We drive the tax-free Volkswagen Polo

Model tested: Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion 2 1.4 TDi 5dr
Price as tested: £13,445
Range price: £7,612 - £15,622
Insurance group as tested: 5
Insurance group range: 3E- 12E
Date tested: September 2007
Road tester: Stuart Milne

View more pictures of the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Low emissions, great fuel economy and free road tax for some models, the Polo BlueMotion could prove to be the greenest – and most liveable – of all the envirocars.

Car makers are climbing over each other to produce the next 'must-have' piece of technology, but Volkswagen has decided there's plenty of life left in the faithful diesel engine.

So rather than bring a hybrid, fuel-cell or bio-ethanol-powered car to the market before there's the infrastructure to support them, VW has developed an ultra fuel efficient diesel engine.

And by installing it in the diminutive Polo supermini, Volkswagen has built the first diesel car to fall into the lowest tax band – which means it's exempt from road tax.

Strictly speaking, only the basic BlueMotion falls into Band A, while the better-equipped BlueMotion 2 we drove emits slightly more CO2, forcing it into the lower end of Band B.

But the good news is even that will only cost the owner £35 – hardly bank-breaking bills.

And although it’s not exempt from the congestion charge, Volkswagen is speaking with Transport for London and under the suggested sliding scale of charging, it may yet be exempt, or costing less than the current £8 a day fee.

Its exceptionally fuel efficient too. Volkswagen claim the BlueMotion 2 can cover an average of 70.6mpg, which would be easily achieved by making gentle progress. We drove it normally and still managed to clear 61.4 miles for each gallon of diesel.

But those seeking ultimate efficiency can plump for the standard BlueMotion, which can cover an average of 74.3mpg – or a staggering 88.3mpg on a steady motorway run.

And with a 45-litre fuel tank, Volkswagen says it can cover more than 700 miles on a single fill-up – the equivalent of a journey from London to John O' Groats or Calais to St Tropez without having to stop for fuel.

The secret to the Polo BlueMotion's are improved aerodynamics and some clever changes to the engine.

Volkswagen's engineers have developed a bespoke grille, lower front spoiler, and boot spoiler, while its ride height has been reduced to make it slip through the air.

It runs on 14-inch lightweight alloy wheels and its hard compound tyres reduce 'rolling resistance', which means they can turn using less energy.

Under the bonnet sits a modified version of the standard car's 1.4-litre diesel engine. It packs a new turbocharger and a diesel particulate filter to remove some of the toxins from the exhaust gases.

The engine produces 80bhp and 144lb/ft of pulling power from 1,800rpm, while the fourth and fifth gears are longer for a more relaxed cruise.

In practise, that means a 0-62mph time of 12.8 seconds and a top speed of 109mph.

On the road, the Polo BlueMotion is nippy enough around town, and can quickly settle into a motorway stride, while still returning excellent consumption figures.

The three-cylinder engine can be noisy at tickover and low speeds, but quietens down as the pace increases. Road noise is minimal and the ride is excellent – thanks to the unusually high-profile tyres.

As it’s a Polo, it comes with all the benefits which make the standard car a good one. There's plenty of space in the cabin, and a surprisingly big boot.

It gets unique upholstery which is finished in a grey/green fabric and a fair amount of equipment.

BlueMotion 1 counts ABS with electronic brakeforce distribution and brake assistance, driver, passenger and front side airbags, silver door mirrors (regardless of body colour), an MP3-compatible CD player, electric front and rear windows (on the five-door), electric door mirrors and a trip computer as standard.

Spend another £600 (and forgo the free road tax) and the BlueMotion 2 comes with semi-automatic air-con, headlights which stay on after the ignition is turned off to see you home, automatic wipers and headlights, leather steering wheel, gearknob and handbrake grip and remote central locking and alarm.

But as cheap as the car is to run, its £1,000 to £2,000 more than similarly-equipped Polos, and even more expensive than a comparable Fiesta.

However, factor in the free road tax and the staggering fuel economy it is a very appealing alternative – especially for drivers who cover lots of miles.

View more pictures of the Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion

Rivals

You might also want to consider:
Citroen C1
Citroen C2
Toyota Prius
Smart ForTwo
Mitsubishi i

Auto Trader Links

Read more car reviews
See what owners have to say about their Volkswagen Polo