Used Volkswagen Lupo Hatchback 1999 - 2005 review

What's the used Volkswagen Lupo like?

City cars are usually aimed at the buyer who wants the cheapest car they can find and don't really care what they get for their cash.

The Volkswagen Lupo is a bit different. It looks smart yet funky inside and out, and has build quality that can rival many of Volkswagen's bigger family cars.

Overview

Fun yet classy, but you'll pay for the pleasure

Pros

• The Lupo is a smart city car with VW quality

Cons

• Expensive and hopelessly impractical for more than two people

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Volkswagen Lupo

1.4 S 3dr

£1,699

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1.4 S 3dr

£1,950

Volkswagen Lupo

1.4 S 3dr

£1,995

Volkswagen Lupo

1.4 S 3dr

£2,495

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1.4 E 3dr

£2,495

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1.4 E 3dr

£3,380

Volkswagen LUPO

GTI | 1.6 FRESH IMPORT + GRADE 3.5 + GTI

£6,495

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£7,495

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Although the cabin is well turned out and easy to use, it's a bit tight on space, even for a city car. Front-seat passengers won't suffer too much, but anyone confined to the back will struggle for head- and legroom, and the boot is tiny.

On the other hand, the Lupo is a decent drive, with reasonable handling and decent performance, although it isn't as much fun as a Ford Ka, for example. It doesn't ride that well, either, and feels choppy at pretty much any speed.

Our recommendations

Which used Volkswagen Lupo should I buy?

The Lupo comes with a wide range of engines. Petrols include a 50bhp 1.0-litre (slow, but fine in town), a 75bhp 1.4 (less laboured and still pretty frugal, making it the best choice), a 100bhp version of the same 1.4 (faster but thirstier) and a 125bhp 1.6 in the Lupo GTI (quick but expensive to buy and run).

There are two diesel units - a 1.4 with 75bhp and a 1.7 with just 60bhp. The 1.7 isn't worth bothering with because it's gutless, but the 1.4 is much more punchy and still frugal.

The 1.0-litre motor comes in basic E trim only. This gets you power steering and twin front airbags. The 75bhp 1.4 and the 1.7 diesel are offered in both E and S trim, which adds central locking, deadlocks and electric windows. Sport trim adds alloy wheels and heated mirrors and the GTI gets an alarm, immobiliser and remote central locking.