Polo vs Fiesta

[Klin42]

I am currently holidaying in Majorca where there are just loads of new Polos, nearly all white renters I would guess. However I have on rent a new style Fiesta. MmmmI I have to say I am very impressed, it’s very quiet has a willing engine and a creamy smooth ride. Looks wise the interior is not in the Polo class and I can’t say I like the look of the front much but as an all round package it is very good and has a lot of the big car feel about it. I am just hoping that the SEL I have on order is going to feel as good! Has anybody test driven both cars?

[mike sel]

Hi Friend of mine has the new fiesta 125hp out of a 1l engine. Unbelievable! its nippy alright quite a lot of fun to drive, Im not sure about the inside of it though. its not as comfortable as the Polo and in the polo you can hear a pin drop at 50mph. bit more noise in the fiesta. One thing for me, its about the overall length to be able to park it at my home (particular parking space length to not exceed) to be honest both cars fit that criteria. Pennies within reason don't bother me, so im not restricted by the price difference between these two.

I do 14k miles a year, I average a little over 30MHP (I bet no one even in a lambo achieves much more on UK roads over the course of say one year. so divide 14000 by 30MPH and you have 466 hours spent in my car a year assuming im in it for no ore then say 3 hours a day that's just over 155 days spent in my car driving. So it wants to be the nicest place to be as well as the safest. that's why the New Polo wins out. its modern larger than the old polo plusher than all the competition for this class of car and to be truthful its plusher than many cars in the segment above it. So for me I value the feel inside the car. go on then I admit it, im like a 12 year old and a huge sucker for the Digi cockpit....im like a star struck teanager when it comes to the bling the Digi cockpit brings into my life.

one other thin about the fiesta that does not work for me, its the ugly lump of a infomat system sticking out of the dash, it just does not do anything for me and the one in the VW polo does not just look more grown up it is a lot better and easier to use IMHO

[Leif]

I’ve only driven the older Fiestas from 7 years ago - hated them - but I echo the comments on the Polo. It is spacious in front, has a huge boot, loads of room in the back, it’s really comfy to drive, the ride and noise proofing are good and the infotainment system is really good with a huge LCD display and good sound. The general feel is indeed plush. I was in a BMW 4 Series recently, and although it had some aluminium panels on the dash, it didn’t feel noticeably better. In fact parts of the dash creaked when pushed. In my view the Polo is on a par with the Beamer. And I happen to like the very Germanic design where form follows function: the tail should not wag the dog.

[SRGTD]

I’m not currently in the market to change my existing 2016 Polo GTI with either a new Polo GTI or the Fiesta equivalent - the ST (I probably will be in a couple of years time though). However, if I was looking to change now and the choices were Polo GTI(+) or Fiesta ST, it’d almost certainly be the Polo GTI(+) for me;

• the looks of a car are very subjective, but I think both the outgoing and new Fiesta are quite ugly. I don’t like the droopy ‘fish face’ front end or the way the headlights seem to almost sweep up to the bottom corners of the windscreen. The rear of the new Fiesta IMO looks like a mini people carrier. On the other hand, I think the Polo looks more classy and grown up

• agree with mike sel on the Fiesta’s infotainment screen - horrible and looks like an afterthought; not nicely integrated into the fascia like the Polo’s. Ford have tried to move the Fiesta more upmarket, and apart from the infotainment screen, I think they’ve done quite a good job. However, IMO it’s certainly no better than the Polo

• the Fiesta will no doubt drive nicely, with (probably) class leading handling, but one of the YouTube videos I recently watched of the Fiesta ST, the reviewer said the Fiesta ST would make a better track day car than the Polo GTI, but the Polo would be the better all rounder for daily use

• the doors and tailgate on the new Polo shut with a reassuringly solid ‘clunk’. I’ve not tried the ‘clunk’ test on the new Fiesta, but my neighbour has an outgoing model Fiesta, and compared to my 2016 Polo, his Fiesta fails the solid ‘clunk’ test, and sounds quite tinny. Maybe the new model is better?

• the new Polo is more practical - offers more boot space than the new Fiesta, and more even than the Ford Focus from the class above!

• the new Polo is expected to have lower depreciation than the new Fiesta; after 3 years - 43.6% retained value (1.0 95ps Polo SE) compared to 37.9% for the 1.0 Fiesta Zetec - source; Auto Express.

So in my book, the Polo wins hands down for me. I’m not anti-Ford; In my 40+ years of driving I’ve owned a number of Fords and the majority were good cars. It’s just that as an everyday all rounder, the Polo would be my choice over the Fiesta.

VW just need to build some now..................

[stevereeves]

The Fiesta has been improved a lot in quality & driving experience. Looks are subjective, think it looks a bit odd from the front, head on, and the infotainment screen is like someoene screwed it to the dash as an aferthought. IMO the Polo nails it overall, but Polos are rare and Fiestas are plenty.....