SITTING between the Golf and the Up! in the Volkswagen line-up, the Polo has long been admired for its understated, fuss-free looks and upmarket cabin.

There’s been a few changes but, as ever, this refreshed Polo’s strengths lie mainly under its skin.

Engine performance has been tweaked, there’s a better infotainment system and more safety kit.

That’s not to say the cabin has been left alone. It’s now closer in looks and feel to the Golf, the appearance of plush materials and a large touchscreen allowing access to the car’s infotainment system do much to cement the compact VW’s reputation as the most upmarket of all the available superminis.

The Polo’s polished exterior has been retained, while in the cabin there is an absence of hard plastics and an ambience reeking of class.

For buyers seeking a conventional three or five-door supermini with room in the back for a couple of adults, the Polo easily fits the bill. And with ample cabin oddment storage space, rear seats that fold with no fuss and a generous boot, this mini-me Golf could almost double as a first family car.

Although past GTI variants have added a dash of spice to the range, you don’t buy a Polo to go tearing up the high street in. What the car does best is cosset and comfort you.

What justifies the ‘new’ tag here is a handful of new engines to keep the Polo competitive in the low CO2 and fuel consumption game. Three-cylinder petrol engines kick off the range in 1.0-litre guise, with 1.2 and 1.4 turbo motors rounding off the line-up. A pair of 1.4-litre motors keep the diesel flag flying. Overall, city types should warm to the petrol triples, while the diesel units easily have the legs to make light work of a motorway slog.

With an entry price of £11,250, the Polo is surprisingly affordable. Granted, you’ll be wise to spend a little more if you want a few extra creature comforts, but factor in the car’s potential to deliver a sub 110g/km CO2 rating plus 60mpg economy in 1.0-litre guise and it’s easy to see the appeal.

Anyone downsizing from a larger car won’t feel cheated when they step into the Polo.

As well as electronic stability control, all new Polos are equipped with hill hold and an automatic post-collision braking system which brakes the vehicle after a collision to reduce kinetic energy significantly.

You also get a 5.0-inch colour touchscreen with Bluetooth phone and media connection, DAB digital radio, aux-in socket; CD player, SD card reader, USB connectivity and six speakers, driver’s seat height adjustment, height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, stop/start function, central locking, front electric windows and a full-size spare wheel SE trim adds 15-inch alloy wheels, body-coloured door handles and mirrors, upgraded media system with 6.5-inch colour touchscreen, remote locking with alarm, air conditioning, electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors, passenger’s seat height adjustment, front and rear reading lights, illuminated vanity mirrors, variable load floor in the boot, leather-trimmed handbrake lever, gear lever and multifunction steering wheel and multi-function computer .

Whichever engine you choose, you’ll be rewarded with a driving experience that has evolved into something closer to that of the larger Golf than your average supermini. It’s a cliche to describe the Polo as possessing a ‘big car feel’ but that’s exactly what it has. And most of that’s down to the car riding on VW’s latest generation platform.

Ride quality is impressive.

What’s also reassuring is the decision to kit it out with big car safety equipment. The car was always at the mature end of the small hatch spectrum, but the performance changes should now also endear it to buyers who previously dismissed the car.

At a glance...

Volkswagen Polo SE 5dr

Price: £13,125

Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol, developing 60PS

Transmission: Five-speed manual

Performance: 0 to 62mph in 15.5 seconds; top speed 100mph

Economy: 60.1mpg combined

CO2 emissions: 106g/km