Should you buy one?

Nobody can accuse the Volkswagen Up of having an easy ride. It’s up against a wide range of rivals, many of which undercut the Up by a sizeable amount of money. However, if you can stretch to the cost of the Up it is one of, if not the best city car on sale today.

Its blend of good practicality, rock solid build quality, choice of engines and a polished overall drive make it an excellent all-rounder, while the option of an all-electric E-Up and Up GTI only serve to broaden its appeal.

What we like

The Volkswagen Up is good-looking, well made and great to drive. There are loads of different trim levels to choose from and a good level of equipment as standard, even on the base model. The GTI is a star of the range for those that want a bit of affordable driving fun, while the others come with low running costs, especially the E-Up.

What we don’t like

Despite the presence of several trim levels, two body styles and electric power in the Up range, the regular versions are limited to a single petrol engine and manual gearbox. That means the only automatic option is the E-Up, which is very expensive to buy. The Up is falling behind a little in terms of active safety equipment, too, as evidenced by its disappointing Euro NCAP rating.