The Polo in particular has done particularly well as seen by the little hatchback's proliferation on our roads. The 'mini-me' Golf styling, solid build quality and affordable pricing have all contributed to its strong sales performance.

Looks

- The Volkswagen Polo Sport looks like a Golf has been shrunk in the car wash, but that is no bad thing as it is a handsome-looking car.

- Little differentiates it from the base 1.4-litre variant, with the exception of front fog lamps and larger 16-inch alloy wheels.

Performance

- Acceleration is good for a car with a 1.2-litre 8-valve engine thanks to a turbocharger. This unit is shared with the base Golf and Skoda Fabia.

- The 1.2-litre powerplant makes a respectable 105bhp and 175Nm. It is smooth, free-revving and quiet. These figures are comparable to normally aspirated 1.6-litre engines found in garden variety family sedans such as the Chevrolet Cruze.

- Fuel economy was good at an average of 15.6km/l during the time of ST Online's test and with the small engine size, the yearly road tax payable is a pretty small figure too.

- The seven-speed DSG gearbox is quick and decisive with its shifts, but is jerky at low-speeds, a common complaint about this gearbox.

Ride and Handling

- It feels like a much larger car in the way it drives. The ride is smooth and the suspension shrugs off road imperfections with little fuss.

- It is a tidy handler through the corners and body roll is well controlled.

- The electro-hydraulic steering rack is well-weighted and offers decent feedback through the helm.

Comfort, Practicality and Quality

- The Polo's cabin quality shames cars that are bigger and more expensive and the materials used are nicely textured.

- It is extremely roomy and space in the back is very good for a car of its size.

- The boot is well-shaped with minimal intrusions and practicality is aided by a split-folding 60:40 rear seat back.

Verdict

The Polo is a very accomplished little car offering Golf-like looks and quality in a very appealing package but...

Pluses

- Handsome looks
- Impeccable build quality
- Good fuel efficiency

Minus

- Manual air-con controls

Specifications

Engine: 1,190cc, 8-valves, inline-4
Max Power: 105bhp at 5,000rpm
Max Torque: 175Nm at 1,550-4,100rpm
Gearbox: 7-speed dual-clutch
0-100kmh: 6.8 seconds
Top Speed: 190kmh
Consumption: 18.9km/L (combined)

The Toyota Camry Hybrid is given very little visual differentiation from its more mundane siblings. PHOTO: TOYOTA

- The Toyota Camry Hybrid looks pretty similar to the the normal variants of Singapore's most popular executive car. It is a handsome looking car nonetheless and its design has aged well.

Hybrid badges mark it out as the Camry that is gentler on the environment. PHOTO: TOYOTA

- With the exception of a new front grille and bumper, a handful of hybrid badges and clear tail lamps there is little that gives its status away as the eco-friendly Camry.

Performance

- Acceleration is pretty instantaneous given that there is an electric motor assisting the petrol one.

- The Camry Hybrid's refinement is top notch and is near Lexus-levels in terms with its smooth engine and quiet interior.

- Fuel economy is good for a car running a 2.4-litre petrol engine and this is taking into consideration the weight gain the battery pack and electric motor bring about.

- During the period when the Camry Hybrid was reviewed, it averaged between 11-12km/l which is around the consumption of a normal 1.6-litre car. But this figure is far from the 13.9km/l quoted by Toyota.

Ride and Handling

- The Camry Hybrid drives exactly like one would expect from a car targetting the SME towkays and middle management executives. It does not set the pulse racing by offering a spirited drive but rather is comfort-oriented with a soft, cosseting ride.

- It handles neatly with well-controlled body roll and none of the wallow associated with cars that have plush rides.

- The steering is light and offers little to no feedback.

Comfort, Practicality and Quality

The Camry's interior is almost Lexus-like in terms of its quality and finish. PHOTO: TOYOTA

- The cabin is well-built and the materials used are nicely textured.

- It is extremely roomy and space in the back is very good.

- The boot is a little cramped due to the battery pack taking up considerable space but will fit a set of golf clubs at with pinch.

