Volkswagen Polo Mk4 Review (2002-2009)

What is the Volkswagen Polo Mk4?

A used Volkswagen Polo may not be a bargain basement buy, but it compensates with an upmarket image, solid build quality, good reliability and a practical cabin.

This is the Mk4 Polo, known by the code name 9N. It was sold between 2002 and 2009 and served as a rival to the likes of the Ford Fiesta, the Vauxhall Corsa and the Skoda Fabia. It's usually possible to pick up any of the three aforementioned models for less cash, because they didn't hold their value as well as the Volkswagen, but enough time has passed that prices for this generation of Polo to drop to very affordable levels.

The Mk5 Polo took over in 2009, and prices for that model are much stronger.

How practical is it?

Inside, the Volkswagen Polo Mk4 hatchback is solidly made and there's plenty of room in the front. The steering wheel adjusts for height and reach, so it's simple enough to find a comfortable driving position.

What really made it stand out over rivals was the level of fit and finish, which helped to give it the feel of a car from the class above. Admittedly, by today’s standards a Mk4 Polo will be feeling its age, but for the time it was a remarkably grown-up little car.

Rear-seat space is acceptable for a supermini, which is to say you can just about fit a couple of adults or children in car seats without complaint. Carrying three in the back seats is going to be a squeeze, however. The 270-litre boot, meanwhile, can easily cope with a weekly shop, and cargo space extends to 1,030 litres with the seats folded flat.

What’s it like to drive?

The Volkswagen Polo Mk4 was offered with a broad choice of petrol and diesel engines. The most affordable petrols are the early three-cylinder 1.2-litre units with either 54bhp or 64bhp. A facelift in mid-2005 saw the power outputs upgraded to 59bhp and 69bhp. Those aren't big numbers, but these three-cylinder engines are surprisingly willing. The other petrol engines were a 1.4-litre with 74bhp (79bhp after the facelift) and a 1.4-litre 16-valve engine with 99bhp, along with a 1.6-litre with 104bhp.

A Polo GTI joined the range in 2006, but Volkswagen rather pulled its punches, giving the Polo a 1.8-litre turbo with 148bhp at a time when rivals like the Renaultsport Clio were packing just under 200bhp. It looks the part on its 16-inch alloy wheels, but with its stiff ride and brisk rather than rapid performance, the Volkswagen Polo GTI rather falls between two stools.

Diesels include an achingly slow 1.9-litre SDI with a bhp figure of just 63. There's a lot more going on beneath the bonnet if you opt for a 1.9 TDI with either 99bhp or 128bhp. The latter was fitted to the Polo GT, and is almost as quick as the GTI in real-world driving but with far better fuel economy. This same engine was used in the much larger Passat, so it's overkill in a car as small and light as the Polo. However, these are rather noisy engines, so be prepared to crank up the radio to mask the diesel din.

Remember the days when diesel was thought of as the 'green' choice? Well, the 'greenest' VW Polo mk4 was the Bluemotion, which achieved official carbon dioxide emissions of 99g/km and a combined mpg of 74. Narrow, low-rolling resistance tyres contributed to the Bluemotion's ability to stretch a gallon further than any other Polo, but offer modest cornering grip.

Aside from the stiff-riding GTI, the Polo mk4 has soft and forgiving suspension that allows the Volkswagen to cope well with our imperfect roads. However, the flip side to this comfort-first approach is lots of roll in corners – this is not a car that likes to be rushed. If you want a nimble supermini that feels taut and lively a Ford Fiesta will suit you better.

Technology and equipment

By the standards of the day, the Polo mk4 was a safe car. All versions had anti-lock brakes and driver and passenger airbags at the very least.

When the Polo was a new car in 2002, it was tested by safety organisation Euro NCAP, and scored four stars out of five for adult occupant protection but just one star out of four for pedestrian protection.

However, in terms of equipment entry-level models are very basic. For example, choose S trim and you'll do without air conditioning, unless the original owner added it as an option.

Volkswagen Polo Mk4 running costs

Clearly, the Bluemotion offers the best fuel economy. A miserly carbon dioxide output of 99g/km means there's no Vehicle Excise Duty to pay either. Just be aware that the better equipped Bluemotion 2, which came with air conditioning, has slightly higher emissions and doesn't dodge VED. Mind you, we'd rather pay the £20 a year and have air con.

Other diesel versions are also inexpensive to fuel and run. The regular 1.4 TDI doesn't hit the eco heights of the Bluemotion, but real-world economy of better than 50mpg is still achievable. The 1.9 SDI is capable of similarly impressive economy, although it's considerably slower. The punchier 1.9 TDI engines can also beat 50mpg if you don't drive too hard.

Although not as economical as the diesel models, the petrols are by no means thirsty. Reckon on 40-43mpg in normal driving for the 1.2 and 1.4 engines. Unsurprisingly, the GTI drinks fuel quicker than other Polo models, but can still return an mpg figure in the high 30s.

If you want to keep a tight lid on insurance costs, the 1.2 petrols are a good bet. These cars sit in insurance group 3-5 depending on the specification, which makes them a good choice for a newly qualified driver.

The 1.9 SDI is also affordable to insure, sitting in group 5. The more powerful 1.4-litre diesels are in group 11, as is the 99bhp 1.4-litre petrol. The top-spec diesel, the GT, sits in group 17. The petrol GTI will be the most expensive to insure, as it's in group 26.

Servicing is needed every 10,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first. Major and minor services alternate, with the major service costing around double the price of a minor one. Expect to pay just over £350 for a major service at a franchised dealer, less if you have the car serviced at an independent garage. Cambelt and tensioner changes are needed every four years, which pushes up the price of servicing considerably. Check when this is next due on any car you are thinking of buying – if it's coming up use this to help haggle a discount on the asking price.

Volkswagen Polo Mk4 reliability

In most respects the Polo mk4 is a reliable used car. There are some problems to be aware of, however.

If the timing belt snaps the engine can be ruined, so avoid any car which hasn't had the belt replaced at the correct intervals. This suggests the owner has been willing to cut corners to save money in the short-term, while risking a much bigger bill in the long run.

Some owners report that the 1.4-litre petrol engine is prone to bore wear. If the car starts getting through a lot of oil without any obvious sign of a leak, bore wear could be the culprit.

The electric windows sometimes go on the blink, so be sure to check they are working, and check the sills and wheel arches for signs of rust. If the engine cuts out when coming to a stop, it could be that the throttle body needs a good clean.

Believe it or not, some Polos made in 2006/07 were recalled because their seats could catch fire. This was due to an incorrectly sewn-in tension wire strap in the backrest cover of the front seats coming into contact with the filaments of the seat heater. The problem was solved by having the wires insulated.

As with any used car, once you have your eye on a particular Polo mk4 we'd recommend putting the reg number into the recall checker on the gov.uk website to confirm if any outstanding recall work is required.