Volkswagen Polo — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
VW's premium small car. Quality feel in a compact package, with the 1.0 TSI engine offering strong efficiency for city and motorway driving.
The Volkswagen Polo brings big-car refinement and premium cabin tech to the supermini class. It offers a spacious interior and class-leading sound insulation, making it a small car that feels perfectly at home on long motorway trips.
The engine lineup centers around a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol unit. The naturally aspirated EVO version is geared for city driving, while the turbocharged TSI models offer the punch and gear ratios necessary for comfortable motorway cruising.
Daily drivers can expect a highly efficient 47 MPG real-world return from the TSI petrol engine. With its aerodynamically efficient shape and lightweight construction, it is one of the cheapest non-hybrid petrol cars to run.
TL;DR
47 MPG
Real-world petrol
40L
Tank capacity
£54.72
Full tank (petrol)
13.2p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Volkswagen Polo achieves an estimated 47 MPG in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 40-litre tank completely costs approximately £54.72 at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
47
Real-world MPG
Petrol
55.4
Official WLTP
Petrol
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £662 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £979 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1323 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £1985 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £2646 |
| Full tank (40L) | £54.72 |
| Cost per mile | 13.2p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Polo compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Polo
Avoid over-revving the 1.0 TSI; it has excellent low-end turbo pull, so you can upshift early at around 2,000 RPM.
Utilize the engine's standard stop-start system in traffic to reduce city idle fuel wastage.
Avoid carrying unnecessary weight in the boot to maximize the efficiency of this lightweight chassis.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Volkswagen Polo achieving ~47 MPG real-world, if you fill 32 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£3.20
Gross saving on fuel
£0.40
Cost of 3-mile detour
£2.80
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 24 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Volkswagen Polo?
The Volkswagen Polo achieves approximately 47 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 55.4 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around N/A MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Volkswagen Polo?
The Volkswagen Polo has a fuel tank of 40 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £54.72. Diesel costs approximately £56.84 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Volkswagen Polo?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Volkswagen Polo costs approximately £979 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1323. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Volkswagen Polo?
In a Volkswagen Polo doing ~47 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 32-litre fill nets approximately £2.80 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 24 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Volkswagen Polo cost per mile in fuel?
The Volkswagen Polo costs approximately 13.2p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £3.96 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Volkswagen Polo?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Volkswagen Polo is 55.4 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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