Used Volkswagen up! cars for sale

The Volkswagen up! made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011 and was available to buy the following year. It was – and remains – the smallest and most affordable vehicle in the Volkswagen range, making it a good choice for first-time drivers or households that require a high-quality second car.

Volkswagen up! updates and facelifts

Initially, this sophisticated supermini was available as a 3-door model, one that offered more interior space than its compact exterior dimensions suggested. A more practical 5-door variant followed later in 2012.

In 2013, the all-electric e-up! was released and remained in production until 2022. The same year, extra trim levels were added: Groove up! and Rock up!. Two years later, Street up! and Club up! joined the growing list, and in 2016 the model was given a facelift. This featured new bumpers and lights and an additional trim-level: Beats up!

The 2016 model was the winner of that year’s Next Green Car Award, and it was marked out as a city-car which offered significant environmental performance.

Upon initial release, the up! was equipped with a 1.0-litre 59bhp petrol engine as standard, with a 74bhp version available for top-tier High up! trims. The e-up!, meanwhile, features an all-electric drivetrain, producing 81bhp and zero CO2 emissions, making it cost-effective to run.

Discover your ideal used Volkswagen up! by browsing through the vehicles available at Arnold Clark.

Practicality and style of the car

If you typically drive alone or with one other passenger, a 3-door up! should more than suffice. If you regularly travel with friends or family, this 4-seater is at its most practical when chosen with a 5-door body. Either way, the up!’s compact size makes it ideal for manoeuvring in busy urban environments and slotting into small parking spaces.

Latest up! models feature a 251-litre boot, which is larger than that of the Toyota Aygo, and only one litre less than the Hyundai i10. What’s more, with the 60/40 split-folding rear seats dropped, cargo capacity grows to a creditable 951-litres and provides flexibility when it comes to carrying bulky items. All variants have a height-adjustable boot floor too, which makes getting heavy items in and out much easier and enables you to stow valuable items out of sight.

The cabin is fitted with a glovebox, a cupholder at the bottom of the dash, and expansive door bins, giving you space to carry water bottles, phones and more.

Running costs

Since the car occupies the lower end of the insurance spectrum (1-17, out of a possible 50), it’s cost-effective to insure. In most cases, the up! falls into insurance groups 1-10. Only the most powerful variant, the GTI, occupies insurance group 17. In terms of road tax, the car incurs an annual charge of between £20 and £180, depending on which trim you choose and the year it was manufactured.

Servicing the Volkswagen up! won’t break the bank. Indeed, here at Arnold Clark, we offer expert maintenance at low prices to suit your needs and budget.

How a used Volkswagen up! drives

The Volkswagen up! was initially available with a Euro 5-compliant 1.0-litre petrol engine that offered outputs of 59bhp or 74bhp, each paired with five-speed manual transmission. These powertrains return a combined figure of between 60.1mpg and 68.9mpg while producing CO2 emissions as low as 96g/km (Move up! trims), 105g/km (Take up!) and 108g/km (High up!).

This engine line-up remained constant, despite the introduction of new trim levels in 2013. However, Take up!, Move up! and High up! grades were given the option of a five-speed Automated Shift Gearbox.

In its current form, the up! is powered by a 1.0-litre petrol engine, with most variants producing an output of 64bhp and the GTI option delivering 113bhp with a fuel economy of 58.9mpg. Other than the GT (which is mated to a six-speed manual gearbox), all petrol models are now paired with five-speed manual transmission.

The all-electric e-up! provides the most eco-friendly driving experience. Powered by an 81bhp electric motor, it can accelerate from 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds and goes on to a top speed of 81mph, all without producing any CO2 emissions. With a range of 99 miles, it’s ideal for work commutes and inner-city driving, and the single-speed automatic transmission makes for smooth acceleration.

Engines and official MPG

Please refer to the table below for a comprehensive list of engines and their official mpg figures.

2012 - onwards

Features you can expect in a Volkswagen up!

