Volkswagen Up 5dr Review

25 January 2012

What is it?

There’s nothing to it, really. Volkswagen’s much-praised city car, the VW Up gets another couple of doors without changing its outline or interior dimensions, whereupon the price goes up £375, like for like, over the costs of the three-door range.

Add a few kilograms for the new doors, chuck in the fact that the slightly lower sills of the rear windows give better rear three-quarter visibility, and you’re looking at a totally familiar car.

What’s it like?

When you get into, and ride in, the rear compartment, you’ll see what a superb piece of packaging the Up really is. Four outsized adults can get into and travel comfortable in a five-door Up: we did it.

The car retains its poise over bumps with four big people in it, in a way baby cars never used to, continuing to ride flat and offer decent bump-absorption. The rear doors really do allow dignified entry and exit for normal adults. And the breezy little one-litre triple makes the job of hauling all that extra people-weight seem perfectly simple. After a bit of time with this car, you wonder why four-metre superminis need all that extra space and power.

The boot is a bit compromised, of course. You’d never get four people’s holiday luggage into it. And after 50 miles or so, those occupants in the rear will be yearning for a bit more spreading room. Or to change with those in front. But a car just 3.6 metres long, it does an amazing job.

Should I buy one?

For budget-conscious families with half-grown kids, or those who just like really good small cars, the new Up five-door makes a fine choice, especially given all the driving, economy, longevity and residual value virtues that come with it.