Verdict

With high fuel prices and global warming becoming an almost everyday concern, the Camry Hybrid provides an entry into the world of eco-friendly cars for towkays who would overlook the smaller rides such as the Prius and Honda Civic but are also unwilling to stump up the extra outlay for the hybrids from Lexus.

Plus

- Effortless to drive
- Silent on the move
- Fuel economy of a 1.6-litre car

Minus

- Costs a whopping $21,000 more than the 2.4-litre variant
- Navigation system is fiddly to use
- Not much differentiation from normal variants in terms of looks

Specifications

Engine: 2,362cc, 16-valves, inline-4
Max Power: 203bhp at 6,000rpm
Max Torque: 187Nm at 4,400rpm
Gearbox: CVT
0-100kmh: 9.0 seconds
Top Speed: 162km/h
Consumption: 13.9km/L (combined)

(Continued from National day Rally Part 2)

(8.59pm) - PM LEE announces the setting up of a new Population and Talent Division in the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). The new division will manage our immigration, talent and population policies.

He gives assurance that Singaporeans will benefit from the policies. The new division, which will be on a ministry level, will be overseen by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng.

It will be similar to the Public Service Division.

Education

(9.01pm) - PM Lee acknowledges that immigration will be a continuing issue for Singapore and that there will be problems along the way. However, he says that we will have to manage, monitor and adjust as we go along. 'But remember we ourselves are all descendants of immigrants.' he said.

If our ancestors had not come to Singapore, said PM Lee, we would not have today's Singapore.

(9.03pm) - PM Lee begins speaking on the importance of education for Singaporeans. 'We already have a very good education system,' he says, and the system gives students a strong foundation, especially in Maths and Science.

However, he says Singapore can do better. Instead of a system that caters to top students, Singapore has one that caters for all. Students should have a 'tailored, holistic education that includes academic, moral, physical, art, a sense of belonging and identity'.

'We are realising this ambition', PM Lee said. Schools in Singapore should be equipped with modern facilities and staffed with good teachers.

(9.05pm) - PM lee shares some interesting programmes in schools from all over Singapore.

For Art, Haig Girls' created a Wall Mural with sketches conceptualised by students, Maha Bodhi's Visual Arts Programme teaches students how to create Batik paintings (he shows a picture of a little boy very pleased with his painting) and Naval Base Secondary received the third prize for a floral display in the Singapore Garden Festival.

In music and dance, South View Primary held a concert musical, 'Mulan' and Zhenghua Primary brought students to Hong Kong Disneyland for a cross-cultural dance experience. Riverside Secondary also integrates hip-hop dance with PE.

In the Science department, Dunman Secondary includes DNA testing as part of their Life Sciences programme, and Lian Hua Primary holds Robotics classes for students.

PM Lee mentioned speaking to a certain principal of a school that employs such creative measures, when he asked the principal on why he employed such creative methods, the principal replied, 'Give us a chance to show what we can do for you children.'

(9.09pm) - PM says while maintaining traditional strengths in Maths and Science, the education system must also develop and strengthen 'soft skills' like oral expression and instill confidence in pupils speaking both in English and mother tongues. Help students give a good account of themselves.

More teachers will be recruited for PE, Art and music, hence improving teacher-student ratios and giving more attention to PE, Art and Music.

(9.10pm) - PM Lee also raises another concern, the PSLE hurdle that students have to go through at Primary six. While important, it is not meant to be a 'do-or-die test that determines the whole future of a child'.

If students do less well than he hoped in PSLE, they will still have opportunities to catch up in secondary school.

(9.13pm) - More schools will offer programmes that students want, and more paths will be created for students to move within the system. The Integrated Programme (IP) will be extended to seven more schools, up from the initial 11, for express students.

This is for students confident of making it to university and will allow them to go straight to the A-levels or International Baccalaureate (IB), skipping the O-levels.

All these new 7 schools will have a dual track, both IP and non-IP tracks allowing students to switch in-between.

(9.14pm) - Less academically inclined students will not be left behind, says PM Lee.

