Car Reviews > Volkswagen > > Volkswagen Move up Car Review

Facts At A Glance
Prices: £8970
Engine: 999cc 3-cylinder
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power/torque: 59 bhp/ 95 Nm
0-62 mph: 14.4 seconds
Top Speed: 100 miles per hour
Economy: 62.8 miles per gallon
Emissions: 105g per kilometre
Equipment: Electric windows, air conditioning, traction control
On Sale: Now

The verdict is out on the new £8970 city car from Volkswagen.

Small cars are big news these days, and there are few cars smaller than the tiny new Volkswagen up!

The compact new 3-door city car has been given a brand new chassis, huge Volkswagen badges, and crisp styling, while under the bonnet, a new 999cc petrol engine offers a fuel economy rating of more than 60 miles per gallon.

The new car can be ordered immediately, although they will not be ready for delivery until the spring of next year. There will be six different versions available to choose between at launch, all of which are powered by that brand new engine, which comes in two different tuning states.

The price kicks off at £7995 for the Take up! model, which is at the bottom of the range and offers a bhp rating of just 59, rising to as much as £11,180 for the highest specification, the limited edition up! Black and up! White, both of which feature a bhp rating of 74.

The top spec vehicle was tested earlier in the year, so on this occasion it was the turn of the mid-level Move up! to get a test drive. The Move up! costs £8790 and comes with a bhp rating of 59.

The chunky aesthetics give the vehicle both a robust and a functional appearance, while there are also shades of the latest Polo, particularly in the car’s headlamp design and general profile. At 1641 millimetres wide and 3540 millimetres long, the car is basically the same size as direct competitors such as the Toyota Aygo and the Fiat 500.

When it comes to the interior of the vehicle, the cabin both feels and looks extremely well made, with an upmarket feel added by the inclusion of a piano-black trim that is splashed across the dashboard.

The vehicle comes packed with optional extras and includes the company’s tablet and portable GPS device, as well as the new Volkswagen City Emergency Braking system, which is intended to help to prevent accidents when the car is travelling at speeds of up to 20 miles hour, and electronic stability control.

The front-engine, 4-seat, front-wheel drive model offers a surprisingly generous amount of space in the cabin, and finding a comfortable driving position is an easy task. The rear seats are even more impressive, and with the 2410 millimetre wheelbase, there should be no problems with carrying as many as four adults. The boot space is not quite as generous, though still reasonable at 251 litres, with the luggage area also including a moveable floor that can be used to safely store delicate or valuable items. On the downside, the steering does not offer reach adjustment, although it can be tuned for rake.

The 3-cylinder engines sounds a little bit on the gruff side when idle, but as the engine speed starts to climb it delivers an appealingly bassy rumble. Even this version, which is relatively low-powered with a bhp rating of just 59, the car nonetheless still feels both powerful and responsive, largely because of the vehicle’s torque rating of 95 Nm, which is accessible from 3000 revs per minute, and the very minimalist kerb weight of just 929kg.

Perhaps a little basic for some, but the Volkswagen Move up! nonetheless has plenty of appeal.

by Autoweb