High up! 1.0 5dr Hatchback

Not the cheapest option but the best

We are so pleased with our little bright red up!, apart from the daft name (which I admit is slowly growing on us). We've had it for 4 months now and every time you drive it a smile spreads across your face. It feels large inside, despite them looking tiny when you see others out and about. It feels very well made, and it is light and airy inside (and we don't have the sunroof).

I have a 120-mile commute that I regularly do in the up and I still feel fresh upon arrival, and I'm 6 foot tall. Let's be honest though, it has very little power. This has had a positive affect on my driving; I'm quite happy tootling along at 70 in it as there's no point in trying to rush. It is, however, fun to drive, and I love the noise of the little engine. I'll admit that having plenty of toys and kit has helped me fall for the little up!, and I'm not sure if I'd like a base model as much, but I'd still highly recommend them.

We've also found it very practical. We've fit my wife and I, plus our 16 month-old and his trike, change bag and other associated baby equipment for a journey, and on another occasion grandson, dad and two grandfathers, quite comfortably. Having 5 doors was a must for us with a little one and rear access is good and fitting the baby seat to the ISOFIX points easy.

So far we're averaging 55 to the gallon despite lots of short town journeys, though this is obviously helped by my occasional long commute. My previous car was a 4.7l high output V8 Jeep Grand Cherokee (16 mpg), so you can't get much different, and I doubt anyone has bought a new car with an engine nearly a fifth the size of their previous one!

We've no problems so far - the only slight niggle is that there's a knack to fitting the sat nav unit so it connects properly.

It's a definite thumbs up from us, and I think we'll start to see a lot more on the road

Update (23/07/13): Hose came off the air con unit when the vehicle was stationary. VW collected the car the next working day and reconnected hose, regassed the aircon and also sorted an airbag recall. Good service from Listers, Leamington Spa.

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