Volkswagen Polo Hatchback 1994 - 2000

In the mid 90’s the Polo was on it’s third incarnation.  VW’s reputation for making solid and reliable cars was well founded and although not cheap the Polo offered decent value owing to the quality of build and reliability.  demand means that the Polo holds it’s value well and it’s build quality ensures a decent drive for all but the smallest engined models.

The Polo is a small car really in size only.  The small dimensions don’t run as far as the scales and the little German packs quite a lot of weight into that small frame.  on the inside it’s easy to see why the car is so heavy, as the finish is top quality and substantial.  The seats are big and well padded offering the sort not really expected for a small car.  The controls are solid and logically positioned, helping to make driving a natural experience.

The engines are set for practical usefulness rather than out and out driving pleasure and as such deliver adequate performance.  Happy on the open roads but without delivering anything like high performance the Polo is a willing performer and won’t be intimidated.  The 1.6L unit offers the easiest drive and the 1.9d is frugal, although noisy. 

When driven sensibly the handling is safe and natural, with good insulation from what the roads throws up at it.  If pushed the Polo quickly feels out of it’s depth round corners though and urges the driver to calm down and keep in it’s comfort zone.  Power assisted steering wasn’t standard and makes a much more pleasant drive, especially at very low speeds.

The boot is good for the car size and there are decent storage spaces in the cabin, most notably the door bins.

The Mark three Polo really offers exactly what drivers can expect from it; reliability and solid build but not too many thrills.  Always look for the right stamps in the service book and you should get a solid runabout.

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