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The History of the Volkswagen Polo

The evolution of the Polo is a fascinating coming-of-age story, spanning more than 40 years. Read on to find out how seven generations of Polo have been reimagined, remodelled and rebadged from some rather surprising car brands.

The History of the Volkswagen Polo

Abi Tordoff

Published: 18 November 2022

Updated: 18 November 2022

Read time: 5 minutes

Often considered the little brother of the Golf, the Volkswagen Polo has done a bit of growing up recently. It’s longer and wider than ever, with an increased wheel base, which means even more headroom and legroom for driver and passengers.

The evolution of the Polo is a fascinating coming-of-age story, spanning more than 40 years. Read on to find out how seven generations of Polo have been reimagined, remodelled and rebadged from some rather surprising car brands. 

Polo Mk1: 1975-1981

The first Polo was unveiled in 1975, shortly after the successful launch of the Mark I Golf. With a wheelbase of 2,335 mm, it was smaller than today’s Volkswagen up! The first generation, which sold 500,000 cars worldwide, was known as the Volkswagen Derby and shared the design of the Audi 50. 

Despite the similarities, the Derby was cheaper than its Audi sibling, which was withdrawn in 1978. The Derby had a face-lift in 1979, when it was given plastic bumpers, a new front grille and dashboard, resulting in a vehicle similar to the Volkswagen Jetta. 

Polo Mk2: 1981-1994

The Polo Mk2 continued the success of the original model while featuring new body styles, a wider range of engines and a more premium feeling interior. The Polo Mk2 also brought about the iconic steep rear window, giving that classic ‘wagon’ shape.

One million Polos had been produced by 1983 and three years later, this figure had doubled, a popularity which has helped the Polo outlive rivals such as the Austin Metro and the Fiat Uno.  

Polo Mk3: 1994-2001

This was a completely new model the body, chassis and engine were all completely new and for the first time you could now have a Polo with five doors and as an estate. It shared its platform with the SEAT Ibiza and the floorplan was based on that of the Volkswagen Golf.

The Polo III also saw the first GTI version. A facelift in 2000 gave it breakthrough technologies for its class such as sat-nav and xenon headlights. The Volkswagen Caddy van shared the same platform and front style edging.

Polo Mk4: 2001-2009

The new Millennium saw the Polo continue to share its platform with the SEAT Ibiza, as well as the Škoda Fabia. Design-wise, it bore structural resemblance to the Volkswagen Golf, the taillights resembled the Volkswagen Passat, and the use of quad round headlights was similar to the Volkswagen Lupo.

It has a versatile engine range from a 1.2 litre three cylinder petrol to a 1.9 litre TDI. The GTI models took things one step further with a turbocharged 1.8 litre engine producing 150PS.

Polo Mk5: 2009-2017

The fifth generation Polo was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 2009. It continued to make its mark on the international stage throughout 2010, with accolades including European Car of the Year and World Car of the Year.

These impressive awards are hardly surprising considering this Polo was longer, wider and 7.5% lighter than its predecessor. The clean lines and angles gave the small car a functional, yet sporty look and it continued to mature with technologies including a seven-speed DSG gearbox and touchscreen sat nav.

Polo Mk 6: 2017-2021

Since 2017, the Polo has continued to improve cabin space, engines and interior technology. VW’s supermini now comes with a range of 1.0-litre 3-cylinder engines and a 2.0-litre GTI. Customisable with a huge amount of paint colours and interior trims, this little car has matured into an impressive specimen.  

The new Polo’s big-car feel, along with its unwavering reputation for reliability and safety, mean it’s the ideal choice for a first car or for transporting a family in comfort. As one of the best-selling hatchbacks over the last four decades, this perfect blend of design and function can only mean that the Polo’s popularity will continue for a long time to come. 

Polo Mk 7: 2021-Present

Continuing from Polo VI the new facelift incorporates more innovations, digitalisation and fresher design cues than ever before.

Breakthrough technologies for the class such as the IQ.LIGHT matrix LED headlights and IQ.DRIVE Travel Assist set the new Polo firmly as the class leader with features usually reserved for far larger and more expensive vehicles. The styling is more expressive than ever with a signature LED front light bar, animated indicator lights, a refreshed front and rear bumper design, a newly designed interior and four new exterior colours.

With more than 18 million units already sold across the globe, the Polo is one of the most successful vehicles of its kind and it looks to continue this success into the future.

Check out our current Volkswagen Polo stock.

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Representative finance example: Personal Contract Purchase (PCP)

Representative APR%
9.90% APR 		 First Payment
£249.71		 46 Monthly
payments of
£249.71		 Optional final
payment
£9,090.00		 On the road
price
£20,000.00		 Term of
agreement
48 months		 Customer deposit
£4,000.00
Amount of credit
£16,000.00		 Cost of credit
£4,826.37		 Annual mileage
5,000		 Excess mileage
8.4p		 Total amount
payable
£24,836.37		 Fixed rate of
interest
9.90%