When the concept for the VW Up was unveiled, it came after Toyota came out with theirs for the iQ. What the release of the Up showed though is that VW had what it take as well to do well in the niche. With the Up’s engine mounted in the rear and a rear-wheel drive system in place, it appeared that it was the iQ’s rival. Having taken time to be developed, it is believed that the wait was well worth since many anticipated the arrival of the VW Up.

Pros

People are split as to whether or not VW made a good decision with the Up’s cabin but it cannot be denied that the vehicle is spacious. And much of the reason it was able to achieve that was due to the unconventional configuration that the Up had. Most of what makes the Up run are underneath so this frees up space where it should’ve been located above the wheel.  Not to mention that with one of the longest of wheelbases in its category, the Up has more space to offer to begin with; the design just complemented this feature of the car perfectly.

The VW Up is a small car that makes you feel like you’re using a big car. Those making the switch to a smaller vehicle will then appreciate the seemingly seamless transition they will be subjected to. It is small and light and steering is designed to adjust to this, providing the kind of maneuverability one would require driving in the city.

Three trim levels are offered with the VW Up. While two are offered with just a 59bhp engine, these are still more tempting to get instead of more value-focused models from Korean brands. Not to mention that while VW is not exactly known for being budget-friendly, the Up has a price point that is more manageable since it is geared at recapturing lost segments of the market.

Cons

While spaciousness inside is a strong suit for the VW Up, interior design is not so much. It’s simple inside but VW somehow makes it appear to be better by offering intuitive placements on the dash and featuring premium finishing. If you didn’t like the dashboard on the new Beetle, you might not like the one on the VW Up as well since the two feel very similar. Bottom-line, where interiors are concerned, the VW Up has nothing on the Fiat 500.

The VW Up is a city car and it is made for city roads. While it does good work in an urban environment, it has a bit of a trouble getting around when roads get rougher and steeper. This is understandable but the Up can’t help but remind you every inch of the way with a hoarse tone that never completely goes away.

Those interested in making the VW Up a company car should reconsider. Despite having a small engine, the Up actually falls below the 100g/km threshold so that means more CO2 taxes for you.