How reliable is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0?

How reliable is the Volkswagen Polo 1.0-litre petrol? Cost running this basic car?

Erwin Meurs

May 2013 Filed under: reliability

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Expert answer

Hi Erwin,

Ignition coil packs and excessive oil consumption on higher-mileage cars seem to be the only major faults, but then again basic Polos were so stingily equipped that there's nothing much to go wrong. Watch for engine wear though - it's an underpowered car and you need to rev the nuts off it to get any decent performance, with consequent wear and tear issues. 

Keep it in town, at low speeds, where it was designed to work, and it should be cheap to run, with very cheap insurance too.

Neil Briscoe - Complete Car Adviser
@neilmbriscoe