Volkswagen’s latest iteration of the humble supermini, the Polo V has come away as victor from the European 2010 Car of the Year awards.
Facing stiff competition from the likes of Toyota’s IQ (2nd at 337 points) and Vauxhall’s Astra (3rd with 221 points), the Polo’s unusually high levels of trim and quality in this segment was cited as the main reason for the win.
Of course, one cannot forget the (prize magents, as well) engines that power the Polo. Buyers can choose from three petrol and one diesel offering; all magnificent engines in their own right. The range-topping GTI has a 1.8 litre turbocharged inline four, producing a handy 110kw. Mind, the car only weighs 1190kg, so it can pull an 8-second dash to 100km/h.
The Polo Pacific Diesel makes a lot of sense in a lot of ways. Most importantly, the 1.9 turbodiesel has 240Nm of torque available between 1800 and 2400 rpm. Riding the wave of torque will keep your revs low, and fuel consumption at a claimed 5.0 litres per 100km (combined).
The engine range is also supported by 1.4 and 1.6 litre naturally aspirated petrol engine options, which are also offered with 6-speed automatic gearboxes. These engines deliver a combined economy of 6.5 and 7.3 litres per 100km of driving.
The new Polo, as summed up by the judges of the CotY competiton, is essentially a smaller version of the Golf stablemate. It is built impeccably with quality, lasting materials, is safe and rewarding to drive. It provides a real benchmark for this segment, and a really tough option to turn down for prospective buyers.
