Quick Spin
What Is It?
Simply one of the most efficient five-seaters on the market today. The Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion (BlueMotion is VW’s term for its line of hyper-frugal diesel vehicles) is designed to be mass-market compatible, unlike most fuel misers. Indeed, until recently, the typical efficient car—especially in Europe, where this Polo is sold—has been the very definition of a penalty box, with little in the way of luxuries and barely more horsepower than an Amish buggy. This Polo is comfortable and at least has enough power to merge into traffic safely.
How Does It Drive?
The Polo BlueMotion is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder turbo-diesel derived from the 1.6-liter TDI four-cylinder available in the Golf BlueMotion and Passat BlueMotion models. It's equipped with a stop/start system that turns off the engine when stopped and restarts it when the driver requests movement. Revs at idle are reduced, and regenerative braking recuperates wasted energy when coasting or decelerating. Helping with efficiency, the Polo BlueMotion incorporates a lot of weight-saving technology and comes in at about 2400 pounds. That's considered lightweight these days.
The tiny engine gets a bit harsh when you follow the gearshift indicator slavishly. Just when you think the engine has reached happy rev levels, it suggests you upshift. VW insists the engine doesn't mind, but it does feel—and sound—a bit strange to shift the five-speed manual into top gear at 30 mph.
With 75 hp available at 4000 rpm, the Polo BlueMotion is no racer, but there are 133 lb-ft of torque on tap at 2000 rpm. Top speed is an ungoverned 107 mph, and VW claims a 0-to-62-mph run of 13.6 seconds. What’s perhaps best, however, is how little money is spent at the pump. In the European cycle, the Polo BlueMotion is rated at a combined 71 mpg. After spending considerable time behind the wheel, we can confirm these numbers are pretty accurate in the real world. A six-speed manual would make the car even more efficient on actual roads, of course, but the five-speed is a better match for the European fuel-economy procedures, which won’t allow shifting past fifth during certain parts of the cycle.
How Does It Stack Up?
If fuel consumption were the decisive criterion, nothing could come close to this VW—including politically correct hybrids such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius, which are EPA city/highway rated at 40/43 mpg and 51/48 mpg, respectively. Europeans might consider the Polo's larger sister models, the Golf and Passat BlueMotion, both of which are powered by a 104-hp, 1.6-liter turbo-diesel and are rated at a respective combined 62 mpg and 53 mpg in the European cycle. Both can reach a top speed of about 120 mph.
Where Can I Get One?
Not here, at least not yet. The U.S. will likely get the Polo at some point, probably as a four-door sedan, but it's not clear whether the BlueMotion model will be included in the lineup. In the meantime, consider a Volkswagen Golf TDI if European flavor and lofty fuel economy are on your shopping list. Pricing has yet to be finalized, but the Polo BlueMotion won’t be much more than a regular Polo TDI, which starts at €14,800 in Germany, or the equivalent of about $22,000. The BlueMotion trim includes lighter alloy wheels, low-rolling-resistance tires, fog lights, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and an aerodynamic body kit. Oh, and quirky light-blue seats. It is called BlueMotion, after all.
