Blue is the new green in the world of Volkswagen. And the car that launched its new wave of eco-warrior cars is a motor that has been around in name for some 33 years.

The model  carrying the economy banner for VW is the latest Polo BlueMotion – a compact car that has been developed by a special projects department that has taken the basic Polo bodyshell and honed every centimetre in a bid to squeeze every possible last mile out of a gallon of fuel.

The Wolfsburg engineers looked at every aspect of the Polo from aerodynamics, engine, gearbox, wheels, tyres, interior and body sound deadening and then maximised every element to make it as efficient as possible.

The ones you can see include an elegant new grille grille section , an extension to the lower lip on the front bumper and subtly integrated wing attached to the trailing edge of the rear window. BlueMotion also has lightweight  alloy wheels and low rolling resistance tyres.

And although it's not as big as a Golf, the latest Polo is some 19mm longer than the previous model, making it large enough to be considered as a family car rather than the traditional supermini.

The special Polo also has an advanced power steering system which adapts assistance to suit the speed and weight of the vehicle. This saves fuel compared with a conventional power steering system, as it only requires power when the wheel is turned.

Would-be Polo owners  get  the choice of two specification levels – BlueMotion 1 or 2, and both three- and five-door bodystyles. But there's only one engine – a bespoke version of the 80PS 1.4-litre TDI unit, mated to a five-speed gearbox  with revised ratios for the top three gears.

And what spectacular results VW have wrung from this highly advanced, three-cylinder, six-valve, turbocharged diesel engine. The figures are worth shouting about  just to put other rivals to shame – 57.6mpg in urban driving, a mind-boggling 88.3mpg on the extra urban cycle and 74.3mpg combined figures.

And because it only emits 99g/km of CO2, it's actually exempt from Vehicle Excise Duty.

On the road, the Polo Blue Motion rides with the solid, strong, well-planted feel of a larger car, with light, easy handling. Boasting an excellent tight lock that makes parking and manoeuvring easy, the BlueMotion also has super stability in the wet and feels as tough as old boots, being beautifully screwed together in the best VW traditions.

At start-up, it's an obvious diesel, though there's almost no vibration to be felt. Driven through a light, short-throw gearbox that's a delight to handle, the engine has very tall gearing and plenty of power right through the ratios, the only consideration to bear in mind being that it can tend to 'run away with itself' in a high gear and lack some engine braking.

So some city motoring finds the driver selecting a lower gear than normal and braking slightly more, though of course the car is as happy as Larry on the open road and is long-legged feel makes it an excellent long-distance tourer, with plenty of pulling power.

As a day-to-day family workhorse, the Polo BlueMotion is an excellent choice, with super build and ultra high quality interior, as shared with rest of the Volkswagen family.
A minimalist dash (blue-lit at night) is totally user-friendly  and there is plenty of headroom and acceptable rear legroom. Boot space is surprisingly good for this class of car and the luggage area can be transformed by folding and tumbling the rear seats to make a completely flat load platform.

As far as looks are concerned, Polo is something of a Plain Jane compared with flashier rivals. But none of them can come near the BlueMotion's supreme fuel-sipping frugality. Suddenly, feeling blue about motoring can actually be very rewarding.
 
At a glance:

• Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion in two specification levels and three- or five-door bodystyles, with prices from £11,995-£13,445.


• Built at the Navarra production plant near Pamplona in Spain.


• Combined fuel consumption figure of 74.3mpg and CO2 of 99 g/km.


• BlueMotion 2 is equipped with climatic air conditioning and other additional items to sit at the top of the range.


• Dimensions: 3,916 mm long; 1,650 mm wide; 1,467mm high.


• Equipped with a revised version of the 1.4-litre three-cylinder 80PS TDI engine, fitted with a modified turbocharger and Exhaust Gas Recirculation, linked to a five-speed manual gearbox with longer ratios for third, fourth and fifth gears.


• Comprehensive safety features include ABS, with HBA (Hydraulic Brake Assist) and driver and passenger front and side airbags. A curtain airbag system is optional.