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10 best alternatives to the Volkswagen Polo

May 27, 2022 by

The Volkswagen Polo is an excellent supermini. It’s practical, comfortable and economical while also being well built and well equipped.

However, it’s not the only option on the market if you’re after a city runaround with space for the family. With this in mind, read on for the 10 best alternatives to the Volkswagen Polo.

Our pick of the 10 best Volkswagen Polo alternatives are:

  1. Ford Fiesta
  2. Vauxhall Corsa
  3. Skoda Fabia
  4. Peugeot 208
  5. Renault Clio
  6. Seat Ibiza
  7. Mini 5-door Hatch
  8. Dacia Sandero
  9. Hyundai i20
  10. Toyota Yaris Hybrid

1. Ford Fiesta

  • Recommended trim: Titanium
  • Recommended engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £18,655*
  • Average carwow saving: £1,727*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

There are few small cars which offer driver enjoyment quite like the Ford Fiesta, and being fun on twisty roads isn’t all it can do. It’s comfortable for daily use, and the 1.0-litre turbo petrol engines offer a great blend of performance and economy.

The only real fly in the ointment is the practicality; as the fiesta offers less boot and rear passenger space than some alternatives. It makes up for this though by being generously equipped and great value for money.

2. Vauxhall Corsa

  • Recommended trim: Ultimate
  • Recommended engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £17,340*
  • Average carwow saving: £1,733*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the best-selling superminis in the UK, and it’s easy to see why. It represents great value for money with generous equipment levels and a wide range of engine choices, including a fully-electric version.

It’s a smart-looking car as well, if not that exciting, and the interior quality is decent for a car of this size. The infotainment system could be easier to navigate, but the rest if the cabin is easy to operate.

3. Skoda Fabia

  • Recommended trim: SE L
  • Recommended engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £17,800*
  • Average carwow saving: £1,042*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

If you’re after a car which does everything the Volkswagen Polo can, but in a cheaper package, the Skoda Fabia could be right for you. It offers the same blend of equipment, practicality and build quality as its’ stablemate, just with a lower price tag.

Ok, so the cabin materials aren’t quite up there with the Polo’s, and it’s not the most exciting car to drive, but the Fabia is a smart looking thing and it’s comfortable for daily use.

4. Peugeot 208

  • Recommended trim: Allure Premium
  • Recommended engine: 1.2-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £19,080*
  • Average carwow saving: £2,092*
  • Wowscore: 9/10

The Peugeot 208 could be a perfect match for anyone who’s tempted by the Vauxhall Corsa, but wants something with a bit more flair. You wouldn’t guess from the design that they’re the same car underneath, with the Peugeot looking much more striking.

This theme continues on the inside as well with the Peugeot i-Cockpit dashboard and small steering wheel. You’ll want to test drive the 208 before buying though, as this unique driving position won’t work for everyone.

5. Renault Clio

  • Recommended trim: RS Line
  • Recommended Engine: 1.6-litre hybrid
  • Starting price: £18,795*
  • Average carwow saving: £2,647*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

You could be forgiven for thinking the Renault Clio is a car from the class above if you judge it on interior quality. The materials are almost all soft touch and everything feels so well screwed together.

Standard equipment is generous as well. Granted, some alternatives are more comfortable and more fun to drive, but the Clio can best most of those in the practicality stakes thanks to its huge boot.

6. Seat Ibiza

  • Recommended trim: SE
  • Recommended engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £17,755*
  • Average carwow saving: £1,406*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

If style is your thing, the Seat Ibiza certainly has it. Based on the Volkswagen Polo, it has a bit more Spanish pzazz while still offering a great all-round driving experience. The engines are good as well, so long as you avoid the entry-level 1.0-litre model.

The cabin has a nice design to it, albeit material quality isn’t the best. Equipment is generous across the range though, and the Ibiza is comfortable on long journeys.

7. Mini 5-door Hatch

  • Recommended trim: Cooper Exclusive
  • Recommended engine: 1.5-litre petrol
  • Starting price: £23,225*
  • Average carwow saving: £973*
  • Wowscore: 8/10

No car is as instantly recognisable on UK roads as the Mini, and now you can get it with the added practicality of rear doors. If driving pleasure is high up on your wishlist, the Mini offers this in spades, and it’s good to look at as well.

Despite the rear doors, it’s still not quite as spacious as something like a Volkswagen Polo for carrying rear passengers or luggage. You can forgive this though as the interior is such a cool place to sit.

8. Dacia Sandero

  • Recommended trim: Comfort
  • Recommended engine: 1.0-litre turbo petrol
  • Starting price: £12,295*
  • Average carwow saving: £259*
  • Wowscore: 9/10

Sometimes, all you want is a no-nonsense car to get you from A to B in comfort. Enter the Dacia Sandero. It’s tough to beat in terms of value for money, as you get tech such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote central locking and air conditioning for such a low price.

The interior is spacious and practical as well, with plenty of room for passengers and their luggage. Don’t expect it to be fun to drive, but you can expect a surprising amount of comfort from this small car.

9. Hyundai i20

  • Recommended trim: SE Connect
  • Recommended engine: 1.0-litre petrol mild-hybrid
  • Starting price: £19,035*
  • Average carwow saving: £1,391*
  • Wowscore: 6/10

The Hyundai i20 is a very easy car to live with thanks to its cabin practicality, relaxed driving dynamics and intuitive technology. The infotainment system in particular is very easy to use and you get Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

It can feel quite firm over bumps in the road, and it would be nice to have more than one engine option, but the i20 still offers good value for money when you consider how much you get for your cash.

10. Toyota Yaris Hybrid

  • Recommended trim: Icon
  • Recommended engine: 1.5-litre hybrid
  • Starting price: £21,080*
  • Average carwow saving: £2,140*
  • Wowscore: 7/10

The Toyota Yaris offers great economy from its hybrid engine, but it can do more for you than just save cash at the petrol pumps. It’s surprisingly fun to drive for a car like this, and it feels like it’s built to last.

There are better cars when it comes to boot space, and the Yaris can be a bit noisy under acceleration, but equipment levels are generous across the range and it’s a good looking car as well.

Change cars online with carwow

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*Prices correct at the time of writing.