VW Up! review

Affordable, basic motoring with everything that you actually need

For – the real replacement for the original Beetle – classless ‘people’s car’
Against – arguably not as pretty as the SEAT and Skoda equivalents

I think there must be a little consultancy, probably in trendy Islington, or Clerkenwell, London where 21 year old psychology graduates come up with stupid names for cars. Names like cee’d, pro­cee’d, Ka, Superb, Mii, Qashqai and now Up! In German, the nearest word I could find was üppig and I wondered if Up! was short for this word. It means curvaceous, sumptuous, lavish, luxuriant or lush and while the Up! might have many great features, curvaceous lavish and luxuriant surely do not apply. I have therefore concluded that the name was made up by those consultants. 

As if a ridiculous name is not bad enough, Volkswagen marketing people have been enjoying word play with every possible prefix or suffix of the word ‘up’ to describe its ‘line up’; take up! for the cheapest, move up’ for the next, high up! for the top of the range, x up! for the off-roader and cargo up! for the van . There is also the black up! and white up! which almost unbelievably have to be called up! black and up! white in PC-conscious Britain. Other combinations come to mind one of which can’t be printed but means ‘mistake’ and also perhaps somewhat offensive, ‘up yours’!

What’s in a name?
What’s in a name? Fortunately the Up!, despite its name, has just been voted world car of the year by 66 international motoring writers and is brilliant. When I first heard about it, I wondered what all the fuss was about but having now driven some, I understand.

It is something of a world car and has been launched at a time when the city car sector is due to grow faster than virtually any other not just in Europe but also in growth markets like South America.

Volkswagen can profitably produce such a low price car thanks to building it in Bratislava, Slovakia where it probably costs about €1,300 less to build a car than in Germany.

3  and 5-door versions
The Up! is launched as a 3-door and a 5-door will follow later this year as will an electric version in 2013.

There are six versions available at launch using two engines, both new generation 1.0 litre, 3-cylinder petrol of 60 and 75 PS. The take up! 60 PS at £7,995 has a basic specification but includes anti-lock brakes with Hydraulic Brake Assist, four airbags, radio/CD/ MP3 player.

The move Up! 60 PS at £8,970 adds air conditioning, driver’s seat adjustment, front electric windows, split folding rear seat, variable boot floor and remote central locking. There is a BlueMotion Technology version at £9,330 which includes battery regeneration, Stop/Start and low rolling resistance tyres.

The High Up! 75 PS at £10,390 has 15” alloy wheels, leather-trimmed steering wheel, gear knob and handbrake grip, electric door mirrors, heated front seats and front fog lights and Maps and More navigation, information and telephone system.

The Up! black 75PS at £11,180 is naturally finished in black pearl effect paint and has 16” alloy wheels, darkened rear side windows, black trim highlights, front and rear mats.

The Up! white 75 PS also at £11,180 is painted in Pure White metallic paint and as well as white internal and external highlights has white 16” alloy wheels.

The Up! despite just 60 or 75 PS goes remarkably well and feels bigger than it is. The concept seems to hark back to the original Volkswagen Beetle which was designed as simple, reliable transport with no bells or whistles. Not being laden with unnecessary equipment, the Up! is light weight and very economical.

A totally practical ‘only car’
The Up! is a totally practical ‘only car’ transport for four providing the rear passengers are not overlarge. The interior fit, finish and quality are right up to Volkswagen standards and the seats are comfortable and supportive.  This is a very airy car with excellent visibility thanks to large windows. Luggage space while small is as good as anything in the class and probably more than the original Beetle. Two-up the luggage space can be more than trebled which makes it ideal for shifting sofas and fridges.

The Up! Is remarkably refined for its size and cruises quietly at motorway speeds. The gear change is particularly sweet and the suspension is supple with little roll.

There is no diesel version at the moment but the two petrol engines offer diesel economy with combined figures of 62.8 mpg for the  60 PS version and 60.1 for the 75 PS engine.

No doubt at some time in the future there will be  a GT or GTI version as there was with the Lupo and that is really something to look forward to.

© Robert Couldwell April 2012
for publication on WintonsWorld