Published:
5 September 2013Several mainstream supermini ranges – Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Vauxhall Corsa included – start with entry-level models offering around 60bhp. The Polo buyer, however, can opt for a 59bhp 1.0-litre three-pot that’s mechanically identical to the 59bhp unit and which, theoretically at least, offers the same fuel economy.
Nonetheless, the bald performance figures for the 69bhp Polo do not look great. The car’s three-cylinder engine, even if worked as hard as possible, is only capable of pulling what is a relatively light car from rest to 60mph in 14.2sec. That’s competitive, though not exactly impressive. Don’t forget that the peppy, 108bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged engine may very well be the answer.
Diesel engines are often an irrelevance in superminis, but the 1.4-litre oil-burner in the BlueMotion puts a strong case for itself. In spite of pedestrian performance, there’s the lure of an official combined 80.7mpg (you’ll be happy of you get within 10 per cent of that) and a CO2 figure of 91g/km.
But where you save in fuel costs, you pay for on the list price. The BlueMotion is substantially more than the diesel SE model that comes without the BlueMotion gadgetry. The SE still averages more than 70mpg according to the official figures, but it misses out on a free tax disc.
The 1.4-litre turbocharged and supercharged GTI, with a 0-62mph time of less than 7.0sec, are swift and fun, if pricey and a little short of high-revving excitement.
