Volkswagen Up High up! 1.0 3dr Car Review - February 2012

The fuel economy of the up! 1.0 3dr is not as impressive as you might expect from a car of its size. It only manages 60.1 mpg, and because of this it fails to achieve the highest possible rating for emissions, falling into the B category for Road Tax. However, it does redeem itself by extracting 74bhp from its 1.0 litre three cylinder engine, giving it enough muscle to cope with urban driving, and even performing admirably during motorway travel.

The steering on the up! 1.0 3dr is very responsive and fully lives up to the high standards of its bigger Volkswagen counterparts. Despite its size it is fun to drive and corners impressively, making it ideal for you new drivers who are lacking in confidence behind the wheel. The ride quality is also smooth and comfortable, as well as being quiet even on uneven road surfaces.

The up! 1.0 3dr is designed to be stylish without looking awkwardly small. When compared to a Smart Car or a Toyota iQ, the up! seems much more grown up and has the look of a larger car.

Considering the price of the up! High up! 1.0 3dr, a decent amount of kit in included as standard. This includes a CD player with MP3 connectivity, Satnav, Bluetooth, electric front windows and door mirrors, air conditioning and alloy wheels.

There are a number of optional extras on offer including metallic paint for £450, an electric sunroof for £650 and the joint option of cruise control and rear parking sensors for a very reasonable £350.

The up! High up! 1.0 3dr received the highest possible five stars rating in the euro NCAP safety tests. Volkswagen provides a three year 60,000 mile warranty backed up by Volkswagen’s reputation for reliability and build quality which is amongst the best in the industry

The up! High up! 1.0 3dr is the smallest car in Volkswagen's range yet it still manages to squeeze in two rear seats and a boot. While rear passengers may find it a squeeze, the up! is no smaller on the inside than any of its rivals. Not only have VW found room in that tiny body shell for a boot but the boot is also a fairly reasonable size, offering 251 litres.

The up! High up! 1.0 3dr maintains the high safety standards of its Volkswagen counterparts offering four airbags, which is more than adequate for a car of its size. It also features ABS and stability control at no extra cost.

The overall quality of the Up! 1.0 3dr certainly put it at the same levels as more established cars, however its starter price of just £10,390 puts it in a league of its own in terms of value for money when you consider the amount of equipment featured as standard.

The running costs are good but not excellent - it is disappointing that the CO2 emissions of 108g/k preclude the up! Higher up! from VED band A. Early news suggests that Volkswagen is due to release an electric version called the e Up! in 2013 so buyers who want to save money on fuel and tax may want to hang on until next year.