Volkswagen Up used cars for sale

Volkswagen Up buying guide

The Volkswagen Up's main rivals include the Kia Picanto, Fiat 500 and Hyundai i10, while there’s also the Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii to consider – especially as the SEAT and Skoda are near-enough identical to the VW. Read our guide and learn which Up is best for you.

What Volkswagen Up trim levels are there?

Highlights of entry-level Up trim include 15-inch alloys, ‘Fusion’ cloth trim, manual air-con and electric front windows. The White Edition and Black Edition are different twists on the same theme, with both having 16-inch alloys complemented by white or black contrast colours for the alloys, roof, door mirrors and dashpad respectively. 

Beats trim is distinguished by red or black exterior trim highlights (depending on exterior colour) and cloth seat trim with microfleece side bolsters, but the Beats’ USP is an audio system with eight-channel amplifier, 300w output and chunky subwoofer. R-Line introduces a more sporting flavour, with 16-inch alloys, a contrast black roof and door mirrors, lowered suspension, more purposeful front and rear bumpers, and there’s heated front seats and electric heated door mirrors too. 

The GTI is a standalone higher-performance model perhaps best thought of as a miniature Golf GTI. Highlights include unique body styling, 17-inch alloys and lowered sports suspension. 

The all-electric e-Up also benefits from a unique spec, including 15-inch alloys, exterior styling pack, heated front seats, electric heated mirrors, parking sensors and a rear-view camera. 

For models produced before the recent trim level tweak, you might also see Take up!, Move up! and High up! alongside familiar models. 

Volkswagen Up interior and technology

The Up is both VW’s cheapest and oldest model, so don’t expect the same interior trimmings that you’d find in the Golf or Tiguan. Most noticeably, there’s no touchscreen – unlike a Picanto or i10 – but VW does provide a phone holder and some apps to download. It’s a city car designed mainly for short hops across town, so what more do you need? VW deciding not to redesign the car’s interior to fit a touchscreen has kept costs down, too.

But all recent Ups come with Bluetooth and DAB radio, so you’re not missing out on your favourite songs.

Volkswagen Up engine range explained

Volkswagen Up 1.0

The standard petrol engine is a really good fit for the Up. It’s nippy around town and not out of its depth on faster roads, either – just be patient when accelerating. Because the Up is so light, the 1.0-litre petrol engine is able to achieve over 65mpg so it costs a lot less to fill up than bigger cars. And, because it’s a simple engine with little to go wrong and few consumables to replace, it should continue to be cheap to run throughout your time with the car.

Volkswagen Up GTI 1.0 TSI

Okay, so the figures don’t sound all that impressive – 115hp and 0-62mph in just under nine seconds – but the Up GTI is fun, whatever speed you’re doing. You don’t have to be on a racetrack to get the most out of it. It’s darty and energetic, even if you’re only going to the supermarket. Even so, it can return over 50mpg pretty easily.

Volkswagen e-Up 32kWh

The VW e-Up is perhaps the perfect city car, because it boasts all the standard Up qualities with a quiet, zero-emission electric powertrain. Whether it’s clean air zones, tight multistorey car parks and the occasional jaunt out of city limits, the e-Up takes it all in its stride. The 161-mile range is impressive for an electric car of this size and price, and you get free road tax on top.