Polo Driver

The latest version of the Polo BlueMotion has been shortlisted for the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 award, which the organisers claim is the most scientifically-based green car prize in the UK. Now in its third year, WhatGreenCar uses unique ratings to rank the greenest new cars to come to market, and shortlisted cars are rated for environmental impact, value, driving experience and design.

To be eligible for the award, new models must be commercially available for purchase direct from the manufacturer or order in the UK during 2010. City cars, superminis, small family cars, large family cars, MPVs, executive and sports classes form the initial selection. The judging and test drives of the 10 shortlisted cars takes place on Wednesday 30 June at Imperial College, London, a university specialising in technological innovation. This makes it an ideal place for the judges to assess the final line-up. The overall winner of the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 awards will be announced on Thursday 1 July.

The 10 cars shortlisted for the WhatGreenCar Car of the Year 2010 award are as follows:

• BMW 320d EfficientDynamics; WGC rating 31; CO2: 109g/km
• Citroen DS3 1.6 HDi; WGC rating: 29; CO2: 99g/km
• Honda CR-Z hybrid; WGC rating: TBC; CO2: 117g/km
• Kia Venga 1.4 CRDi; WGC rating: 33; CO2: 117g/km
• Mitsubishi i-MiEV 47kW synchronous/Li-ion; WGC rating: 10; CO2: 0g/km
• SEATt Leon 1.6 TDI Ecomotive; WGC rating: 28; CO2: 99g/km
• Toyota Auris hybrid; WGC rating: TBC; CO2: 89g/km
• Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi ecoFLEX; WGC rating: 29; CO2: 98g/km
• Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TDI BlueMotion; WGC rating: 26; CO2: 89g/km
• Volvo C30 1.6D DRIVe; WGC rating 29; CO2: 99g/km

(Note: WGC rating = WhatGreenCar rating)

Edit, 1 July 2010: WhatGreenCar have awarded the Toyota Auris Hybrid its Car of the Year 2010 prize, ahead of the SEAT Leon 1.6 TDI Ecomotive, the BMW 320d EfficientDynamics and the Citroen DS3 1.6 HDi. A missed opportunity we think, as the Polo BlueMotion makes use of existing technology to get the ideal pairing of low emissions and high miles per gallon, while Toyota reportedly uses more harmful environmental processes to manufacture the NiMH battery packs for both the Prius and Auris Hybrid – coincidentally launched today – while posting similar CO2 and mpg values.

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The new Polo SEL has been declared the most secure supermini at the recent British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards (BIVSA), presented by Thatcham, the Motor Industry Repair Research Centre, in Berkshire. Claiming honours in the City Car/Supermini category and beating off in-house competition from the SEAT Ibiza and Skoda Fabia, Volkswagen won a raft of awards as well as the overall accolade for the best car manufacturer.

The British Insurance Vehicle Security Awards are hosted by Thatcham and supported by the Home Office, the DfT, What Car? magazine and the AA. Since their launch in 2004 the highly regarded BIVSA accolades have recognised all that’s best in vehicle security, on the newest cars and vans on the market, applauding the work of vehicle manufacturers and raising consumer awareness. Vehicles were judged on a number of criteria identified by the creators of the New Vehicle Security Ratings (NVSR) scheme. Those that had a maximum five stars for ‘theft from’, had double locking, and an ‘E’ insurance suffix (indicating they had a feature that exceeds the required standard) were shortlisted for final evaluation and ranking.

Rod McLeod, Head of Marketing for Volkswagen said: ‘It’s a tremendous achievement for the Volkswagen range to be ranked as the best on the market here and one of which we’re very proud. To win the overall award is proof that security and safety features should not be the reserve of an elite few. Increasingly we aim to extend the technology available on our flagship cars such as the Phaeton right down to the volume models such as the new Polo.’

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The Polo has been named Best Small Car in the 2010 Fleet World Honours, presented yesterday at the RAC Club in London. The Polo is currently the European Car of the Year as well as the World Car of the Year, and also holds Supermini of the Year titles from What Car? and Fleet News. The award is voted for by a number of industry professionals – including the Fleet World editorial team – and is chaired by Fleet World editor, Steve Moody.

Collecting the award, Volkswagen’s Head of Fleet Services, Vincent Kinner, said: ‘We’re delighted to receive this award. Since its launch last October the Polo has gone from strength to strength. It epitomises the Volkswagen strengths of quality, practicality, safety and value for money and this award, on top of the many others it had already received, proves its appeal to fleet managers as well as private buyers and drivers.’

Chairman of Judges, Steve Moody, said: ‘The Volkswagen Polo is a small car with a big car personality. Downsizing customers will never feel shortchanged thanks to its excellent interior space and superb build quality. Add in a strong range of engines with excellent fuel efficiency, and never has a supermini been so super.’ Head over to the fleet section of the Volkswagen website for more information on the company’s range of cars and fleet services.

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Six thousand readers of Autoflotte (Auto Fleet) magazine have awarded the Polo the Best Small Car award in the publication’s list of 2010 honours announced last week. Awarded at the AMI Leipzig 2010 motor show, the Volkswagen Group took 12 first place prizes, with the Golf awarded Best Compact Car and the Touran the Best Compact Van. Stefan Brungs, Head of Volkswagen Group Fleet International was pleased with the result: ‘We are delighted, especially as these awards are chosen by fleet managers. The Autoflotte awards underline the outstanding position of the Volkswagen Group’s economic and energy-efficient vehicles and the quality of our extensive service offering for our large customers.’

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As we reported on 1 April, the fifth-generation Volkswagen Polo was voted 2010 World Car of the Year, beating off competition from the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Toyota Prius. Adding to its European Car of the Year 2010 title, the latest prize cements the latest Polo’s reputation as a multi-award winner. World Car of the Year have released photos from the awards ceremony that took place on the day of the announcement at the Javits Center in New York City. Click the gallery below for a slideshow of pictures.

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