Performance & drive
What it’s like to drive, and how quiet it is
Engine, 0-60mph and gearbox
After its 2020 update, the Volkswagen Up is offered with a choice of two petrol engines: a 1.0-litre with 59bhp, or a turbocharged unit with 113bhp that’s reserved for the sportier Up GTI model.
It’s a bit of a shame that VW chose to ditch the engines that previously filled that power gap; while the 59bhp engine has enough pep for inner-city driving, trying to reach motorway speeds is an outright struggle, and you’d have to wait for a long stretch of country road if you need to overtake a tractor.
However, that's only true if you stick with 14in or 15in wheels. Upgrading to 16in ones brings a noticeably firmer ride, while the largest 17in alloys that are standard on the Up GTI (and optional on R-Line) cause it to crash and bang over severe bumps. The stiffer sports suspension that comes with R-Line and GTI models doesn’t help, further emphasising such surface imperfections.
Handling
This is where the Up really does put rival cars to shame. It handles in a much more sophisticated and grown-up fashion than all of its peers, apart from the Kia Picanto.
Its precise steering is light enough to make low-speed manoeuvres easy work, but weights up enough as you turn the wheel to give you lots of confidence along faster, twisting roads. Throw in a decent amount of grip and surprisingly tidy body control (the Up doesn't lean over through tight corners as markedly as some rivals) and you end up with a car that’s genuinely fun to drive.
