Volkswagen up! review

The Volkswagen Up is more sophisticated than its size and looks suggest. It’s comfortable, feels stable on the road and is enjoyable to drive. It’s designed to work in town, and does, but it isn’t too noisy or underpowered for the occasional motorway trip, although the long gearing does make it hard work. 

The changes VW made to the Up for 2016 have created a classier and more customisable car, while the switch to a smartphone sat-nav system will appeal to younger buyers. It’s as refined and practical as ever, but the updates to the gearbox have resulted in sluggish performance with no real gains in efficiency, while the higher list prices mean the VW Up isn't as good value as its SEAT and Skoda siblings.

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Volkswagen up! 1.0 75 High up!

The Volkswagen Up is the German firm's city car, and VW markets it with a rather unnecessary exclamation mark in its name. While the name is daft and it's the smallest car in the range, the Up sticks to the tried-and-tested VW formula of offering functional quality in a sober and grown-up package.The Up arrived in 2011 as a replacement for the unloved VW Fox, which in turn was a spiritual successor to the VW Lupo. In an effort to distance the new car from the Fox, VW used the Up name, which ties in with the L(up)o. The styling of the Up is reminiscent of the Lupo in some ways, too, thanks to its stubby bonnet, square side windows and truncated tail. However, under the skin the Up was all-new, and shares nothing with its predecessors.

There's just one body style available, although you do have the option of choosing three or five-doors, while there are a trio of engines to choose from. They are all petrol three-cylinder units with five-speed gearboxes, with the range kicking off with the 59bhp 1.0 60PS. There's also a 74bhp version branded the 1.0 75PS, while the 2016 facelift saw the introduction of a 1.0 TSI 90PS turbocharged version with 89bhp.

The two smaller engines can be upgraded with BlueMotion Technology to help reduce emissions and improve economy, while the all-electric VW e-up! offers zero emissions and a claimed range of 99 miles.