Volkswagen Up Move up! 1.0 3dr Car Review - February 2012

One of the best things about the Up when compared with many of its rivals is that the ride is really very comfortable, with the majority of the bumps and holes in the road never being felt. It’s also a great driving experience, with steering being accurate and quick to respond, and the handling giving enough feedback while on the road. The small stature of the up! means that visibility is very good in all directions, and the adjustable seats do mean that it is easy to find a comfortable driving position.

Speed and power however aren't priorities for the VW up!, and the acceleration from 0-62mph in this version is a fairly relaxed 14.4 seconds. The top speed of 99mph suggests it can be used confidently on the motorway, but the lack of power means that it might not be the most enjoyable experience.

Small and medium sized cars are quite the forte of VW, and the narrow grille and interesting air intake makes for a very attractive front end. The back end is a little more pert - without many of the excessive curves that are to be found in some other small cars - and is complemented by large dark glass boot lid. The alloy wheels are an optional extra with this version of the up!, but it is an investment that is well worth making to improve the look of the car.

Air conditioning and electric windows in the front seats help to boost the quality feel of the VW Up, and the CD stereo is well suited to the size of the car. Although there are a lot of desirable extras such as satellite navigation and heated seats to be found on the additional extras list, most people will be happy with the package on offer.

Those who buy a Volkswagen up! will usually do so with the clear intention of driving the car regularly around town, and for this purpose it is very practical. Its small stature means that it is easy to park, and the agile handling means that it is easy to drive. However, for those who are looking for a car to be used on long journeys or a car with a lot of storage space, they may want to look at a slightly larger and more powerful car.

Volkswagen has long been known for making superbly reliable cars, and there is no reason to think that the up! will be any different. The safety of the car is also very good, having achieved a five star award in the Euro NCAP safety tests, but it is a shame that traction control and ESP aren’t included as standard.

The list price of this version of the Volkswagen Up is £8,970, and this makes it one of the cheapest cars on the market as well as being one of the smallest. The level of equipment available for this price will make it an attractive option.

Another reason that people will like the VW up! is that it is also a very efficient car to run, achieving an average 62.8mpg. The low insurance group means that premiums will be kept low, and CO2 emissions of 105g/km make for extremely cheap tax. The up! is supplied with a three year warranty and a one year roadside breakdown assistance policy, which is fairly similar to what is on offer from its rivals.