The Polo holds the place at Volkswagen that the Golf holds one class above: a city car whose arguments are finish, sound insulation and road holding rather than price.
Second-hand it costs more than an equivalent French city car, and it resells better. It is the same trade-off as on the Golf, on a smaller scale.
Of the 331 used Volkswagen Polo listed right now: 71% are petrol. 82% have manual transmission. Half are priced under €10,000.
The 6R generation and its 6C facelift, from 2009 to 2017, remain affordable and mechanically simple.
The AW generation, from 2017, gains markedly in interior space and boot volume, to the point of approaching a previous-generation compact, and receives modern driver aids.
On both, small-capacity TSI engines power most cars.
On a DSG, the gearbox oil change specified at intervals should be in the book, and a test drive in slow manoeuvres is essential.
On TSI engines, regular oil changes govern the engine's life: ask for the invoices.
On a car used strictly in town, check the clutch, which the odometer does not reflect.
Always compare with an Ibiza and a Fabia of the same generation: the engineering is shared and the price gap is rarely justified by anything but the badge.
Urban and suburban use, for a buyer who puts build quality and resale value ahead of purchase price.
The links below narrow by engine, gearbox or budget.
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