Used Volkswagen Up 2012-2023 review
The chic Volkswagen Up was one of the very best city cars, and it's now a great used buy.
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What's the used Volkswagen up! like?
Ownership cost
Our recommendations
Alternatives
Reliability
Mark Pearson
Updated: 13 October 2026
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What's the used Volkswagen up! like?
Originally launched to a grateful public in 2012 and updated in 2016 and 2020, the diminutive Volkswagen Up was a huge sales success for Volkswagen and is now a great used buy.
The best thing about it is that it's never really felt like a small car – not in the way it drives, the material choices of its interior or the way it rides. It’s only when you get out of it and see how much space is left over in a standard parking space that you remember that you’re in a bantam Volkswagen.
Overview
Thanks to its big-car feel, quality interior and sense of fun, the Volkswagen Up was undoubtedly one of the best city cars and it's now a great used buy. It's great to drive, wonderfully agile, decently economical, and surprisingly roomy inside. Few city cars can match it, and it's a terrific car for newer drivers or those on a tight budget. It's worth having a look at its siblings, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, too.
Pros
- Comfortable ride and fun to drive
- Economical three-cylinder engine
- Upmarket interior
Cons
- Some rivals are better value
- Smaller engines are sluggish
- Optional automatic gearbox is slow and jerky
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Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 3dr
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1.0 Move up! Euro 5 5dr
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Volkswagen up!
1.0 High up! Euro 5 5dr
£1,995
Volkswagen up!
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Volkswagen up!
1.0 Take up! Euro 5 3dr
£1,999
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1.0 up! Black Euro 5 5dr
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Volkswagen up!
1.0 Take up! Euro 5 5dr
£2,195
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1.0 Move up! Euro 5 5dr
£2,250
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1.0 Move up! Euro 5 3dr
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The Up took a lot of the design elements of the Toyota Aygo but gave them a Germanic spin by combining it with the quality of the contemporary Volkswagen Golf.
Somehow, during this process, it managed to create a very stylish car with an identity all of its own. The Up is cute, with big, bug-eye headlights, tiny 15in wheels that are pushed out to each corner, and a boxy rear end with a neat glass hatch that sports an oversized badge. Its looks were further enhanced by those refreshes, both of which trimmed the engine range and tweaked the styling.
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The other thing the Up copied from the Aygo is its four-seat layout. While that does mean that those travelling in the back are less squished together, alternatives such as the Hyundai i10 and Suzuki Celerio are more practical, because they offer a third belt in the rear and would be better choices for those who need a five-seat car.
Engines & Performance: The Up started life with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine in two states of tune: 59bhp and 74bhp. Later models offered two additional 1.0-litre engines: a turbocharged version with 89bhp and a 113bhp turbo in the sporty GTI model. There's also an all-electric VW e-Up. From 2020 onwards, the only petrol Ups were the 59bhp 1.0 (recently upgraded to 64bhp) and the revised GTI.
Trims & equipment: The later models include an entry-level Take Up trim that isn’t blessed with much standard equipment; even air conditioning isn’t on the list (it can’t be added as an option, either). Move Up trim gets you air-con, as well as electric front windows, remote central locking, a full-size spare wheel, split-folding rear seats and a height-adjustable boot floor. Both trims are available only with the 59bhp engine.
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Next comes High Up trim, which is offered with the 74bhp and 89bhp engines only and comes with a much more impressive kit list. This includes a more sophisticated 5.0in infotainment system, 15in alloy wheels, heated front seats, electrically adjustable and heated door mirrors, front foglights and a leather steering wheel and gearlever.
The Up Beats is a separate trim available with all three engines. It's slightly less lavishly equipped than the High Up, but if you love your music you won't care about that, because it brings a much more powerful sound system.
Ride & Handling: On the road, the two lower-powered engines are a little weedy, so we'd recommend seeking out the 89bhp version. It brings much punchier acceleration, particularly at low revs, making the Up far more relaxing to drive and a much more competent out-of-town car. The 113bhp engine is exclusively offered in the range-topping Up GTI and can propel the tiny car to 62mph in just 8.8sec.
