Most 2022 Polos in petrol/manual form use the small turbocharged 1.0 TSI engine paired with a 5- or 6-speed manual — tidy, economical and lively for its size. Manuals avoid VW’s DSG gearbox quirks, but the turbo three-cylinder benefits from regular oil changes and sensible warm-up/cool-down behaviour if used mostly for short runs. Interior and boot are compact but well built for a supermini; don’t expect large load capacity compared with larger family cars.

• Clutch feel and take-up — check for slipping under load and even pedal travel (city use can accelerate wear).
• Turbo lag/smoothness and oil consumption — watch for rattles on cold start and blue smoke on hard acceleration.
• Gearbox synchro and smooth shift between 1–2 and 3–4 (no crunching or missed gears).
• Underbody and wheel-arch corrosion, plus stone-chip damage to front bumper and bonnet edges.
• Tyre age and wear pattern (check DOT codes) and listen for suspension knocks over potholes.