2010 Volkswagen Polo Review
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Installment
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2010 Volkswagen Polo at a glance
Although still neat-looking, comfortable and well-made, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo is starting to feel its age. Against modern yet cheaper rivals, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo's uninspired drive and cramped cabin become obvious flaws.
2010 Volkswagen Polo quick specs
| Body Style | Hatchback |
| Class | Small Family |
| Assembled | - |
| Engine Range | - |
| Fuel Options | - |
| Seating Capacity | 5 |
2010 Volkswagen Polo ratings (overall rating : 3/5.0)
| Styling | |
| Handling | |
| Comfort | |
| Quality + Reliability | |
| Performance |
| Roominess | |
| Running Costs | |
| Value for Money | |
| Equipment | |
| Environment |
Styling
The well-designed Volkswagen Polo looks neat and clean from front to rear. Volkswagen facelifted the Polo in 2005, giving it a Volkswagen Golf-like front end, which we find to be nicer than the original. However, up against modern rivals like the Honda Jazz and Toyota Yaris, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo is starting to look its age. The interior styling is looking dated, too.
Handling
Painless and easy to drive, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo is however not fun to drive through bends, running out of grip quickly and lurching around uneasily. The poor dynamics and a light steering that returns little feedback indicate a ride-and-handling balance heavily tilted towards the former.
Comfort
Tuned for comfort, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo rides pliantly over most surfaces, but larger bumps can unsettle its composure. By class standards, wind and road noise are kept out excellently, although engine noise features relatively prominently. Controls are clearly laid out and simple to use, but the seats are too soft to provide sufficient support. Drivers get seat-height and reach-and-height steering adjustments to fine-tune an otherwise high default seating position.
Quality + Reliability
Like Toyota, Volkswagen stands for quality, and that holds true for lower-end models like the Polo. Build quality is predictably high in standard, while the materials used commensurate with the 2010 Volkswagen Polo's price and positioning and are only decent in quality. We expect the solid cabin construction and durable materials to stand the test of time, and the same can be said for the underlying mechanicals, which have remained in production for some time now.
Performance
Two in-line four-cylinder engines are available: a 1.4-litre producing 74 bhp and 126 Nm; and a 1.6-litre producing 103 bhp and 153 Nm. Mated to a four-speed automatic gearbox, the 1.4-litre puts up a leisurely performance. The 1.6-litre, with a six-speed automatic gearbox, is faster in a straight line, but is not that much punchier for everyday commuting. For us, the cheaper 1.4-litre variant strikes the better balance between price and performance.
Roominess
This is one area where bigger, modern rivals—led by the roomy, versatile Honda Jazz—significantly outperform the 2010 Volkswagen Polo. Four can be seated passably, but many rivals offer rear legroom that makes the 2010 Volkswagen Polo seem cramped by comparison. The well-shaped boot is at least decent in size, and the rear seats can split-fold for more space if required.
Running Costs
Both drivetrains return good fuel economy: the 1.4-litre with 13.3 km/litre, and the 1.6-litre with 13.5 km/litre thanks to its two more gear ratios. Servicing and repair costs are higher than Japanese rivals'. Depreciation should be mitigated by the Volkswagen badge, although the leading Japanese rivals are in much stronger demand and hold their values better as a consequence.
Value for Money
Neat-looking, comfortable, well-made and wearing a reputable badge, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo should be a viable alternative to the usual Japanese suspects. But when the small matter of pricing, the uninspired drive and the cramped cabin are taken into account, the 2010 Volkswagen Polo's case weakens substantially.
Equipment
Standard equipment includes fog lights, powered side mirrors with side turn signal, “Climatic” air-conditioning, CD/MP3/radio player with 4 speakers, power windows, ParkPilot and 14-inch alloy wheels. Safety equipment includes dual front airbags, and Anti-locking Brake System (ABS) with comfort brake assistant.
Environment
Carbon dioxide emissions of 179 grams/km and 176 grams/km, for the 1.4-litre and 1.6-litre drivetrains respectively, are worse than average considering the 2010 Volkswagen Polo's weight and engine capacity. Most Japanese rivals emit less carbon dioxide and consume less fuel per distance travelled.
Live Life Drive Verdict
Neat styling
Comfortable ride
Well-made cabin
Uninspired drive
Limited engine performance
Cramped cabin
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