Volkswagen Up! …
The thing about ladies handbags is that they can always pack in more than us mere blokes think. Don’t ever try to empty one inside the house if you’re looking for the car keys, better to go out to the garden where there’s more room.
It’s the same with the Volkswagen Up! It’s bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside. It’s also quite a stylish looking little auto-trinket, with a jewel-like three cylinder engine and dinky personal interface on the dashboard.
There is actually a choice of two engines, a 59 bhp or 74 bhp version of the new 1 litre unit. Neither is very quick although the 74 bhp engine is sprightly enough for everyday use on motorway and country roads.
Volkswagen claim a 62.8 mpg fuel consumption figure for the smaller engine of the two on the combined cycle, but they also have a ‘BlueMotion Tech’ version which return up to 70 mpg. I’m always a bit wary of these claims, especially with the smaller engines, as I rarely get close to manufacturer’s figures, but then if they wouldn’t make such cars fun to drive and nice to listen to, then us auto-aural nuts might not get so carried away. I just love the sound of a 3 cylinder engine. Sad, but too far gone to care!
And don’t let the compact dimensions worry you, it won’t fall into any potholes and the ride is surprisingly supple for such a short wheelbase. Add to that, light and direct steering plus a snickety gearchange and the whole package adds up to a nice wee bit of fun on the work day commute.
The Up! has a couple of very close rivals, the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo, which are both cheaper, but lack the finish of the Volkswagen, even though they are pretty much clones of the same car. But there is another advantage, Volkswagen still has that world wide respect for its name and reputation, just look at the residuals.
Passenger protection hasn’t been compromised either, as the car has achieved 5 stars in the Euro NCAP tests, so it’s up to the job of ferrying folk about in safety. And there’s actually more room inside than you might think. Headroom is good and shoulder room is perfectly adequate, unless you’re giving a TV Gladiator a lift. The steering column lacks a wee bit of adjustment but there’s plenty in the driver’s seat to enable a decent driving position to be accommodated.
But if you and three friends are heading off to the south of France, best rely on bikinis, mankinis, tee shirts and flip flops – and nick the Germans’ towels when you get there. That’s not to say the boot is small, but it is narrow from tailgate to seatback although it is quite tall. On the other hand, if there is only two of you, then fold the rear seats down and take the kitchen sink.
The top end models also have a pluggable/removable SatNav infotainment system which sits on top of the dash so you and your friends can be entertained on the move while it makes sure you don’t get lost.
I liked it, and a friend who has one swears by it – rather than at it!
Up! ?? And don’t ignore the exclamation mark, it’s mandatory.