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.

In all honesty, though, the petrol engines offered in the Polo are starting to feel a little old-hat against some supermini rivals which now offer even more economical hybrid engines, such as those found in the MG3 and Toyota Yaris. In those cars, you can expect mpg figures in the 60s, while the most economical Polo will get you figures in the mid-50s.

Volkswagen Polo MPG & CO2

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 and emission of 124g/km. 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.

The 94bhp 1.0-litre turbocharged TSI engine officially manages an even better figure at 54.4mpg, making it pleasingly affordable to run. During our test of the base Life trim model, we managed 57.1mpg on a motorway run. In mixed driving, this engine was equally frugal, managing 48.8mpg using both A-roads and city streets. Low CO2 emissions starting from 118g/km, meanwhile, 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.