For years the Volkswagen Polo was the benchmark by which all small hatchbacks were measured. Today the competition has caught up and if you are buying a new car the Polo doesn’t have it all its own way. On the other hand, with 23 years of production behind it and more than 500,000 Polos sold in the UK, the choice of used examples is huge, with prices starting at just a few hundred pounds.

But beware, not all VW Polos are born equal, and buying a good used one can be more difficult than it at first appears.

A budget of £1,500 will get you an early “mid-life model” Polo. Introduced in September 1994, its looks were changed very little until February 2002 when the new “round-eyed” Polo hit the showrooms. These early cars do have some downsides. VW equipment levels were particularly sparse in the mid-1990s and only top spec CL models came with power-assisted steering as standard.

It’s also best to avoid the feeble-engined 1 litre examples. They may be cheap to insure but in every other way they are well off the pace. Performance from the 45bhp engine is eye-wateringly bad and cabin noise levels are high because the engine works hard all the time.

A better bet is the 1.4 or 1.6 with 60bhp and 75bhp respectively, both of which also gained power-assisted steering as standard from October 1998.

Volkswagen reliability is legendary, but like most legends the truth is somewhat different. The Polo scored badly in the J D Power customer satisfaction surveys of the late 1990s, being less highly ranked than the Ford Fiesta and even the Rover 600. Owners complained of problems with gearboxes, early failure of front discs and pads and even rust spots on door frames. These problems are not on every car but they should be checked for closely.

On the plus side the little Volkswagen does drive well. It has a more solid feel than many of its competitors and interior space is good. Minor switchgear has a reassuring quality feel about it, and if serviced correctly the engines rarely cause problems.

Buyers looking for the small car/ auto gearbox/ power steering combination will also find the Polo appealing. Both the 1.4 and 1.6 litre cars are available with a four-speed automatic box. It’s worth paying the extra £200 for the 1.6 as the 1.4’s lack of power can cause upshift problems from first to second gear.

In 2000 the VW Polo was given a facelift. While external changes were minor — larger clear-glass headlamps and deeper front spoiler — there were bigger changes under the skin. Effectively a completely new model, these cars have a wider front track, giving improved handling, a fully galvanised body and antilock braking and power-assisted steering as standard.

At the same time the engine lineup was changed and the 1.4 litre unit was boosted to 75bhp. VW also introduced a new diesel engine — the three-cylinder 1.4 TDI, also found in the Audi A2 — meaning the Polo at last had a diesel engine to rival the offerings from French rivals Peugeot and Renault. With 75bhp and bundles of torque on tap, it runs a 1.4 petrol engine Polo close on acceleration and is still capable of more than 60mpg.

VITAL STATISTICS

Model: VW Polo 1.4SE 3dr
Engine type: Four-cylinder, 1390cc
Power: 75bhp
Transmission: Five-speed manual
Fuel: 45.6mpg (combined)
Acceleration: 0-60mph: 12.3sec
Top speed: 107mph

Steering: Power-assisted steering on later models makes parking easy but lacks feel

Rear seat: Folding rear seat as standard

Safety: Post-2000 cars have four-star Euro NCAP rating thanks to a far stiffer bodyshell

Rust: Check window frames and door bottoms for rust spots

Brakes: Front discs and pads are prone to heavy wear

Gearbox: Optional four-speed auto prone to shift problems on 1.4 litre cars

Dashboard: New dials identify post-2000 cars

Engines: Avoid the feeble 1 litre petrol unit

Servicing: Low-mileage examples have often missed annual services, which can lead to engine damage

Galvanised body: Cars with the post-2000 facelift have a 12-year corrosion warranty

THE ONE TO BUY

Volkswagen Polo 1.4SE (75bhp) 3dr five-speed manual, 2000 V-reg with 40,000 miles. Pay £5,125 at a dealer, with 12-month warranty, or £4,500 privately.


OR FOR SIMILAR MONEY...

2000 W-reg Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S 3dr
2001 X-reg Skoda Fabia 1.4 Comfort A/C 5dr
2000 X-reg Vauxhall Corsa 1.4i Elegance 3dr
2001 51-reg Fiat Punto 1.2 16V HLX 5dr
2000 W-reg Peugeot 206 1.4GLX A/C 3dr



£150 more than manuals. Source: estimates based on confidential CAP black book prices. ‘Trade’ is what a dealer would pay to buy your car; ‘Retail’ is what you would pay a dealer

For more used car reviews see www.timesonline.co.uk/usedcars