Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2010 | Page 96

life

LOCAL BUSINESS

February/March 2010

The Polo, thinking your
thoughts
pleasure in itself: it responds neatly and
positively, reacting to quick changes with
understated efficiency. Every bend, every
corner is performed with unwavering
accuracy. Volkswagen puts its ultra
smooth ride in the diesel engine down to
its ‘common rail’ technology, which also
accounts for its fuel efficiency and low
Co2 emissions. This car has class.
It is only when it pulls that you are
reminded by its engine whine that it is
actually a small car.
There is a choice of powerful engines:
the 1.2 litre and 1.4 litre petrol and two
1.6 litre TDI diesel engines. Taking the
1.2 SE 70PS 5D round the Island was
remarkable for its smooth ride, despite
You know that terribly efficient woman

brain cells from the job in hand, especially

the snow’s best efforts to further ruin the

in the office? Who seems to think

with the intelligently placed steering

roads.

your thoughts before you do? Who is

wheel buttons.

punctiliously smart without making too

Seats are firm: those Germans like a

bold a statement? Well if she were a car,

firm seat. And they like their cup holders:

she would be the new Volkswagen Polo.

the one in the back is a pen holder

Now there are some people who will still
commiserate with you when you say you
are taking out a Polo, and indeed it used

But then you’d expect that from a car
which takes efficiency this seriously.
Test drive the new Polo at Esplanade,

masquerading as a cup, which seems to

Medina Avenue, Newport, PO30 1HG. Tel:

make sense.

01983 523232 www.esplanade.co.uk

Then there is the drive. The ride is quiet:

to be the poor relation of the VW world.

the brakes are surprisingly powerful. The

It didn’t have the class of the Golf or,

small, chrome 5-speed gear lever is a

come to that, any of the quirky legacy of
the Beetle. But it’s actually time to think
again.
It has the neatness of a small car with
the presence of something grander.
The doors clunk satisfactorily; the
dash is unfussy, its clear round dials
with just that touch of retro hint at its
legacy. The chrome trim is striking for
its simplicity. All the accoutrements like
the CD slot, AUX-in socket for ipods
and phones – are there, but don’t
retract from its timeless feel. The radio
cum MP3 player is clear, neat and easy
to operate without distracting many
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