New up! 5-Door available from September
Volkswagen has introduced a five-door version of its award-winning city car the up!, which is set to go on sale later this year.
The three-door model has been highly praised by a number of publications, with the motor receiving the What Car? 2012 Car of the Year prize earlier this month.
It won’t cost much more than the three-door – VW estimates an additional £375 – so expect a starting price of around £8,370. That’s still amazing value when you consider a five-door Toyota Aygo costs nearly £9,000.
The reason the five-door up! doesn’t command a big premium is because the extra doors are the only real difference. It’s the same overall length (3.5m), and there’s exactly the same amount of rear legroom and headroom.
The rear seats are slightly raised to give a better view, and thanks to the stretched 2.42m wheelbase, two average-sized adults will be comfortable in the back. Even a six-footer will be able to fit behind a similarly sized driver or front passenger, as the front seats have neat cut-outs in their backs, and there's room underneath for your feet. It is strictly a four-seater though.
The boot is easily accessed and is the same size as the three-door’s, while the extra doors are pretty well integrated. The rear windows don't wind down – instead a clip pops them out.
Details like the neat front end with its smiling grille and the glass tailgate help the up! stand out and give it a distinctive identity. That’s not really something you can say about other VW models.
The up!’s cabin is a lesson in high quality fit and finish. All the switches are solidly made, the body-colour panels give it some personality and there's lots of kit. Well-specified High models get a portable iPhone-sized sat-nav system, while a panoramic sunroof is optional, as is a £225 low-speed automatic braking system.
On the move, the five-door is as satisfying to drive as the three-door. Power comes from a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, with a choice of 59bhp or 74bhp outputs. We tested the latter, and it proved to be a great little engine, full of character under acceleration and with a pleasing off-beat rumble.
With a 0-62mph time of around 13.2 seconds, the up! doesn’t seem quick on paper, but it feels faster than that. It’s peppy around town and quiet when cruising on the motorway, the 5 door up! is just as much fun around corners as its three-door sister. The steering is light but precise and accurate, and the soft suspension doesn't come at the expense of grip.
Factor in claimed fuel economy of 65.7mpg and low CO2 emissions, and this up! should be very cheap to run. It all comes down to whether you prefer the looks of the three-door or the extra practicality of the five-door.
Watch this space for our launch event at Specialist Cars.
