Polo’s big challenge

Any supermini that’s worth its salt has to measure up to the Ford Fiesta, so when the new Volkswagen Polo arrived in the Auto Express car park, its main rival was ready and waiting.

And so were the Mazda 2 and the new-look Renault Clio, which joined the convoy as our testers headed from our London HQ to Liverpool to put them through their paces.

The Fiesta came out on top in this battle of the diesel superminis, which didn’t raise too many eyebrows – but the fact the Polo trailed in behind its Japanese and French rivals was a surprise. Its lack of pace and refinement cost it dear in such talented company.