Introduction

Volkswagen may have suffered severely over the diesel engine scandal around the world and chances are that its effects might trickledown to India as well. But as a buyer if you are looking for a silver lining, now may be the best time to pick a good deal on one of the older 1.2-litre diesel Polos.

Why I’d buy it

Because it would make for a great deal. You will immediately notice the difference in built quality (unless you already own a VW or Skoda) compared to the Japanese and Korean manufacturers. It is better than anything on sale in the segment, perhaps also a notch higher than most of the C-Segment sedans.

The tiny three-cylinder 1.2-litre diesel engine isn’t a plus point in terms of performance but the fuel efficiency is impressive. The long term diesel Polo that we used for a couple of months last year easily returned over 18kmpl on the highways. The ride and handling dynamics are sorted. The car feels planted and comfortable both at low city speeds and cruising at over 100kmph on the highways. Attacking the corners is so much fun as well, the Polo makes corners pretty; there is hardly any body roll and the steering is precise despite the lack of feedback.

The fit and finish of the interior is high class, all the buttons feels nice, the material used seems premium and there is a feel good factor that we attach to the premium cars.

Why I’d avoid it

The cabin may seem luxurious, but it feels lacking in terms of space. Taller passengers find it difficult to adjust on the rear bench despite the scooped out bucket seats. The features list isn’t too great either; its competitors like the Hyundai i20 and the recently launched Maruti Suzuki Baleno offer a lot more.

The engine might get full marks for efficiency, but the lack of power is evident. The engine makes just 74bhp and 180Nm; these may not be much lower than the Baleno, but the Polo is a heavier car and performance is just about amenable. Also the three-cylinder engine rattles… a lot!

My favourite version

The difference between the mid and top-end variants of the Polo in the used car market isn’t much and we will suggest looking at the Highline trim. The car comes with ABS-EBD, dual airbags, one touch up and down function for all four windows and a decent sounding music system.

Quick facts

Price: Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh

Engine: 1.2-litre three-cylinder diesel – 74bhp and 180Nm

Gearbox: five-speed manual

Fuel efficiency: 14kmpl to 19kmpl