2010 Volkswagen Polo

For city driving and at low speeds the Polo has an almost-perfect set-up. The relatively pliant set-up of the springs and dampers allows the Polo’s light body to skip over poor bits of road without the suspension crashing through, and bump absorption is relatively silent as well. A bit of road noise filters through but that’s only over abrasive tarmac and sharp bumps. There is also some vertical movement from the long-travel suspension over rough and undulating surfaces but the generous ground clearance allows the Polo to tackle most surfaces with aplomb. On the whole, the Polo rides brilliantly and ride comfort, especially at low speeds, is its forte. The steering is also well suited to city traffic. It’s arcade game light, you can literally twirl it with a single finger and that’s perfect for doing the samba in choked streets.

The soft set-up does, however, mean that there is a bit of roll when you corner hard and the Polo understeers strongly at the limit. However, for normal driving, there is plenty of grip from the very impressive 185/60 R15 Apollo Aceleres. Enthusiasts will, however, be disappointed with the Polo’s electric steering which, though accurate, is devoid of feel and doesn’t weight up in a linear fashion. The brakes are superb and the Polo stops very effectively from high speeds and despite some constant and aggressive use of the centre pedal, there were no signs of fade.