another week, another new supermini – but as you can read in our first verdict on the current generation of Volkswagen Polo overleaf, these are undoubtedly great times if you’re in the market for something smaller than a Golf or an Astra.
Senior reviewer Sam Naylor reckons the Mk6 Polo is arguably the most grown-up automobile in the class – but it is incredible how mature lots of of its rivals have become in their most current incarnations, too. The Polo is the third big arrival in this category in the past six months and the others – our award-winning SEAT Ibiza and the recently revamped Ford Fiesta – really deliver a ‘big car’ experience. We can’t wait to test all three in the UK.
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It’s easy to see why top superminis now have a lot more appeal than ever for buyers. They’ve grown ever so slightly, and feature better packaging than before, so for lots of they’re functional enough to be everyday family transport.
Then there’s the on-board tech, which is a match for lots of larger, a lot more expensive models’ (and the connectivity of Android automobile and Apple CarPlay narrows the gap even more). Euro NCAP crash tests indicate they don’t want for safety equipment, either.
Running costs are key, too, with small petrol engines that are a lot more comfortable in a supermini than they are in larger vehicles, giving them a better chance of delivering strong real-world economy.
Small wonder that lots of brands report that the trend for downsizing is continuing. car buyers have rarely been so focused on the bottom line, but cars such as the Polo, Fiesta and Ibiza show that there have never been so lots of ways of enjoying inexpensive family motoring with no significant compromise on space, technology, safety and comfort.
Which is your champion out of the new Ford Fiesta, VW Polo and SEAT Ibiza? let us know in the comments below…