There’s also an all-electric version called the e-Up, which has been substantially updated over the years. It feels genuinely nippy around town, although acceleration quickly tails off above 40mph.
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The Up manages to be both really good fun to drive and remarkably smooth riding. This is partly helped by the smaller wheels on offer, but also by the high levels of grip the car manages to achieve.
The controls are a pleasure to use; the gearshift and clutch are easy to operate smoothly and the steering is light yet precise – ideal for low-speed manoeuvres such as parallel parking. But it weighs up nicely during high-speed cornering, inspiring confidence in the Up’s handling.
Interior & Practicality: Tall drivers benefit from a wide range of seat adjustment, although only mid-range Move Up and higher trims get driver’s seat height adjustment as standard. Some people might find the seat a little firm and flat, although side support is good, helping to hold you in place through corners. It’s a shame that the Up’s steering wheel doesn’t adjust for reach (it only moves up and down).
For such a small car, the Up is certainly spacious in the front. There’s lots of leg room for tall adults and head room is equally generous. There’s plenty of room for elbows, too. The Up's boxy dimensions mean the roof doesn’t taper towards the rear of the car, so there's almost as much head room in the back as there is in the front. Leg room is reasonable by the standards of the class, although if you plan to carry adults in the back on a regular basis, the Hyundai i10 is a roomier option.
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The Up has a decent enough boot that's usefully square in shape and large enough for a few shopping bags or a couple of soft luggage cases. However, the rival Kia Picanto has a much bigger load bay so is a better choice if you need to carry lots of luggage.
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"I've always left driving an Up with a smile on my face, and there aren't many cars of any size or price you can say that about." - Mark Pearson, used cars editor
If you're interested in finding a used VW Up, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.
Ownership cost
What used Volkswagen up! will I get for my budget?
Basic Volkswagen Take Up models from 2012 can be found from £2500, but these have usually had a hard life and previously repaired accident damage – either that or they have a high mileage. Better equipped Move Ups are £3000, rising to £4000 for the poshest High Up variants from 2013 or 2014. Spend between £4000 and £5000 on clean 2015 cars with a full service history and preferably bought from a trader or an independent dealer; hunt around and you should find similar 2016 cars for the same money.
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If you can stretch to it, the facelifted car from July 2016 with a TSI turbocharged engine is available from £5000 upwards. The extra performance this version offers over other Ups in the range is worth it, along with the other improvements Volkswagen made to the Up range. Between £5000 and £7000 should net you a nice 2017 car, and between £7000 and £9000 for a 2018-2019 one. Look to spend around £9000 on a 2021 or 2022 car, and touching £10,000 for a 2023 example.
How much does cost to run a Volkswagen up!?
MPG
All Volkswagen Ups have good fuel economy, especially the ones with Bluemotion Technology. These versions are fitted with low rolling resistance tyres and engine stop-start to reduce consumption to a claimed 64.2mpg, under the older NEDC test.
Under the later, more realistic WLTP test, the 1.0 65 averaged 55.4mpg and the GTI 51.4mpg.
Insurance costs should be low, helped by the fitment of automatic emergency braking, which aims to reduce the likelihood of a low-speed collision.
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Road tax
For example, cars registered before 2017 will cost £20 per year for manual cars, but only Ups badged Bluemotion Technology get below 100g/km and free road tax, which isn’t as good as some rivals.
Petrol Ups registered after April 2017 will currently cost you a flat fee of £200 per year, which is the same as any petrol or diesel car. The e-Up will cost you the same. To find out more about road tax costs, click here.
Choosing an automatic Up registered before April 2017, however, doesn’t penalise you as it would in rival offerings, with lower CO2 figures than the manual and providing one of the few good reasons to choose it.
Servicing
Volkswagen has fixed-price servicing on cars between three and 15 years old; this should help you to reduce costs on service items. It is worth noting, though, that if you plan to keep your Up for a long time, the 1.0-litre engine requires a cambelt change every three years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Our recommendations
Which used Volkswagen up! should I buy?
Take Up models don’t come with air conditioning or electric windows. Later versions got a DAB radio and a CD player as standard, but the Take Up's relatively mean spec makes the Move Up a better bet. It will also give you that rarity in a new small car these days: a full-size spare wheel.
