From the driver’s point of view, the interior of the Polo not only looks and feels good, but it’s highly functional too.

The seat adjusts in a variety of ways – depending on the model you specify – and the steering wheel height and reach can be adapted to suit the driver.

On the dash the instruments are clear and a central black and white LCD display gives an at-a-glance view of mpg, outside temperature, average speed and other trip computer details.

Interior styling is fuss-free and elegant – with many of the switches and dials being carried across from the larger and more expensive Golf.

Buyers can also choose between light and dark interior colours.

Visibility is excellent – the wide glass areas give a great view for three-point turns and parking manoeuvres.

A first for the Polo is a built-in sat nav system. It’s been worth the wait, as this compact system is accurate, easy-to-use and has a built-in SD card reader for MP3 files.

Volkswagen Polo comfort levels are good. It will seat four adults comfortably or, alternatively, two adults up front with three children in the back.

Legroom is impressive for this size of car and there’s a generous amount of shoulder and head room.

What will impress most passengers on the move is what isn’t there – noise. The Polo is an extremely quiet car. Engine on and stationary, it can barely be heard ticking over, while on the move road and wind noise is well suppressed, even at motorway speeds.

Every detail of the Polo oozes quality, from the top-end feel of the dashboard, to the high-quality upholstery used for the rear seats. It’s even evident in the excellent ride that deals with lumps and bumps in the road surface in a manner that you might expect from a much larger car.