cost you at least £8500, because there are far fewer examples out there when compared with a petrol one. Anyone looking for a GTI will need to dig deep and find at least £10,000 for an early one with high mileage.

For a facelift Polo from 2021 or 2022, have at least £11,000 to spend. Newer 2024 examples start from around £14,000, while 2025 cars cost upwards of £16,000. Facelift GTIs start from the £17,000 mark.

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How much does cost to run a Volkswagen Polo?

MPG

Thanks to its small engines, the Polo shouldn’t cost you much to run. The least powerful 64bhp 1.0 petrol returns an official average of 58.9mpg, while the 74bhp version of that engine is a little better at 60.1mpg.

The turbocharged 1.0 units are better still, with the 94bhp variant managing 62.8mpg and the 114bhp 60.1mpg. At the other end of the scale is the 47.9mpg of the 197bhp 2.0 unit found in the GTI. If you’re interested in the diesel, the 1.6 TDI has an economy figure of 76.3mpg.

Road tax (VED)

The Polo will tend to attract a flat-rate fee for a year's worth of road tax. This is currently £195 per year, which is the same for all petrol and diesel cars registered after April 2017 but before April 2022.

Servicing

Servicing costs tend to be slightly lower than you’ll pay with a Ford Fiesta or Vauxhall Corsa and insurance groups for all models except the GTI are relatively low, thanks to standard automatic emergency braking (AEB) that helps to prevent or at least lessen the damage from low-speed collisions.

Reliability

The 2018-present Polo is a sturdy small car, according to real-world owner reviews analysed in our annual What Car? Reliability Survey. While mechanicals are robust, some owners reported "frightening" glitches with the emergency braking system on bends alongside minor electrical faults. Despite these digital hiccups, efficient dealer service and low costs make it an appealing choice.

Learn more about the used Volkswagen Polo's reliability on our dedicated reliability page.

Our recommendations

Which used Volkswagen Polo should I buy?

Specification

We’d suggest looking for a Polo in SE spec because it has all the equipment you’ll need and you don’t need to spend a fortune to get it. Higher-spec Polos are fine as long as you can find them for similar money to an SE version.

Engine

If you don’t cover big mileages, there isn’t much point going for the diesel. We’d stick with the mid-range 94bhp 1.0 TSI because it’s a flexible engine and shouldn’t cost you too much to run.

Our favourite Volkswagen Polo 1.0 TSI 95 SE

Alternatives

What alternatives should I consider to a used Volkswagen Polo?

If you’re looking for a something fun, have a go in the Ford Fiesta. It's one of the best handling small cars and can even embarrass vehicles from the class above it in this respect. You won’t have quite as much room inside as you will in the Polo, though.

The Seat Ibiza is another fun-to-drive tiddler and has more engine options than the Polo. The 158bhp 1.5 TSI Evo engine, in particular, will appeal to those who want something with a bit of extra pep.

If you're after a talented all-rounder, we'd recommend taking a look at the Renault Clio. Like the Polo, it's smart inside, practical and good to drive. It's very well pried on the used market, too. A range of petrol and hybrid engine options are available.

As a budget-friendly option, don’t rule out the Hyundai i20 because many will still be within their original five-year, unlimited mileage warranty period. Likewise, check out the Kia Rio with its seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty.

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If you're interested in finding a used VW Polo or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.