Volkswagen up! review - Reliability and safety

The Volkswagen up! received a full five-star safety rating in its original 2011 Euro NCAP test. However, the testing procedures have since been adjusted and, when re-tested in 2019, the up! was given a three-star score.

This was largely due to VW deleting the formerly standard City Emergency Braking Pack, along with more rigorous Euro NCAP testing standards. Sadly, autonomous Emergency Braking is no longer even an option. However all versions of the up! do get six airbags, stability control and Lane Assist.

The up! didn’t feature in our 2020 Driver Power survey, but Volkswagen itself finished in 19th place out of 30 manufacturers.

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Warranty 

Volkswagen offers an industry standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty with the up!. It’s easy enough to find rival city cars with longer periods of cover if you want them – the Hyundai i10 and the Toyota Aygo both come with five-year/unlimited-mileage warranties and Kia offers seven years and 100,000 miles of cover with the Picanto.

Servicing

Volkswagen offers guidance on fixed and flexible servicing approaches, depending on the age of your car, mileage covered and what type of driving you regularly undertake.