Volkswagen Up Hatchback full 9 point review

  • Performance

    3 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad You have the choice of two 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines, one with 59bhp and the other with 74bhp. Neither is very fast and both need revs to get going. The lower-powered of the two is sluggish on the open road, too, but the more eager 74bhp engine copes impressively well at motorway speeds.

  • Ride & Handling

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Up’s main virtue is its supple ride, which mops up most road imperfections. It’s fun, too. It’s a small car that feels like one: agile, accurate and effortless to pilot. The dimensions help, of course, but the light, direct steering and snappy manual gearchange also play their part.

  • Refinement

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad Three-cylinder engines are normally buzzy devices. Not in the VW. Of course, it isn’t quite as smooth as a four-cylinder, and you notice small vibrations at low revs, but it’s silky enough everywhere else. Mind you, a mite too much wind and road noise creep into the cabin at higher speeds.

  • Buying & Owning

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Ownership The Up isn’t the cheapest car in its class, or the best equipped. Traditionally, though, small VWs fare well as new buys because of strong residuals and the funky image of the Up should boost those further. Economy is good, too, particularly on the 59bhp unit, which delivers a tidy, if not class-leading, 62.8mpg. The BlueMotion Tech version gets closer to 70mpg.

  • Quality & Reliability

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Up isn’t as well made as a Polo. There’s more evidence of cost cutting with cheaper, shinier plastics and non-returning front seats. There isn’t even a cover for the vanity mirror. Yet most of the major things you see and touch are superior to the class norm, so it still feels like an impressively posh product.

  • Safety & Security

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-OnRoad The Up’s yet to be security tested, but if it follows other VWs, it should be good. Plus, it has all the standard safety kit you should require including four airbags and ABS, and it has achived the maximum five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests. ESP is standard on most models, while City emergency braking and rear parking sensors are available as options.

  • Behind The Wheel

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin The Up’s dash isn’t complicated, and that’s a good thing. All major controls are well sited, and have VW’s usual chunky, no-nonsense design. The dials are clear, too, and if you go for the top-spec model, there’s a terrific (and removable) sat-nav infotainment system on top of the dash. Comfort is good, too. Seats are flat and firm, and there’s a good driving position, even though the wheel doesn’t adjust telescopically.

  • Space & Practicality

    5 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin There’s a great feeling of space up front, thanks to the uncluttered cabin and generous shoulder space. Rear-seat passengers don’t get treated any worse than in other city cars, and the front seats tilt and slide forward to allow passengers to clamber in. Headroom is adequate, too. The boot is one of the biggest in class, and with the rear bench flipped forward, there’s more space than in some superminis.

  • Equipment

    4 out of 5 stars

    Review-Cabin There are three trim levels, and all of them are decently equipped or have the ability to be augmented with sensibly priced options. The top car – the High Up – comes with an excellent (and removable) sat-nav infotainment system, as well as heated front seats.

Up rivals

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