VW has combined small-car economy with sports car style in a new version of the Polo hatchback.

R Line trim merges the aggressive looks of VW’s hot-hatches like the fiery Golf R and Scirocco R with the remarkable 1.2-litre TSI turbo-charged petrol engine, which balances surprisingly gutsy performance with smooth, quiet running and good fuel economy when driven gently.

The Polo R Line has deeper bumpers and side sills, a gloss black front grille complete with R Line badge, 16-inch alloy wheels and privacy glass behind the front doors.

It will be available in three- and five-door layouts with just the one engine option. In turn, the engine will be linked to a six-speed manual gearbox, enabling the car to reach 62 mph in a claimed 9.7 seconds on the way to a 118 mph top speed.

Fuel economy is claimed at 53.3 mpg, with CO2 emissions of 124 g/km.

Interior features include brushed aluminium scuff plates with R Line logos, sports seats with cloth upholstery and an R Line logo on the headrests, a leather-trimmed three-spoke steering wheel with R Line logo and aluminium-capped pedals, and a black cloth roof lining.

A radio and CD player are standard, with the facility to plug any MP3 player or iPod in. Air-conditioning, remote central locking and electric windows on all doors will be standard fit too.

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