VW Up - the reliable city car

The ride over speed bumps and broken surfaces is settled and it deals with motorways like a bigger car. Stick with 14” or 15” wheels though – any bigger will harm that ride comfort.

Driving

Of its 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engines with 59bhp, 74bhp and 89bhp output options, the highest-powered engine is by far the best. It has a stop-start system as standard. Alternatively the all-electric e-Up model offers zero-emission motoring.

The regular engines are refined, but wind and road noise are there at speed. There’s plenty of feel in the clutch and gearchange but the ASG auto option is slow and snatchy – avoid it.

The Up has plenty of grip in corners, plenty of feel on fast roads and easy steering at low speeds. The body doesn’t roll around under cornering.

Interior

Inside you get plenty of seat adjustment, albeit slightly less on base models. The controls are logically laid out, while big windows and narrow pillars give a very good forward view, but the steering wheel can obscure your view of the speedometer.

Rear visibility is better than that of key rivals, and there’s the option of reversing sensors and a camera on most models.

There’s DAB and aux input on all models. A Bluetooth system with 5.0” screen is standard on the top model, optional on others. You can put your smartphone into a dash cradle and use it for navigation via an app.

All models feel classy and well put together. No other city car comes close. The High Up range-topper gains more premium dash trim and there’s plenty of room up front in all directions. All-round oddment stowage is good, but the glovebox is small.

The back is genuinely roomy enough to make the Up a full four-seater. The five-door model is the one to choose if you plan to use the rear seats regularly. Hyundai’s i10 is roomier in the back and can seat five if necessary.

The Up comes with a one-piece folding rear seat on the base model, and a 60:40 split on others, with an optional height-adjustable front passenger’s seat on higher-spec versions.

The boot is a decent size and shape, with a dual-height floor on all but entry-level models, but again the Hyundai i10’s is much bigger. The load space with rear seats folded and the floor in its highest position is flat.