POLO MK5

About the Polo Mk5

VW took the Polo upmarket with the Mk5 and the result was a supermini that felt like a shrunken Golf. MQB-A0 platform, 1.2 TSI turbo making 90 or 110 hp depending on tune, and a chassis that handled better than the price suggested. The GTI version got the 1.8 TSI at 192 hp, proper hot hatch territory in a car you could park anywhere. Interior quality was the story. Soft-touch dash, tight panel gaps, a steering wheel that felt right in your hands. The infotainment aged poorly but the driving experience didn't. Ride quality was firm without being punishing. The Polo Mk5 sold to people who wanted a Golf but didn't need the space, and VW made sure they didn't feel like they'd compromised.