Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen High up!

Strong badge appeal makes VW very desirable, but will price hold it back?

Volkswagen High up! front cornering

Last to feature in this test but first of the three to arrive on UK shores, the VW up! has a distinct advantage in this company.

The badge on its bonnet holds strong appeal for image-conscious buyers and the car has already been in dealers for several months. The parent company has also ensured that when these three cars are lined up alongside each other, the VW looks the sharpest.

Advertisement - Article continues below

Bold design cues like the unique rear windows and glass-covered tailgate instantly set the up! apart from its Skoda and SEAT cousins. The model in our pictures is a special-edition up! Black, which gets retro-inspired 16-inch wheels, chrome mirrors and pearlescent paint, but the High up! model we tested looks just as stylish.

Yet the gap between the VW and its siblings closes again inside. The up! shares the same superb build quality and excellent visibility as the Citigo and Mii, but there’s nothing in its cabin to justify its higher price tag.

The VW’s steering wheel is thinner than the other two’s, which makes it easier to see the dials clearly, but that’s about it. While the piano-black finish on the dash and steering wheel looks great, we found the reflections it causes in sunny weather to be distracting.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

Qashqai

2018 Nissan

Qashqai

52,849 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £10,900
View Qashqai
5008

2022 Peugeot

5008

46,225 milesManualDiesel1.5L

Cash £18,506
View 5008
Puma

2023 Ford

Puma

67,042 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £12,506
View Puma
EQC

2023 Mercedes

EQC

21,307 milesAutomaticElectric

Cash £26,000
View EQC

Our High up! had the same equipment as the Skoda, so heated front seats, air-con and the Maps & More touchscreen infotainment system all feature. However, options like the £350 sensor pack (it brings acoustic parking sensors and cruise control) and emergency braking are inexplicably pricier to have on your VW than they are on the Skoda.

While the up! shares the same spacious interior as its siblings, it has a trick up its sleeve. With the rear seatbacks folded, it has the same 951-litre luggage area as the others, but a movable false boot floor means the VW is the only car here with a fully flat loading bay. While this comes in handy when filling to the roof, most of the time you’re likely to leave it out to maximise the standard boot.

At the track, the up! matched the lighter Skoda from 0-60mph, with a time of 13.8 seconds, while in our braking tests, both cars stopped a lot sooner and more progressively than the grabby SEAT.

Back on the road, the VW felt slightly more responsive when cornering, due to its larger wheels and lower-profile tyres, while the hushed ride and great refinement are shared with its close relations.

Yet there’s a price to pay for all this. Equip the up! with the same fuel-saving technology that the Skoda gets as standard and it’ll cost you over £1,000 more than the Citigo.

While the up! has better predicted residual values than either of its cousins (retaining more than 50 per cent of its value over three years), it’s not exempt from road tax, and we’re not sure that typical buyers in this class will want to stomach the extra cost.

Details

Chart position: 2Why: The up! is our current class leader and has an edge with its sleek looks and desirable badge. Yet it’s also the least efficient and most expensive car here.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £35,385Avg. savings £2,911 off RRP*Used from £16,700
Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,019 off RRP*Used from £13,895
Omoda 5

Omoda 5

RRP £25,915Avg. savings £2,116 off RRP*Used from £18,900
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £2,721 off RRP*Used from £8,600
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k
Kia PV5 Passenger - show front

New Kia PV5 Passenger MPV undercuts the VW ID.Buzz by a huge £25k

New entry into the electric people carrier market undercuts the VW ID. Buzz by a significant margin
News
29 Apr 2025
Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price
BMW X7 - front

Car Deal of the Day: BMW’s ultimate luxury SUV at an unusually low price

German firm’s flagship SUV could never be called cheap but it is exceptional value at £735 a month – making it our Deal of the Day for Sunday 27 April
News
27 Apr 2025
New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645
Kia PV5 Cargo on display at Commercial Vehicle Show - front 3/4

New 2025 Kia PV5 van starts from a tempting £22,645

All-new entry into the van market promises competitive pricing and comes with a range of up to 247 miles
News
30 Apr 2025