Volkswagen Move Up – Review

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By Liam Bird

“Noddy’s been on the phone. He was wondering when he could have his car back”. “Couldn’t you afford the other roller-skate?” “Did someone boil-wash your Golf?”

Oh ha-ha. They’re all examples of what passes for wit, apparently. And they’ve all been aimed at me during my time with Volkswagen’s latest and tiniest city car to date, the Up!

vw move up front viewAt only 11feet 7inches long the Up! is indeed small, but make no mistake, VW are taking what they claim to be their first ever A-segment car (remember the Lupo anyone?) very seriously indeed. They know people are downsizing and they also know that no other vehicle class is set to grow as much in the coming years as that of the small city car. But despite its diminutive dimensions the Up! is so much more that just your average city run-about.

“Complete package”

Unveiled originally as a rear-engined concept in 2007 the Up! has been through more than just a few changes to make it the car we see today. The outside may look the same but mechanically things have changed almost completely. Now front-engined and front-wheel drive the Up gets its power from a new generation 999cc three cylinder petrol engine mated to an all new smooth shifting five speed gearbox that even with its oil weighs only 55lbs. It’s clever engineering and attention to detail like this that makes the Up! feel like such a complete package.

vw volkswagen move up interior dashboard steering wheelBy literally pushing the wheels of the Up! right in to its corners, not only have Volkswagen given their new baby one of the longest wheelbases in its class but they’ve made a car that looks tiny on the outside feel roomy on the inside. Four people (there’s no fifth seat belt) are easily accommodated without ever bashing elbows.

Despite the high-backed seats’ initial thinly padded appearance and lack of any real side bolstering they’re actually surprisingly comfortable. They’ve avoided the temptation to offset the pedals too, so the driving position feels like that of a much larger car. Even the boot is deep enough to swallow a couple of squishy weekend bags and a proper spare wheel.

“Eco-friendly”

You don’t want for standard equipment either. All but the entry level Take Up! models get Air-con, MP3/CD player, twin airbags and speed sensitive electrically assisted steering. To which, if specified, VW’s comfort pack option adds remote locking and power windows. There’s also a flat bottomed three spoke steering wheel a la Audi R8. Shame you don’t get its perforated leather rim though.

vw move up rear view angle

But, should you tick the options list, for an extra £275 you can choose to have your Up! with Maps and More. Completely new for the Up! or for any VW in fact, this ingenious dash mounted device, approximately the same size as a smart- phone, acts not only as a sat-nav, media player and trip computer but also allows voice activated Blue-tooth connectivity. Plus, because it’s removable you can upload your fuel figures to your home pc, teach yourself to be a more eco-friendly driver with Volkswagen’s ThinkBlue trainer, and even download further apps including everything from city guides to first aid advice. Try doing that in your Focus!

“Rock-solid”

So what about the downsides? Well with the Up! they’re few and far between. 60bhp (some Ups muster 75) and a 0-62 time of 14.4 seconds does mean any overtaking manoeuvres have to be carefully planned, and hills also slow your progress. But who’s complaining? Even with my “enthusiastic” driving style I returned well over 55mpg, and let’s not forget a year’s road tax is only 20 quid.

Plus, even with the extras, the mid-range Move-Up! retails at around £9,000, the badge on the front means its residuals are rock-solid, and every Up! gets a five-star EuroN-cap rating too. To sum up (sorry!), the Up! is brilliant. Get one, and the last laugh will be yours.

Volkswagen Move Up 1 litre 60PS
Engine: 999cc, 3 cylinder, 12Valve, Petrol
Transmission: 5 speed manual
Power: 65 bhp @5000 – 6000rpm
Torque: 70lb ft @3000 – 4300rpm
0-62MPH: 14.4 Sec
Max Speed: 99 mph
CO2: 105g/km
MPG: 62.8
Combined Price: £9,080

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