The VW that's just turned 50! Over 20m drivers have bought one since 1975... and no, it's not a Golf!
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Reaching half a century is a major milestone for us all and one that's worth celebrating - and the same can be said for cars turning 50, too.
That's why Volkswagen has raised the bunting, brought out the cake and yanked on the party popper strong as one of its longest-serving models reaches this impressive anniversary.
The month of May marks 50 years since the Polo hatchback was launched alongside the slogan ‘Small on the outside. Big on the inside’ and became an international bestseller.
Six generations on, and more than 20 million global sales later, the pioneering compact car redefined 'affordable mobility for all'.
From coupes to estates and GTI hot hatches, the Polo set benchmarks for superminis the world over, including bringing in some of the small car safety features we take for granted today. And it became a supermini that every person is proud to own, from Andy Murray to Heidi Klum.
We take a look at how the little brother of the Golf established itself as one of the most successful cars in its class....
May 2025 marks 50 years of the Volkswagen Polo - the supermini was launched with the slogan 'Small on the outside. Big on the inside’. It might be small but its sales success is mighty
Volkswagen was riding a wave of new launches in the '70s, as the hallowed ‘People’s Car’ Beetle was due to be replaced: the Passat arrived in 1973, the Golf in ‘74 and the Polo in 1975.
The Polo stood out because of how short it was, and angular.
A Mk1 Polo was a very petite thing; with a wheelbase of 2,335mm, it was smaller than a modern-era VW Up!.
But it wasn’t just the size that made it stand out; it had state-of-the-art tech for the time, and was heralded as affordable mobility for the car buyers of the generation.
Yet it wasn't truly a VW (of sorts). The 1975 Polo was essentially a 1974 Audi 50, albeit modified for maximum functionality.
The Polo was one of a few Volkswagens launched in succession that came in to replace the Beetle and continue the legacy of the 'People's Car' for VW
A Mk1 Polo was a very petite thing; with a wheelbase of 2,335mm it was smaller than a modern VW Up!
It was surprisingly spacious on the inside and it was also loved because the four-cylinder petrol engines were fun to drive and very agile
Series production of the Polo I began in March 1975 at Volkswagen’s headquarters in Wolfsburg, with 1.1 million units being produced there by 1981
The breath of fresh air in the small car segment caught on because it was cheap, practical, stylish and fun to drive.
Agile, great handling and economical, it ticked all the right boxes for a joyful small runaround.
There was an array of four-cylinder petrol engines to choose from with a four-speed manual gearbox, with a line-up leading ‘GT’ with 60hp.
The first-generation Polo sold 500,000 cars worldwide and became famous as the car that could chameleon between first driving lessons, family trips or summer sporty drives.
The Mk2 arrived in 1981 and went a step or two up the premium ladder as well as introducing new body shapes
Running on the success of the Mk1, the second-generation brought in new body styles, more engine choices and a step up the premium ladder with a new interior.
Among the plethora of upgrades was the iconic steep rear window, gaving the Mk2 the ‘wagon’ shape it is still remembered for today.
The ‘Breadvan’ style was joined by a ‘Coupe’ and the Derby two-door saloon.
It wasn’t just the updated looks that continued the sales success of the Polo, but the reputation for quality and reliability.
The second generation had to go up against an increasing array of supermini rivals including the Peugeot 205 and Nissan Micra
The second generation cemented this and made sure that the Polo could continue to be a dominating small car even with the arrival in the UK of numerous small hatch rivals including the Peugeot 205, Nissan Micra, Fiat Uno and the second-gen Ford Fiesta.
The Polo Mk2 continued the success of the original model while featuring new body styles, a wider range of engines and a more premium feeling interior.
The Polo Mk2 also brought about the iconic steep rear window, giving that classic ‘wagon’ shape.
By 1986 two million Polos had been produced – making sure that the Polo is still going strong today (unlike the poor Fiat Uno).
The Mk3 brought in the modern Polo shape that still underlines the Polo of today
The third generation launched in 1994 and it was a big leap up, not least in creating the Polo look that's evolved into the car in showrooms today.
The Mk3 came with a completely new body, chassis and engine and shared a platform with the Seat Ibiza and a floorplan with the Golf – both of which helped to keep costs down.
Not only was it modern in design but for the first time the VW Polo came with five doors and as an estate, keeping up with other European supermini rivals.
And crucially it brought in some very important safety innovations such as airbags – a first for vehicles in its class.
The Mk3 introduced airbags in small cars making sure that superminis kept up bigger cars in the safety stake - a massively important step
A total of 3.5 million Polo III models were produced - and it was available as a five-door for the first time
The Polo as a safe small car, particularly for new drivers, was a reputation well earned.
Plus, thanks to the introduction of the VW Lupo in 1998, the Polo was no longer the entry point to the VW range and so it could go upmarket without alienating buyers.
The 1999 facelift was proof of that, bringing in some features you'd previously only get in larger cars, including air conditioning and a built-in sat-nav.
The Mk3 also saw Polo add the famous three letters ‘GTI, with production limited to 3,000 units in 1998. It sold out almost instantly!
The Mk4 Polo got a bit more grown up as it shared more looks with the Golf and also some with the Lupo
The Polo 5 introduced a host of digital newbies and had interior updates including a touchscreen
2002 saw the Mk4 usher in the all-new Polo for the new millennium, with more of a resemblance to the Golf and the smaller Lupo than before.
It grew 15cm bigger than the last generation, while still sharing the platform with the Seat Ibiza and the Skoda Fabia, making it more spacious for families and offering a larger boot.
Engine offerings were vast with everything from 1.2-litre to 2.0-litre petrols to a few diesels. You could also get a sporty turbocharged GTI.
The Mk4 and Mk5 Polos are the models that many learner drivers in the 2010s learnt to drive in
The Mk5 from 2009 won about as many gongs as there were going, including World Car of the Year.
Lighter than the Mk4 it was more practical as it was both longer and wider, although it definitely fell into the sensible rather than exciting category.
The Polo 5 introduced a host of digital newbies; infotainment including a touchscreen and driver assists.
The present day Polo is the biggest yet and had a facelift in 2021 to make sure it had refreshed exterior style and state-of-the-art infotainment
Welcome to the Polo of today.
The sixth generation – from 2017 - is the most upmarket of all the Polos, and the most luxurious – as to be expected with advanced tech in cars and improvements in manufacturing.
The Mk6 is also the biggest Polo measuring 4,074 mm long, 1,751 in width and 1,461 in height.
The 2021 upgrade brought in even more digital and product innovations, with new assistance and comfort systems.
There were exterior improvements including IQ.Ligjt matrix LED headlights and a refreshed front and rear bumper design.
An eight-inch digital display, an infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and VW’s ‘We Connect’, wireless charging and advanced lane keep assist, and cruise control were just a few of the changes.
To date 20 million Polos have been sold across the globe making it one of the most successful small vehicles of all time.
Last year, Britons snapped up 28,981 examples, making it the best-selling supermini.
Not bad for a car that Volkswagen says ‘stands for affordable entry-level mobility’.
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