Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion Review

Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Model/Engine size: 1.2 litre CR 3 door
Fuel: Diesel
Fuel economy combined: 80.7 mpg

The Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion can achieve 80.7 mpg combined along with emissions of just 91 g/km CO2.

The Polo has been with us since the 1970s and it offers a snapshot of all the best and worst aspects of car development over this period. The latest Polo is considerably larger and heavier than the original, but it also far safer, far better built and far more versatile, and thanks to BlueMotion technology it is also more economical too.

The latest iteration gets the new family look which gives the baby VW a thoroughly grown up stance. It now looks like a family car, and indeed such has been the advance of the supermini, it can cope with most things as long as you don’t have lots of luggage or five adults to transport.

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What you gain is incredible fuel consumption. Even just a couple of years ago 91 g/km didn’t look even remotely likely from a mainstream car, what Volkswagen has achieved here is highly laudable.

Make no mistake this is no stripped-out eco fanatic, it is a fully-functioning mass-produced model. Standard equipment includes manual air conditioning, alloy wheels, cruise control and a leather steering wheel. On a practical note it is available as a 5-door too.

At the heart of the BlueMotion is a 1.2 litre three-cylinder common rail diesel engine producing 74 bhp. The gearbox has five rather than six ratios, but they are optimised, and along with a simple regenerative braking system, Stop and Start, and improved aerodynamics, the result is big efficiency gains. One real world benefit is a range of over 840 miles.

The Polo BlueMotion shows what is achievable with current technology. It’s even fair to say that Volkswagen hasn’t exhausted all technologies yet, so it could have been even better, but as ever, it’s a balancing act with keeping it affordable. The Polo becomes the first supermini to hit 91 g/km, and we’re pleased to predict it won’t be the last.

Fuel economy extra urban: 91.1 mpg
Fuel economy urban: 67.3 mpg
CO2 emissions: 91 g/km
Green rating: VED band A – first year £0
Weight: 1071 Kg
Company car tax liability (2010/11): 13%
Price: £14,445 (From £9,790 to £15,740)
Insurance group: 9
Power: 74 bhp
Max speed: 107 mph
0-62 mph: 13.6 seconds
DPF: Yes