IT CAN be hard to stand out from the crowd sometimes, especially in the light-car segment where it seems like every volume manufacturer has an offering to appeal to varying tastes and budgets.

The Mazda2 drips with style, the Ford Fiesta has a sporty character, the Hyundai Accent is cheap as chips and the Suzuki Swift just oozes personality.

However, Volkswagen is setting itself apart from the pack by positioning its new sixth-generation Polo as a premium offering with enough equipment, practicality and polish to compete against not only its light-car rivals, but offerings in the segment above.

Can the new Polo really stand head and shoulders above such a crowded and competitive field?