Volkswagen Polo 2009–2014 car dimensions: 3970 mm long, 1682 mm wide and 1462 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,017 kg. Braked towing is 1,200 kg.
Climatic semi-automatic air conditioning is standard on mid and higher trims for steady cabin temperature. Full Climatronic automatic climate control is optional. Cruise control comes standard on BlueMotion and higher grades or as an option to hold speed on longer trips. Rear parking sensors are optional or standard on SEL for easier manoeuvres. Touchscreen radios and navigation systems are optional extras. Reversing camera is available as an option. No automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning or lane keep assist.
Boot holds 280 litres with seats up. Fold the rear seats for 952 litres of space. Good for shopping or small luggage loads.
Braked towing reaches up to 1200 kg on stronger engines, unbraked around 550 kg. Payload sits near 550 kg. Sports suspension is on GTI and some higher trims. Fine for light trailer or load work but nothing heavy-duty.
The cabin feels solid and spacious for a supermini, with improved knee and shoulder room over the prior generation. Soft-touch foamed dashboard surfaces appear from mid grades, paired with height-adjustable front seats and sport seats on higher trims. Climatic semi-automatic climate control is standard from Comfortline, with Climatronic optional. heated front seats come standard on Highline or via Winter pack. A leather three-spoke steering wheel and centre armrest feature on top grades, while green heat-insulating tinted glass is standard across the range. Storage drawers under seats and a dual cargo floor add everyday practicality.
Euro NCAP 5-star rating from 2009 test (adult 90%, child 86%).
Standard safety: dual front airbags, combined head/thorax side airbags, ABS with HBA, ESP with hill hold on most markets, ISOFIX, five head restraints and three-point belts.
Fuel tank capacity 45 litres. base 1.2 petrol combined around 5.5 l/100 km, BlueMotion diesels lower.
Service intervals: fixed every 10,000 miles or 12 months, or flexible LongLife up to 30,000 km/24 months depending on conditions and oil.
Warranties: 3-year/60,000-mile vehicle, 3-year paintwork, 12-year body perforation protection. galvanised body.
Fuel economy benefits from lighter body structure and efficient engines, with up to 20 percent improvement claimed over the previous Polo. Petrol 1.2 and 1.4 units plus TDI diesels cover the range. BlueMotion variants achieve the lowest official figures through optimised gearing, aerodynamics and stop-start. Real-world use stays economical for a five-seater supermini.
Servicing follows fixed or flexible schedules. Fixed suits short trips and high loads at set 10,000-mile or yearly intervals. Flexible LongLife uses oil quality sensors for longer gaps when driving is gentle and steady. Oil changes, filters and brake fluid checks form the core work.
Safety centres on a rigid cell with crumple zones and reduced intrusion in crashes. ESP, ABS and multiple airbags are standard or near-standard. the 2009 Euro NCAP five-star result confirms strong adult and child protection. Isofix anchors and whiplash-optimised head restraints complete the kit.
Keeping the car is straightforward thanks to the fully galvanised body and long corrosion warranty. Regular servicing keeps it reliable. higher grades add comfort items that hold value. The compact size and efficient engines make daily ownership simple and low-cost.
Length 3970 mm, Width 1682 mm, Height 1462 mm, Wheelbase 2470 mm (Polo 2009–2014)
Sources: manufacturer data, VW press kit and 2009 UK brochure, auto-data.net and VW owner's manual.