- Fuel-efficient 1.0-litre petrol engine
- Light clutch action and refined gear shifts
- Competent dynamics
- Progressive brake pedal operation
- Space-efficient packaging
- Engine lacks power for hills and overtaking
- Short-travel suspension struggles with bigger bumps
- Lack of sound insulation
Overview
Released in October 2012, the Volkswagen up! was a light, four-seat hatchback available in three- and five-door bodies. Manufactured in Bratislava, Slovakia, the front-wheel drive VW up! was powered by a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine – which required 95 RON premium unleaded petrol – and mated to a five-speed manual transmission.
Dimensions
Compared to the Volkswagen Mk.5 Polo , the up! was 524 mm shorter (at 3540 mm), 41 mm narrower (1641 mm), 24 mm lower (1476 mm) and had a 49 mm shorter wheelbase (2407 mm). Rear cargo capacity was 251 litres with the rear seats in position, though this increased to 951 litres when the seats were folded down; the front passenger seat could also be folded flat to transport longer objects.
Suspension and EDL
The Volkswagen up! had MacPherson strut front suspension, a torsion beam rear axle and was fitted with a front electronic differential lock (EDL) which could brake an inside spinning wheel when cornering – to reduce understeer – at speeds of up to 40 km/h.
| Body | Engine | Trans. | Peak power | Peak torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3dr hatch, 5dr hatch |
1.0-litre CHYB petrol I3 |
5sp man. | 55 kW at 6200 rpm | 95 Nm at 3000-4300 rpm |
Safety equipment
Standard safety equipment for the Volkswagen up! included dual front airbags, front side airbags (with head and thorax protection), ABS, electronic brake force distribution, brake assist, electronic stability control, traction control and front seatbelts with pretensioners and load limiters.
The up! was also fitted with Volkswagen’s ‘City Emergency Braking’ system. Operating when the vehicle was travelling between 5 km/h and 30 km/h, the system used a laser sensor to monitor objects up to 10 metres in front of the vehicle and assess the risk of a collision. The system would warn the driver of an impending collision and, if the driver failed to respond, would automatically brake the vehicle to minimise the severity of, or prevent, a collision.
Euro NCAP testing
In Euro NCAP testing , a left-hand drive VW up! received a five star safety rating which included an 89 per cent adult occupant protection rating and an 80 per cent child occupant protection rating. In the frontal impact test, protection was rated as adequate for the driver’s chest and lower legs. In the side impact test, protection was rated as adequate for the driver’s chest, torso and abdomen. Furthermore, protection for the driver’s chest was rated as marginal in the more severe pole impact test. Volkswagen also demonstrated that a similar level of protection would be provided for occupants of different sizes and in different seat positions.
Under ANCAP’s assessment methodology , the up! received a five star adult occupant protection rating with a score of 33.37 out of 37.
Features
Standard features for the Volkswagen up! included 14-inch steel wheels with 165/70 R14 tyres (and a full-size spare), a six speaker sound system with a CD player, MP3-compatibility and auxiliary inputs (3.5 mm/iPod), air conditioning, daytime running lights, a rear fog light, 60/40 split and folding seats, remote central locking, power front windows and heated mirrors, a height adjustable steering wheel, removable luggage cover, 12 volt power outlet and an immobiliser.
VW up! options
The up! was also available with the following extra-cost options –
- Maps and More: a detachable tablet with a five-inch touch screen which plugs into a dock on the dashboard and provides satellite navigation, Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity and audio streaming, infotainment functions and a comprehensive trip computer. The tablet also includes a 32GB SD storage card for music storage and, when detached, can be used to guide the owner back to their vehicle;
- Comfort Style Pack: 15-inch alloy wheels, ‘leatherette’ seat trim, heated front seats, front fog lights, floor mats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, handbrake and gear shift lever;
- Comfort Drive Pack: requires the Maps and More package and adds cruise control and rear parking sensors;
- A panoramic sunroof with wind deflector and blind; and,
- Metallic or pearlescent paint.
Brochure
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