In fact, Secondary education will be enhanced for them. The enhanced Normal Technical (NT) programme will begin in three schools, Bedok Town, Shuqun and Si Ling Secondary Schools.

The programme will see more practice-oriented curriculum, industrial attachments and internships.

Based on the feedback from NT students, who say that they prefer the ITE approach and environment, PM Lee says that it is hoped that students will be more engaged and motivated, with lower absentee rates.

Also, based on the success of the Northlight School and Assumption Pathway School - both which cater to the small number of students who do not pass PSLE - PM Lee says that two more specialised schools will be set up for NT students.

(9.17pm) - It is important to ensure that students graduate with relevant skills, says PM Lee. Which is why there are many routes for students to take at post-secondary level.

PM Lee says with the five polytechnics doing well, and with more 'high quality' students applying, $700 million will be spent to expand the existing polytechnics and upgrading the older ones.

A through-train programme will be started for Normal Acadamic (NA) students to go to polytechnics. Students who do well at N-levels can opt for a one-year Foundation Programme at Polytechnic instead of the O-levels. 'This is something Normal Acadamic students should strive for.'

Polytechnic Students will also be able to pursue good degrees from overseas universities. Singapore Institute of Technology, which started this year, is offering 500 places.

Degrees will also be offered for young Singaporeans with talents in the arts, media space and design through NAFA and LaSalle who will team up with good overseas institutions.

(9.20pm) - With more Singaporeans being able to make it to universities, it is important to offer top students excellent local options for tertiary education.

PM Lee says that students should spend their formative years in a top class local university to create bonds with their peer group.

PM Lee gives an update on some of the new education plans.

Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD), a collaboration with MIT and Zhejiang University, is currently recruiting and classes will begin in 2012.

A NUS University Town is being developed into a 'college system' like Cambridge and Oxford. PM Lee says it will be a 'beautiful, well-equipped campus' where students can come together to learn and interact better. (PM Lee shows an artist impression of the new University Town)

A third medical school will be set up in NTU. It will tie up with top university, Imperial College to train more local doctors.

'We need them.' PM Lee says, 'because we have an aging population.'

Also the new medical school will create more places for Singaporeans who want to study medicine.

(9.23pm) - The new programmes will be expensive, says PM Lee, explaining the need to build up donations and endowments.

The donations will go into funding students who need financial support, scholarships, bursaries and loans for promising students. Fees will be kept affordable for everyone.

PM Lee encourages alumni from all tertiary institutions to donate to their Alma Maters to help build up endowments for schools. This is for all universities, polytechnics and other institutions.

The governement will match all donations 3-to-1 to endowments for new projects and 1.5-to-1 for existing universities and polytechnics.

PM Lee says government will commit $4 billion over the next 20 years to build up endowments. A Singapore Universities Trust will also be set up with $2 billion to be set aside in the Trust to ensure financial support through economic downturns.

'We want the best for our kids,' says PM Lee, and that the endowments will go to ensuring that students will get a good education wherever they go.

The Singapore Spirit

(9.25pm) - PM Lee says that besides education, we have to instill the Singapore Spirit into future generations as well.

The Singapore Spirit is based on 'shared values like multi-racialism, meritocracy and respect for every talent', says PM Lee. It is a shared loyalty and commitment to Singapore.

PM Lee recites statement written by the late S. Rajaratnam, who drafted the National Pledge: 'Being a Singaporean is not a matter of ancestry. It is conviction and choice.'

PM Lee says that we must maintain a Singaporean core in our society and gather talent and resources around this core to build a better Singapore.

He likens this to a kernel. 'Protect the kernel, but adapt and extend the system as circumstances change'.

(9.28pm) - PM Lee says Singapore youth must be exposed to such a spirit, and develop a social conscience.PM Lee shows some examples of yoths releasing horseshoe crabs back into the ocean.

PM Lee cites the example of Mr Alvan Yap, who has hearing impairment but graduated from NUS and now works in the publishing industry. He is active as a volunteer and went on SIP's Singapore Volunteers Overseas programme to Dili, Timor Leste. He taught deaf children proper sign language as well as basic literacy.

