Volkswagen Polo 1.0-litre TSi 115PS – Review

By Liam Bird, December 2025

Fifteen years ago I sent an email to Volkswagen’s press office, asking whether or not they’d be willing to lend me, what was then, the most recent variant of their Polo. The truth is, I was thinking of buying one, but I didn’t want to have to put up with all the slippery salesman’s’ patter that’s so stereotypically synonymous with a trip to the local dealership. I wanted more than just a ten minute test drive too.

After having sent that initial, somewhat tentative, request, I was asked – as is quite often the case when approaching a manufacturer for the first time – for my credentials. I duly replied, attaching pdf copies of a piece or two I’d written for what was then my only outlet – a little known bi-monthly that’s been long forgotten by all but a very few of us that may have once read it.

Fortunately, and perhaps, to my disbelief, my application to gain access to VW’s press fleet was granted: Volkswagen agreed to lend me a Polo – a Moda 1.2 A/C. They’d even agreed to deliver it – once, that is, I’d provided proof of my address. That little orange, three door, three-cylinder, VW Polo was the first press car I’d ever had on loan. It was in fact, the first press car I’d ever driven. Volkswagen, I’m afraid this is all your fault!

“Borderline premium”

Countless car reviews later, and I find myself once more behind the wheel of a three-cylinder petrol-powered Polo. This year saw the Polo turn 50, so, seeing as VW’s recently crowned Best Car of the Half Century and I “have history” (I did buy a Polo after having been lent one), I thought it might nice to get reacquainted with the second best-selling Volkswagen in the UK.

Like all of us now fifty-somethings the Polo is a little larger, and significantly more sophisticated, than it once was. At more than four metres long in its current Mk6 guise, think of it as more of a small, credible, borderline premium family hatchback rather than the somewhat basic supermini it used to be.

In 1975 even the radio was an optional extra; airbags were still the stuff of science fiction. Today all Polos get Volkswagen’s Digital Cockpit, Lane Assist, Blind Spot Detection, Bluetooth, Adaptive Cruise Control, Stop and Go, LED headlights, and Travel Assist, which facilitates Level 2 automated driving at speeds of up to 130mph, as standard. The original, 0.9-litre 3-door, 4-speed Polo could only dream of such velocities. Still, at least you got a spare wheel for free in 1975, believe it or not they’re the optional extra these days – and they’re £255!

“Nicely tactile”

Modern technology and tyre mobility kits notwithstanding, there’s nothing within the Polo that will intimidate. In fact part of the charm of Polo is its almost instant familiarity. There are separate switches for heating and ventilation, the radio is controlled by proper knobs, the handbrake is a good old-fashioned lever that sits between the seats. You can even switch off the aforementioned (and in my opinion, intrusive) Lane Assist by means of a press or two of a nicely tactile little button upon the Polo’s rather lovely leather wrapped steering wheel.

And neither do you have to plug anything in (Hoorah!), the Polo is yet to go electric in any form. Thus all Polos are equipped with Euro VI compliant three-cylinder petrol engines in either 80PS, 90 PS or 115PS guises. Except that is, for the four-pot 207PS, 0-62 in 6.5 seconds, 149mph, Polo GTi. Gearbox options are either five-speed manual, or seven-speed DSG.

“The Polo feels safe”

All of which, I suppose, brings us around to the Polo Black Edition Volkswagen were kind enough to lend me recently; 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder, 115PS (that’s 113.5bhp in old money), 7-speed DSG auto ‘box, 17” inch alloy wheels, sports seats (heated, of course), and very nice Reef Blue paint job. If ever there was a car that shows just how far modern superminis have progressed…

Smooth is the first word that springs to mind – everything, from the ride to the near seamless gear-changes – not fast perhaps, but effortless nonetheless. 0-62mph, in case you were wondering, takes a 9.8 seconds. And it feels so nicely put together. The doors shut with that reassuringly well-engineered Germanic clunk, the indicator stalks are the same as those you’ll find in an Audi… The Polo feels safe, secure, and as if it belongs in the class above.

“Matured rather nicely”

But then, so it should. A Polo Black Edition with just few options added will set you back just shy of £30,000. That’s big money for something that although bigger than it’s ever been, is still considered by most as a small car.

The Polo seems to have aged gracefully; it has, you could say, matured rather nicely. It may command a premium over most of its competition but somehow it still feels like the sensible choice.

Fifteen years on, and I find myself as reluctant to hand Volkswagen the keys to their Polo back as I ever was.

Volkswagen Polo 1.0-litre TSi 115PS 7spd DSG 5dr
Engine: 999cc, 3Cyl, 12 valve Petrol, with turbocharger module and electric boost pressure regulation.
Transmission: 7-speed DSG auto, Front wheel drive.
Power: 113.5 bhp @ 5,000 rpm
Torque: 70 lbft @ 2,000 – 3,500 rpm
0-62MPH: 9.8 Sec
Max Speed: 125 mph
CO2: 129 g/km
MPG: 50.1 (WLTP combined)
Price: £27,970 (car driven £29,565)

Liam Bird( Writer )

Liam Bird first stepped into automotive journalism in 2009, and since then has gone on to write motoring-related content for numerous titles. A former approved driving instructor – he also holds a motorcycle, and a HGV licence – Liam is a member of the Guild of Motoring Writers and, despite being born on the other side of the border, is treasurer of The Welsh Motoring Writers. He lives in the South Shropshire Marches with his partner Rebecca, her VW Up!, and his ever increasing collection of cars both large and small. When he’s not writing, more often than not, Liam can be found test-driving something worryingly expensive.
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