Mk8 Polo

Volkswagen upped the size of its Polo light car for the eight-generation, in an attempt to bridge the gap between its light and small car rivals.

Specifically, the car was 81mm longer, 69mm wider and has a 78mm extended wheelbase compared with before, and features a boot capacity of 351 litres – 71L more than before.

The car launched in March 2018 with two full-time variants, 70TSI Trendline and 85TSI Comfortline, which were both powered by a new turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine.

Standard equipment on the entry-level Trendline included 15-inch steel wheels, multi-function instrumentation display, leather multifunction steering wheel, 8.0-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Bluetooth connectivity, two USB ports, air-conditioning, heated and electrically adjustable side mirrors, power windows and a six-speaker sound system.

Stepping up to the 85TSI brought customers 15-inch alloy wheels, automatic headlights and wipers, auto-dimming rearview mirror, front centre armrest and comfort cloth upholstery.

Volkswagen added the flagship GTI and limited-edition Beats variants to its Polo range in August 2018, with the former packing a 147kW/320Nm 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, while the latter appealed to audiophiles with its upgraded Beats by Dre sound system.