A video was shown of Mr Yap's students and him wishing Singapore a happy birthday. PM Lee commends Mr Yap and hopes more young people like him will venture forth.

(9.33pm) - PM Lee worries that Singapore youth are not tough enough as Singapore has created a 'safe cocoon' for the youth. Youth not being tough enough was also a worry of the late Dr Goh Keng Swee.

A video was shown of Dr Goh making a speech in 1984 about the new generation that has committed some gross misdemeanour in not facing hardship.

PM Lee says that the younger generation knows too little of what Dr Goh has done and how much Singapore owes him.

(9.34pm) - To honour Dr Goh, who was instrumental in building up the SAF, the Singapore Command and Staff College (SCSC), which is the highest institution for training senior officers in the SAF, will be renamed the 'Goh Keng Swee Command and Staff College'.

Also as the Education Minister in 1979, Dr Goh revamped the entire education system creating the 'first class education system admired around the world'. PM Lee says that he was the foundation for all the new plans mentioned earlier for education.

(9.35pm) - A new Academy of Singapore Teachers and specialist academics for English Language, PE, Sports and the Arts will be set up as well. It will be named 'Goh Keng Swee Centre for Education' in honour of Dr Goh. The new centre will help upgrade the professionalism of teachers, says PM Lee. And it will be the 'nerve centre' of Singapore Education.

(9.39pm) - Sharing more about Singapore's history, PM Lee says that Dr Goh did not make his contributions alone, he was part of a team of founding fathers who build the nation and that through this multi-racial team Singapore has scaled new heights and taken steps towards becoming a global city.

PM Lee says it is important to remember Singapore's founding fathers so as to stay true to their ideals to to continue to strive to be 'one united people, regarless of race, language or religion.'

He then looks to the future and says Singapore has indeed 'scaled many new heights'. Citing examples such as the new city centre taking shape at Marina Bay.

(9.41pm) - On the just-concluded Youth Olympic Games, PM hails Singaporeans for taking part in the inaugural YOG with enthusiasm, and gives the volunteers top marks for a magnificent job done.

(9.45pm) - 'The IOC, youth athletes and vistors were all impressed' said PM Lee.

(9.47pm) - PM Lee winds up speech by saying that even though Singapore is a young nation, it has distinguished itself by looking forward, and daring to transform the city again and again.

'Our future is bright,' he says. While he cannot promise an 'effortless cruise', he says Singaporeans can expect good leadership, and a close-knit team.

'We will seize the opportunities around us' and 'take our nation to the next level,' says PM Lee.

(Continued from National day Rally Part 1)

(Continued here National Day Rally Part 3)

(Continued here National Day Rally Part 2)

Ang Yiying at Sengkang Square (5:31 pm):

Residents at northeast celebrations at Sengkang are practising for their northeast cheer, to the tune of Korean girl group Wonder Girls' 'Nobody'.The cheer: Everybody in north east, together in one beat, we wish you happy birthday, Singapore, we love you!

Ang Yiying at Sengkang Square (5:40 pm):

Residents at the northeast celebrations  are getting the low-down on how to use the confetti poppers. They have to use both hands to press the red button on the cylindrical tube. They are minutes away from their record setting.

Ang Yiying at Sengkang Square (5:53 pm):

Some over excited spectators popped the confetti at Sengkang even before the showtime.

Ang Yiying at Sengkang Square (5:55 pm):

The actual popping begins. Bursts of confetti shoot up, covering the floor with layers of colourful bits.

Carolyn at the Padang (6:03 pm):

Members of Parliament take their seats on the steps of the Old City Hall as. Blonco dreamers dance to the beat of the YOG cheer song 'You are the one Singapore!'

Carolyn at the Padang (6:05 pm):

Despite much criticism, Singaporeans sing along to 'You are the one Singapore!', waving enthusiastically as YOG mascots Lyo and Merly and other Singapore athletes are driven around the parade square.

