Skip advert
Advertisement
In-depth reviews

Volkswagen Polo hatchback - Interior & comfort

Excellent build quality and decent standard equipment, and the Volkswagen Polo was the first supermini to come with a digital dashboard

Carbuyer Rating

4.2 out of 5

Owners Rating

4.0 out of 5

Read owner reviews
Interior & comfort Rating

4.5 out of 5

As one of the more sensible superminis around, the outgoing Volkswagen Polo often attracted adjectives such as ‘mature’ and ‘conservative’. Taking the lead from the SEAT Ibiza means the new Polo’s interior is a far more lively place than before, with the facelifted car receiving an array of upgraded technology to give it a truly digital feel inside.

Volkswagen Polo dashboard

Quality is generally very high, with excellent fit and finish and minimal panel gaps between sections of the dashboard. Look hard and you’ll find some scratchy plastics in areas like the door cards, but this is understandable in a supermini and the presence of such materials is only noteworthy because quality is so high elsewhere.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Speaking of noteworthy, the Polo’s digital dial cluster is now standard on every model. Called the ‘Digital Cockpit’ by VW, the system makes the Polo one of the more sophisticated and tech-happy cars in this class; rivals like the latest Renault Clio are only just catching up. While the graphics on the Polo’s dash display are dialled down slightly compared to the current Golf – particularly when using it to show sat-nav mapping – it’s clear and easy to read when driving, and its presence further adds to the high quality feel of the Polo and makes the integration of the various infotainment systems all the more cohesive.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

All cars come with a central eight-inch infotainment screen as standard, and while this glossy setup looks great and works intuitively, it does attract fingerprints and the capacitive shortcut buttons for mapping, phone and other functions are easy to activate by accident when going for the volume. Additionally, both Style and R-Line models feature capacitive touch controls for the ventilation system and while they look great, they can be slightly fiddly to use on the move.

Equipment

The 2021 update simplified the Polo trims to Life, Style and R-Line to match the standard trim levels offered across the majority of the VW model range. Every Polo is well specced, with the entry-level Life model getting an impressive kit list including 15-inch alloy wheels, all-round electric windows, automatic wipers, electrically folding and heated door mirrors, manual air conditioning, VW’s eight-inch Digital Cockpit and an eight-inch infotainment touchscreen with DAB radio, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard safety features include cruise control with speed limiter, LED headlights, front assist and city emergency braking and lane assist.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Next up are the Style and R-Line models, which occupy the flagship slot of the Polo range. The Style trim places more focus on comfort with two-zone climate control, sports comfort seats, VW’s Discover sat-nav system and the larger 10.25-inch Digital Cockpit Pro dial cluster. Upgraded 16-inch alloys are also added, along with Matrix LED headlights, a light-up front grille and LED indicators and LED tail lights.

R-Line models feature a slightly different specification, with a bodykit, different 16-inch alloy wheels and rear privacy glass for a sportier look. Inside, two-tone sports seats feature ‘R-Line’ logos and there stainless steel pedals and a black headliner.

Both the Style and R-Line trims get a comprehensive list of safety equipment, including adaptive cruise control with speed limiter, high-beam control, driver fatigue alert detection, dynamic road sign display, front and rear parking sensors and VW’s Travel Assist suite, which includes both lane keep assist and traffic jam assist.

Access to the Volkswagen Connect app is also standard across the Polo range. This lets you remotely check your car’s fuel level and when it needs servicing from your smartphone, as well as providing ways to summon assistance. While all models are equipped with streaming and internet connectivity.

Options

You don’t have to spend money on options but if you want to, the list for the Polo contains features previously reserved for bigger, more expensive cars such as a panoramic sunroof, keyless entry, a rear-view camera and a parking assist system. Bear in mind that adding too many options will push the price of the Polo firmly into the territory of the Volkswagen Golf.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Top 10 best new cars under £20,000
Best new cars under £20k
Best cars
20 Sep 2023

Top 10 best new cars under £20,000

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024