I have to say that Volkswagen’s Polo hatchback has always been a cut above in the light car class – however its higher pricing has always meant it was never going to be the best seller in its class – however this small five-door hatch has always had a high degree of refinement. I’ve just driven the new premium VW Polo Style at $24,990 – this is $2,200 dearer to the Polo Comfortline however VW claim it has additional equipment to the tune of $4,000. First up, a big plus for me was the 1.0-litre turbo three-cylinder petrol engine – I’ve raved about three-cylinder engines before but this is a cracker driving through a a seven-speed DSG automatic – in a nutshell the performance is strong, smooth and polished  – the DSG shifting smooth on the run but as always with DSG gearboxes it can be a little hesitant and indecisive from rest.

Features abound in the Polo Style, dual zone climate control air, premium sound, an 8-inch navigation system, wireless phone charging, a rear-view camera, driver fatigue detection, apple car play and android auto, rain sensing wipers and automatic headlight function. As I said there’s a lot to like in the Polo Style but its not inexpensive and the price pushes into larger VW Golf territory. What stood out for me was the polish in the way it drives and its exceptional ride quality. Warranty, 5 years unlimited kilometre.

I’m David Berthon

Click PLAY to listen!

Download this podcast here