Carolyn at the Padang (6:08 pm):

Perennial crowd favourite the Red Lions make their way down to the Padang.

S'pore celebrates 45th birthday

Singapore turns 45 today. To mark this milestone occasion, people from across Singapore will be out and about with their families and friends to join in the National Day festivities.

To capture the celebrative mood of the nation, The Straits Times' team of reporters will bring you updates on the National Day celebrations from the heartlands and other areas to the Padang, where a dazzling show will be performed by 5,000-plus participants before some 26,500 spectators and millions of television viewers this evening, culminating with a spectacular fireworks display.

Ang Yiying at Sengkang Square (3.06 pm):

It's still empty at the Sengkang Square hardcourt where celebrations for northeast district residents are held with early birds preferring to stand in the shade at the neighbouring Sengkang Cnmmunity Hub. Some 5,000 red and white plastic chairs have been placed in front of the stage.

Jermyn Chow at the Padang (3.15pm):

15 minutes before the gates are opened for members of the public to enter the Padang grounds. Before that, the 400 "robo-warriors" are being put through their paces for one last time before the curtains go up for the big show this evening.

Yiying at Sengkang Square (3.40 pm):

Bus loads of residents from other districts in northeast district are starting to arrive at Sengkang Square. Some residents are starting to take a seat, some holding umbrellas to shade themselves from the heat.

Jennani Durai at the Padang (3:53 pm):

At least 1,200 people have taken their seats. Most came well-prepared with umbrellas, hats and fans. Most said they started queueing only at 3 pm and got in by 3.30 pm. Security check was fast but they didn't get to choose their fun tote design, unlike at last week's preview.

Kia Soul with 'Tribal' sticker PHOTO: Kia

Looks

- Under the direction of ex-Audi designer Peter Schreyer, Kia's overall design language for its cars has improved by leaps and bounds;

- The Kia Soul is a really good-looking car that unashamedly targets the young and young at heart with its industrial chic straight edged exterior. It won an honourable mention at the 2009 reddot design awards;

and

- The amount of personalisation options on the Soul to make it uniquely yours is quite unheard of in the affordable end of the 1.6-litre segment.

Performance

- The 1.6-litre unit shared with the Cerato Forte and Koup is a willing performer if slightly raucous when revved hard;

- The four-speed automatic is decisive and smooth with its shifts, calling up the right gear in any situation;

- For the sake of better fuel economy, Kia can do no wrong with fitting the Soul with its new six-speed automatic;

and

- The Soul is pretty frugal up to a point but not as parsimonious as compared to the Cerato Forte.

Ride and Handling

- The ride is rather hard and not at all what you expect from a Korean car. However, this pays dividends when tackling corners as body roll is well controlled;

- Local distributor Cycle & Carraige will be importing the soul with a different suspension setting to provide a more comfortable ride;

and

- The steering is nicely weighted. It is a little dead on centre but is more communicative when a bit more lock is applied.

Standard USB and iPod connectivity PHOTO: Kia

Comfort, Practicality and Quality

- The Soul's interior is well made and the plastics used are the best seen yet in a Kia which bodes well for the upcoming Magentis replacement;

- A squarish exterior translates into a roomy interior; driver and passengers alike will not find space lacking in any direction;

and

- The storing of odds and ends is well taken care of with lots of storage bins, cubby holes and a capacious glovebox.

Plus

- Chic looks;
- Solidly built interior;
- High level of personalisation options.

Minus

- Hard ride;
- The engine can get a little rowdy when stretched;
- Options can more to the basic car price;

Verdict

Kia is onto another winner. The Soul is proof that you do not need to sacrifice funkiness for practicality while spending much less than what you would cough up for a 'lifestyle' car such as a Mini Cooper.

Specifications

Engine: 1,591cc, 16-valves, inline-4
Max Power: 124bhp at 6,300rpm
Max Torque: 156Nm at 4,200rpm
Gearbox: 4-speed automatic
0-100kmh: 12.0 seconds
Top Speed: 162kmh
Consumption: 13.9km/L (combined)