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High Up is the best-equipped version of the Volkswagen Up, with heated front seats, electrically operated and heated door mirrors, leather coverings for the steering wheel and handbrake, extra speakers for the stereo and front foglights.
There are also numerous other special editions such as Up Black and Up White, which were based on the High Up but only added additional styling tweaks, so they’re not worth seeking out.
The facelifted car from July 2016 has some styling tweaks, upgraded smartphone integration and a host of new paint and interior colour options to boost personalisation, but the major new introduction was the turbocharged 1.0-litre engine found in other VW Group products. With 89bhp, it give the Up the higher performance the car had been craving since its launch, making it the one to go for if your budget can stretch to it.
The Up Beats edition, with its 300W stereo, is the one to go for if you're an audiophile.
Our favourite Volkswagen Up: 1.0 TSI 90 High Up
Alternatives
What alternatives should I consider to a used Volkswagen up!?
The Hyundai i10 would be the one to consider if you need more interior space, because this is one of the roomiest cars in its class. It can be had with a 7.0in touchscreen in higher trim levels, whereas the Up requires you to use your smartphone. The i10 isn’t as much fun to drive and it doesn’t have a five-star NCAP safety rating, though.
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You should also look into the Up’s stablemates, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, because they are essentially the same car, except with different badges and interior finishings. Neither of them can be had with the 1.0-litre turbocharged engine from the Up, though, so they aren’t quite as effortless to drive. Both cars went electric-only in 2020.
At the other end of the scale is the bargain-priced Suzuki Celerio, which is more practical than the Up, because it comes with three seatbelts in the rear, rather than the Up’s two. The Celerio doesn’t have a classy interior like the Up, but then you aren’t paying Volkswagen money.
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If you're interested in finding a used VW Up, or any of the other small cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price
Volkswagen up! owner reviews
Sort by: Most Recent Star rating
Toby
Volkswagen Up! petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Jun 20, 2026 4:16 PM
It's a 2022 Volkswagen Beats Up! Fitted with the winter pack and lane assist.
Toby
Volkswagen Up! petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
May 17, 2026 4:32 PM
It's a 2022 Volkswagen beats up and it's a 5 door and it has a winter pack on it so it comes with heated seats, front fog lights and heated door mirrors
Simon
Volkswagen Up! petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Apr 11, 2026 9:46 AM
Very suitable for daily commute. Comfortable, good quality and good value. Just enough power and more than enough space. Rides and handles well. Very economical and charactful. Has been very reliable so far. My only grip has been windscreen wipers are noisy at times despite adjustment and lots of different brands!
Andrew
Volkswagen Up! petrol
Likes: Value, Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Dec 24, 2025 8:20 AM
We have owned our High Up for nearly 7 years and we love it ( it is the second Up we have owned). It's nippy, has good visibility, has surprisingly good space given its small size and excellent fuel economy (60+mpg) and is comfortable.
Ray
Volkswagen Up! petrol
Likes: Reliability, Servicing, Running costs
Dec 14, 2025 11:54 PM
Running costs reasonable given the fun per mile factor. A great car which, had VW invested just a little more time and money, could have been an outstanding car. As it is the little GTi is a hoot to drive especially on winding B-roads and the antithesis of today's leviathan SUVs.
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How reliable is the Volkswagen Up GTI ?
Reliability rating: 90.4%
Volkswagen Up GTI
Read reliability
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Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 3dr
£1,584
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 5dr
£1,695
Volkswagen up!
1.0 High up! Euro 5 5dr
£1,995
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 3dr
£1,995
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Take up! Euro 5 3dr
£1,999
Volkswagen up!
1.0 up! Black Euro 5 5dr
£1,999
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Take up! Euro 5 5dr
£2,195
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 5dr
£2,250
Volkswagen up!
1.0 Move up! Euro 5 3dr
£2,290
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About the writer
Name: Mark Pearson
Title: Used cars editor
Follow Mark Pearson on
Mark Pearson has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years and is currently the used cars editor for What Car?.
Mark spent his formative years at the BBC, where, at various times, he scheduled, broadcast and archived television and radio programmes and researched, wrote and produced promotional material.
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