With the Golf arguably being the quintessential hatchback, you’d be forgiven for gravitating towards it immediately when searching for a new, practical family car. However, the new Polo is bigger than ever, and might actually be plenty of car for your needs, at a lower price point. 

In this article, I’ll compare the two on all the critical features, and give you some useful information to pick between the two.

What is The Volkswagen Golf?

Introduced way back in 1974, the Golf was the German automaker's replacement for the incredibly successful “car of the people”; the Beetle. Its design brief was simple, to be as compact and efficient as possible, whilst being able to carry 4 adults and luggage. 

Since then it has remained one of the most popular car models to exist, with everyone from new drivers to families enjoying the hatchback's practicality, with the great driveability.

Since its release it has seen 8 major model changes, with the current generation, the Mk8.5 (facelifted Mk8), being launched in 2020. The main shift over time is scale, the current Golf is enormous compared to the original.

What is the Volkswagen Polo?

Capitalising on the Golf's success, VW wanted to make a smaller version, to appeal to city drivers. Their prior acquisition of Audi in the 1960s gave the VW engineers the perfect car to rebadge; the Audi 50. In 1975 they launched the VW Polo.

Since then the Polo has gone through 6 generations, with the current model, the Mk6 facelift or Mk6.5 having been in production since 2012. A new model, the Mk7, is expected to be launched this year, so if you want the latest look, hold tight for that.

Size and Dimensions

The two cars fall distinctly into two categories, Hatchback for the Golf, and Supermini for the Polo, although this could be contested with the creation of the even smaller but now discontinued VW Lupo and Up!. 

The Golf's more generous proportions are noticeable when compared side-by-side, except the height, I’ve listed the key stats below:

Interestingly, whilst the Golf is 200mm (8”) longer than the Polo, and a whopping 681kg heavier, its boot capacity is only 30L more, which when you consider the width of the boot area, will make very little difference to usable space.

Hybrid & Electric Options

Currently, the Polo is not available with any hybrid or electric options, with all engines being either solely petrol or diesel-powered. The Golf is available in the GTE version, which delivers nearly 250hp via an electric-hybrid combination.

Until 2020 the e-Golf provided an all-electric option, but this was discontinued in line with the introduction of the ID range of all-electric vehicles, the ID.3 being the Golf equivalent.

Engines and Gearboxes

Across the Golf’s range of petrol, diesel, mild hybrid and plug-in hybrid options, there is sure to be something that suits your needs. Power outputs range from an economic 115PS from the 1.5 TSI petrol to over 240 in the GTI. 

Many of these options can be paired with either a 6-speed manual or 7-speed DSG auto gearbox.

On the other hand, the Polo has a tight range of petrol engines, either a 1.0L or a 2.0L are on offer, with power outputs varying from 79hp to just over 200 - the latter from the sporty GTI model. 

Exterior Styling

Being similar-sized cars from the same brand, the Polo and Golf are very similar in their looks, with only very subtle differences in shapes and colourways of trim. The biggest difference is the proportions of both. 

Whilst the Golf has become more squat; being wide and with a relatively low roofline, the Polo actually looks quite tall. This is backed up by the numbers we saw earlier, where the Polo is only marginally lower than the Golf, but a good bit shorter.

To be sure which you prefer, seeing them side-by-side will be invaluable because the difference really is so small it's hard to spot it at first glance.

Interior Styling and Quality

Being made by Volkswagen, neither car will disappoint in the build quality department. Whilst the interior panels aren’t covered with soft, quilted leather, they are robust and without any kind of ‘flimsiness’. 

Styling-wise, in my opinion, the Golf presents a more mature, thought-out version of the Polo. Its dashboard design is similar, but more refined, with everything on a touchscreen, that although not loved by all, makes for a sleeker look. 

That’s not to say the Polo is basic or boring though, for its class it looks incredible, especially compared to something like a Fiesta.

Reliability and Warranty

Unfortunately, reliability is something that VW has been struggling with in recent years, with a certain few models at least. The Mk8 golf happens to be one of them, in Whatcar?’s recent reliability survey, the Golf placed 34 out of 37, not a good position!

The Polo fared better, landing in the middle of the table, tying with one of its rivals, the Ford Fiesta, and losing out to most others.

Volkswagen offers the same warranty plan as Skoda, in that they offer a 60,000-mile or 3-year warranty. This is great for those driving them on lease but doesn’t offer much reassurance for those buying second-hand. However, you can extend the warranty at a reasonable cost, assuming the car is serviced with Volkswagen dealer garages.

Safety

Being flagship models, both have great safety features, and both scoring 5-star ratings in their respective NCAP testing. The table below highlights some key takeaways from both models’ safety features.

Whilst both cars have high ratings across the board, the Polo excels in its adult occupancy rating. This may be down to the fact it has a Side Pelvis airbag for both the driver and passenger, in contrast to the Golf.

Cost and Value For Money

With the Golf starting at £27,760, and the Polo £21,210, there’s a significant cost incentive to pick the Polo, this will however come at a slight feature deficit. 

As standard, the Golf comes equipped with features such as a leather steering wheel, wireless phone charging and keyless start, all things the Polo does not have. Whilst there isn’t a huge amount of feature overlap, the lowest spec Polo that matches the basic Golf is R-Line, which starts at £24,550. 

The Verdict

Ultimately, the deciding factor is how you intend to use the car, whilst both offer great driving characteristics and efficiency, the Polo is better suited to around-town driving, and the Golf for longer journeys. The extra weight and wheelbase should offer a more stable platform in the Golf, meaning it is better suited to high-speed motorway work.

That said, the Polo does offer similar luggage and passenger space, along with some great features as standard. If you are looking for something compact and stylish, the Polo is a perfect choice too. 

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.