Interior

Despite the four-seat up!’s compact dimensions, it offers generous shoulder and knee room, and can comfortably accommodate a young family. If you need to carry four adults around on shorter trips, the five-door is up to the challenge. The interior is simple yet classy, with piano-black finishes and clean lines that fit the supermini’s character. With height and reach seat adjustment options, even tall drivers can make themselves comfy, and the car’s key controls are intuitively laid out. Thanks to slim pillars, forward visibility is excellent, while the vehicle’s boxy shape makes it easy to judge distances.

Technology

Driving the up! is both fun and comfortable. Supple suspension allows this nippy supermini to absorb bumps on the road, and precise steering makes manoeuvres a breeze. With power-assisted and speed-sensitive steering, the level of compensation adjusts according to how fast you’re travelling, for light steering around town and progressively firmer control at higher speeds. There’s plenty of body control too, enabling you to take corners with confidence.

If you choose a latest-generation model (2016 and onwards), you’ll have the benefit of the standard-issue features. These include manual air conditioning, power-operated windows and 60/40 split-folding rear seats. The 5-inch display screen enables you to access radio stations and Bluetooth functions, and there’s a USB port for connecting devices. There’s also a cradle for your smartphone, allowing you to use it for navigation.

Step up to the Black Edition and you’ll get 16-inch alloy wheels and tinted rear windows, while the top-end Beats Edition Beats features a 300W six-speaker Beats sound system, allowing you to enjoy greater audio clarity. For a sportier ride, choose the R-Line, which has lowered suspension to improve traction and handling. The electric e-up! comes in just one trim, which includes heated front seats, cruise control and a rear-view camera.

Safety

Last tested in 2019, the Volkswagen up! has a three-star Euro NCAP safety rating. Don’t let that put you off though; adult and child occupant protection scores are 81% and 83% respectively, meaning you’ll be kept safe on the road. The up! scores higher on safety in both categories than the Hyundai i10. Front and side airbags are installed to offer protection in the event of a crash, while a pair of ISOFIX child-seat anchor points are fitted to the rear bench.

Standard driver aids include stability control and Lane Assist, which helps you stay in your lane on the motorway, as well as Hill Hold Assist, which delivers seamless starts whenever the car is parked on an incline.

Trims available on the Volkswagen up!

The latest generation Volkswagen up! is available in the following trim levels:

Volkswagen up! Up

There’s nothing basic about the baseline up! trim, which rides on 15-inch alloy wheels and is equipped with range-adjustable headlights, LED daytime running lights and rear fog lamps. Even if you choose a three-door model, access to the rear compartment is made easier by the inclusion of sliding front seats. There’s a five-inch colour screen that provides access to Bluetooth functions, and manual air conditioning to keep the cabin comfortable.

Volkswagen up! Black Edition

The already attractive up! is even more appealing with this second-tier trim which adds 16-inch La Boca Black alloy wheels, a black roof, black door mirrors and a stylish black dashboard. Also featured are tinted windows, which complete the trim’s distinctive dark theme.

Volkswagen up! Beats

Drive to a different rhythm with the dynamic Beats trim which is adorned with grade-specific decals, 15-inch Radial alloy wheels and Flash Red or Black door mirrors. Inside, you’re presented with a sporty leather-trimmed multi-functional steering wheel, ambient lighting, and an eight-speaker, 300-Watt Beats audio system, complete with eight-channel amplifier.

Volkswagen up! R-Line

The stylish R-Line trim includes R-Line badging, unique front and rear bumpers, a silver grille strip, and Triangle Black 16-inch alloy wheels. It also features a smartly contrasting black roof and door-mirror shells, as well as tinted rear windows and lowered sports suspension for enhanced handling. Inside you’ll find leather trim and heated front seats, which provide welcome relief on cold days.

Volkswagen up! GTI

The up! GTI comes with a raft of bold styling cues, making it stand out from the crowd. It rides on 17-inch alloy wheels with red brake callipers and features red accents and a unique GTI body kit. Inside, the sports seats are upholstered in tartan red, and ambient lighting helps set the mood of each journey.

Search our stock of used Volkswagen up! cars for sale.