VW Polo

The original 1976 VW Polo (also badged as the Audi 50) was one of Europe's first compact three-door hatchbacks which fell into the sub-Golf category. It was a far more practical alternative than older 'booted' cars like the Austin Mini and Hillman Imp. The MK1 VW Polo was one of the best selling small European cars in the late 1970's thanks to its low fuel bills, competitive price, spacious interior, solid build quality and durable mechanicals. The UK market saw only the 900cc and 1.1 litre engines although there was a 1.3 unit available on the continent. None of these engines were particularly swift but they stacked up on fuel economy and reliability. From 1978 to 1982 the Polo was also sold as a two-door saloon badged the Derby. This was less successful because small car buyers had moved on from saloons by 1980. 1981 saw the MK2 Polo launched, again as a three-door hatchback - but with a vertical estate-style rear end. The two-door saloon also used the Polo nameplate. In 1983 the MK2 Polo 'Coupe' was added, with a hatchback appearance. The 900cc was not carried over to the new Polo, but the 1.1 carried on until 1986 as Formel E and a new 1.0 engine was added to the range. The MK2 Polo established itself as one of Europe's most popular cars during the 1980's because of its reliability, practicality, build quality and economy. It stood up well against the likes of the Metro, Nova and Fiesta. The MK2 Polo underwent a major facelift in 1990 which gave it restyled headlights and a new facia with a removable stereo. Safety was improved with the addition of side impact bars. Both the 1.0 and 1.3 engines had fuel injection rather than a carburettor and there was also a supercharged 1.3, the G40, which was capable of nearly 120mph. But its handling could not match the performance and it was never a real rival for the Peugeot 205 GTI. The two-door saloon was shelved in 1992 due to a fall in sales. The MK3 Polo was launched in 1994. There was an all-new 1.6 litre petrol engine and a 1.9 turbo-diesel as well as the 1.3 petrol which had been carried over from the MK2 Polo. But the 1.3 was dropped after a year when it was replaced by a new 1.4 unit. In the same year, a 1.0 engine was added to the range along with a 16-valve version of the 1.6 unit. The 1.9 diesel was also available without a turbocharger. At around the same time of the new engines being added to the Polo range, saloon (Classic) and estate bodystyles were also introduced. These were aimed at more labour intensive markets in Africa and Asia where hatchbacks are less popular. The Polo was updated early in 2000 with larger headlights and a new interior. The equipment list was extended so all models got power steering, twin airbags and antilock brakes as standard. It bolstered the appeal of an already good car which was one of the best superminis for quality. The facelift also saw the launch of a new 1.4 three-cylinder turbo-diesel which was the most refined diesel unit ever seen in a Polo. For a while there was a 1.6 GTI version capable of 125mph, but it was never a real contender in the hot hatch market because of its uninvolving handling. The MK4 Polo was launched at the end of 2001. The 1.4 and 1.9 turbo-diesel engines were carried over, along with the 1.4 and 1.6 petrol engines, but there was also a new 1.2 three-cylinver engine which replaced the 1.0. The current VW Polo is popular because of its reliability, build quality, refinement and spacious interior. Going against the appeal is the uninvolving handling which cannot match the Peugeot 206 for driver enjoyment.