Our cars: Volkswagen Up - May

Volkswagen Up 1.0 75 High Up 3dr

Week ending May 10
Total mileage 8251
Driven this week 69 miles

Volkswagen Up review

The Volkswagen Up set out on the type of journey it was designed for this week, a 15-mile trip across central London, this time in the hands of our video man, James Holloway.

James found it comfortable, quiet and easy to drive in stop-start traffic. He was also particularly fond of the Navigon sat-nav unit that comes as standard on the High Up.

On the other hand, he wasn't so keen on the radio, which he said lost the signal too often. He also felt that the cream seats would not survive unblemished.

While James sliced through the traffic in comfort – with Bluetooth music streaming and sat-nav predicting the traffic ahead – I was heading for the same destination in our Renault Twizy.

Despite all that gadgetry, he finished only just ahead of me – and my standard navigation features of memory and instinct. Unfortunately, sometimes the traffic is so bad you just can’t outsmart it.

By Rory White

Week ending May 3
Total mileage 8182
Driven this week 175 miles

With my brother in London last weekend, the Up had to deal with three people instead of two. However, it wasn’t really a relegation to the back for him, as despite being over six-foot tall, he remained comfortable.

The front seats fold far enough forward to give good access, rear headroom is pretty generous and there’s a simple armrest carved into the side that gave him room to flex the elbows, too.

The only downside is that with another person in excess of six foot at the wheel – me – he was forced to sit behind the front passenger. Not such a bad thing, as with the front passenger seat pulled forward, there was still a good amount of legroom for both.

He also pointed out something I’d completely missed until now, two well-designed drinks holders, tucked away, but easily accessible.

By Rory White
Rory.White@whatcar.com