Volkswagen Up (2012 to 2023)

Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (70hp) manual
“Though the Volkswagen Up! now sits in a market with several other key competitors, it’s still more than good enough a proposition. Cleverly put together and surprisingly refined, it’ll be a great option for those who want a comfortable around-town car that won’t fall over during longer journeys.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The VW Up! has been at the top of the city car class for a decade, and it’s still going strong.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.6 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up is as good as city cars get. It’s enjoyable to drive thanks to a smooth ride, alert handling and excellent refinement. It’s practical and affordable to buy and run, making this a sensational all-rounder. Don’t buy another city car before giving this one a look.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up city car isn’t revolutionary, it’s just quantifiably better than the opposition.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (75hp) manual High Up
Score: 7 / 10
“A high-quality and fashionable city car choice with a versatile petrol engine under the bonnet.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“This is a first-class city car, the king of the urban jungle – you can use it on motorways, but where this car really excels is through crowded urban landscapes.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.4 / 10
“Low running costs, good build quality and an easy driving experience make the Volkswagen up! an excellent city-car choice.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The VW Up is one of the most stylish and desirable city cars on sale, but it’s relatively expensive and some alternatives have a little more space in the back.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (60hp) manual R-Line
“The smallest car in the extensive Volkswagen range remains one very much in the ascendancy.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (60hp) manual R-Line
“Head out onto the open road, though, and the limitations of its tiny powerplant become more noticeable. Getting up to motorway speeds will test your patience and overtaking on country lanes will require careful consideration, a long straight and dropping down a gear or two.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (90hp) manual High Up
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up is undoubtedly one of the more talented small cars on the market, but it lacks the kind of on-paper performance that would put it on the radar of an evo reader.”
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (60hp) manual Move Up
“The main thing that characterises the Volkswagen Up! is that it resembles a shrunken Polo. It has a similar quality feel to its larger Volkswagen family members, and this is quite rare in the city car class. The downside is that there are cheaper cars in a segment where price is important.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up city car was launched in the UK back in the heady days of 2012 (remember them?) and rightly shook up the city car sector, bringing a level of quality and maturity that had not been seen in the sector before.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 10 / 10
“There’s a great deal to like about the Volkswagen Up, not least the fact that it feels quite mature for a city car and doesn’t make you feel like it is a compromise over a bigger car.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Seven years after launch, the Volkswagen Up is still the best city car you can buy.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“City cars generally don’t cost the Earth to run and the Volkswagen Up is no exception. Regardless of your engine choice, you can look forward to a 60mpg+ fuel economy on paper, and the low purchase price and low emissions mean that road tax is inexpensive too.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8.8 / 10
“The benchmark of the city car class”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“It’s a VW. So it’s quality. Well-built, comfortable, easy to drive, cheap to run – and as big as a Polo inside. It can’t compete with the Fiat 500 for looks – or sales. But it is the best little car you can buy. It doesn’t feel cheap.
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (74hp) manual High Up!
“In short, the VW is a bloody good little car. But the Fiat’s quite a lot more than that. That’s why you’re going to say Up! yours to the Volkswagen and buy the 500 instead.” (Jeremy Clarkson)
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Model reviewed: 1.0-litre petrol (60hp) manual Move Up!
Score: 8 / 10
“A small car that’s terribly grown-up but works well as a city car.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up might be more expensive than a SEAT Mii or Skoda Citigo, but it’s classier inside and available with a brilliant turbocharged engine, making the expense easy to justify. Choosing between the Up and the Hyundai i10 is harder; the Up is better to drive while the i10 more practical.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“This is the one they all need to watch out for. VW has finally got serious about the city car.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 6 / 10
“The Volkswagen Up combines fun driving manners with generous standard equipment, while a high-quality interior sets it apart from rivals such as the Kia Picanto. It’s a shame the entry-level engine is a little underpowered, though, and automatic emergency braking isn’t available.”
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Model reviewed: Range overview
“The Volkswagen Up feels right at home on tight city streets, thanks to its compact dimensions. And, with a new turbocharged engine, it’s not out of its depth on the motorway, either. Unfortunately, its ageing safety specs now render it a car to avoid.”
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