Volkswagen Polo hatchback - MPG, running costs & CO2

The range of engines offered with the latest Volkswagen Polo should ensure that whatever your requirements are, be it economy, performance or a combination of the two, you should be able to find one that’s suitable.

Kicking off the range is a 1.0-litre non-turbocharged petrol, now only available with 79bhp. This engine was offered with the previous generation Polo and returns up to 51.8mpg. One caveat though: you need to drive this version hard to get up to speed on faster roads, which will quickly see your fuel economy tumble.

Volkswagen Polo MPG & CO2

The 94bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine officially manages an even better figure at 54.4mpg, making it pleasingly affordable to run. Low CO2 emissions starting from 118g/km, meanwhile, mean company-car drivers will be in line for a middling Benefit-in-Kind (BiK)tax rate.

The 108bhp version of the 1.0-litre engine offers the same efficiency, with an extra gear in the gearbox and is only available in the R-Line trim. A seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox is standard but means economy falls slightly to 50.6mpg. CO2 emissions start from 128g/km.

Volkswagen previously offered a single 94bhp 1.6-litre diesel engine in the pre-facelift version of the Polo, and you’ll want to hunt out a used example if you want the best economy; this engine officially returns almost 60mpg.

All Polos cost the standard rate in VED (road tax) each year.

Insurance

The Volkswagen Polo with a 79bhp 1.0-litre engine qualifies for the cheapest insurance group possible, making it amongst the cheapest cars to insure. This would be impressive even for a city car, but such low ratings for a supermini are rare and point towards the Polo’s impressive safety kit. The turbocharged 1.0-litre engine starts in group eight.

Warranty

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The three-year/60,000-mile warranty Volkswagen provides with each new car it sells is average, but many other manufacturers offer more generous policies. Pick a Kia Rio, for example, and you're covered for seven years or 100,000 miles.

Servicing

VW’s fixed-price service plans are competitively priced, and two-year/20,000-mile and three-year/30,000-mile policies are offered. VW also gives you the choice of fixed or variable service intervals, with fixed policies best for low-mileage users – although annual maintenance is a good policy.