Used Volkswagen Polo (2010-2018)

Despite being replaced by an all-new model at the beginning of 2018, the Volkswagen Polo remains a class-leading supermini.

That's mainly because it looks and feels like a mini version of the Volkswagen Golf and drives with a level of comfort and quietness that's close to the larger car.

It's the same story inside, with a mini-version of the Golf's dashboard touchscreen that has digital radio and Bluetooth, for connecting a phone wirelessly, as standard across the range.

The Polo is efficient and won't plummet in value the moment that you drive away because it's a popular choice of second-hand car. So although it cost more many other superminis when new, its higher used value, helps keep the cost of owning or financing the car competitive.

You may find that it's all the car you'll need because there's space for two adults to sit comfortably in the back. It's only when you get to the very back that the Polo shows a weakness: the 280-litre boot is around 30 litres smaller than the average brand new supermini. The car does come with a good amount of internal storage, though, with large door bins, cupholders and a large, well-sized glovebox which also houses the CD player. We've listed the full VW Polo dimensions separately.

So far, so good - and sensible. The Polo is a car that you buy with your head, because it doesn't really excite the heart. It's got none of the design flair that you'll find in a Mini Hatchback, Citroen C3 or Mazda 2.

It also feels steady,  safe and smooth on the road, like a Citroen C3 and Skoda Fabia, rather than agile and nimble like the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, Mazda and Mini.

The car's imminent replacement, means that Volkswagen Polo deals are extremely competitive, all the way up to the top-of-the range GTI version, which has a powerful engine for a sportier feel. The rest of the engines are mainly designed for fuel economy, starting with the 1-litre, 60 horsepower engine, which is cheapest and economical but slow if you drive out of town.

You can get more powerful 1-litre engines, which are much better for motorway journeys: it pays to ensure that you're buying the car with the correct motor for you.

The Polo was crash tested in 2009, just before going on sale for the first time, and received a five-star score from the independent Euro NCAP organisation. It's got plenty of safety equipment as standard, including two sets of Isofix mounts for securely ataching a child seat in the back, brakes that will automatically be applied after a crash to stop the car from skidding, and airbags front and side airbags for the driver and passenger.

However, the current Euro NCAP tests have become considerably harder, so it's not known how the Polo compares with alternatives, such as the spacious Honda Jazz, Citroen C3, Hyundai i20 and Mazda 2, which received four or five stars more recently.