Volkswagen Polo hatchback - Practicality & boot space

Superminis have consistently grown in size, and that includes the Volkswagen Polo. In fact, VW says it’s the same size as the Mk4 Golf from 1997. Such inflationary trends lead to more generous space inside, and the Polo is impressively practical.

We should point out that while the previous Polo was offered as a three or a five-door model, this latest generation car is five-door only. That won’t bother most buyers – a five-door car is inherently more practical, after all, but if you really like the looks of three-door hatchbacks, you’ll have to find them elsewhere.

Volkswagen Polo interior space & storage

The Polo’s dashboard features several storage areas, with a large cubby below the heating controls, a decent glovebox and well sized door bins. As is usually the case, space in the front is more than adequate for even the tallest adults, with comfortable seats and an excellent driving position, but it’s in the rear where the Polo really impresses.

VW has made the most of the new car’s increased dimensions, meaning there’s far more legroom in the back than you might expect with enough space to sit two full-sized adults in the back in comfort. Another nice touch is the wide opening rear doors, which offer plenty of space making accessing the rear seats an easy task. The Honda Jazz beats it in terms of ultimate rear space, but the Jazz – while ostensibly a hatchback – has always had the air of a quasi-people-carrier about it, while the Polo is pure supermini.

Boot space

18

The positive impressions continue when you come to the Polo’s boot, as it’s big. At 351 litres, it’s up 25% from before, and almost as big as several models from the class above, while the bigger Golf has just 10% more space than the Polo.

The Polo’s boot opening is very wide, and the adjustable boot floor is a useful addition. In its lowest setting though, we did find its design created an upward notch at the rear of the boot floor, meaning it’s not possible to take full advantage of the extra space.

Towing

The Polo is a small car, and isn’t typically bought with towing in mind. But it is capable of towing a small trailer or caravan with the ability to pull 800-1,200kg depending on the specification and engine you choose.