VW up! (Used): Why This Tiny City Car Is Quietly Becoming a Cult Favorite

VW up! (Gebraucht/Auslauf) is the used city car people hunt for when they’re done with soulless, bloated SUVs and brutal fuel bills. Compact, cheap to run, surprisingly refined – and now only available used – it’s turning into one of the smartest urban buys on the market.

You inch through rush-hour traffic, staring at the fuel gauge like it’s a countdown timer on your wallet. Parking is a daily Tetris nightmare, insurance climbs every year, and that big car you once loved now feels like complete overkill for your actual life: short commutes, tight streets, and a supermarket run.

If you live in a city today, the real luxury isn’t a massive SUV. It’s a car that disappears into your routine: slips into any space, sips fuel instead of guzzling it, and doesn’t turn every scratch into a financial crisis.

That’s the problem more and more drivers are trying to solve: how do you keep the freedom of a car without the cost, stress, and bulk of modern monsters?

Enter the answer many European drivers already figured out years ago.

The Solution: VW up! (Used / Discontinued) as the Smart Urban Hack

The VW up! (Gebraucht/Auslauf) – translated simply as the VW up! (used / discontinued) – is Volkswagen’s tiniest city car, and one of those rare models that quietly gets better the older (and cheaper) it becomes.

New production has effectively ended in most markets, but on the used market, the VW up! has become a kind of urban insider tip: a car that feels more grown-up than rivals like the Fiat 500 or Toyota Aygo, yet is still tiny enough to conquer any street, any parking space, any tight underground garage.

Volkswagen AG – the giant behind brands like VW, Audi, and Porsche, listed under ISIN: DE0007664039 – built the up! as the entry point into its lineup. What nobody quite expected was that it would age into one of the most compelling used city-car buys in Europe.

Why this specific model?

There are plenty of small cars out there, but the VW up! hits a rare sweet spot: city-car size with "real car" polish.

Based on recent owner reviews, forum threads, and community discussions (including Reddit and European car forums), a clear picture emerges:

• It feels solid and safe – doors close with a reassuring thunk, and crash test scores (esp. on earlier Euro NCAP tests) were strong for the class.
• It’s genuinely efficient – most owners of the 1.0-liter petrol report real-world fuel economy around 45–55 mpg (US equivalent) on mixed driving, and even higher in city-only use if driven gently.
• It’s easy to live with – cheap insurance, low tax in most European countries, and simple, mostly reliable mechanicals.
• It parks anywhere – at around 3.54 m (about 11.6 ft) in length, the up! fits in spaces many larger hatchbacks have to drive past.

Under the hood, most used VW up! models you’ll see are powered by a 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol engine, usually with power outputs around 60–75 hp depending on version and year. It’s not fast in a straight line, but that’s not the point. Where it shines is in dense traffic:

• Light steering makes low-speed maneuvering effortless.
• Short overhangs and a tight turning circle make U-turns and tight corners feel easy instead of stressful.
• Compact footprint helps you thread through narrow old-town streets or tight residential lanes where bigger cars struggle.

Inside, you get that familiar VW logic. Even basic versions are laid out in a way that feels less "toy car" and more "shrunk Golf". Hard plastics? Yes, it’s a budget car, but owners consistently praise the solid build, lack of rattles, and surprisingly good sound insulation versus rivals. On the highway, it’s still a small car, but you don’t feel like you’re in a tin can.

At a Glance: The Facts

What Users Are Saying

Looking at Reddit threads and owner forums, sentiment toward the VW up! is strikingly positive for a small, budget-oriented car.

The recurring pros:

• Running costs are tiny. Owners rave about filling the small tank for less and going surprisingly far. Insurance and tax are typically at the low end of the scale.
• It “feels more expensive” than its rivals. People who cross-shopped with cars like the Skoda Citigo and SEAT Mii (its siblings) or Fiat 500 often note that the VW badge, interior solidity, and sound insulation make the up! feel a cut above.
• Perfect for city life. Many describe it as the ideal first car, city runabout, or second household car – easy for beginners, loved by experienced drivers who just want something stress-free.
• Reliability is generally good. Aside from typical wear items, most owners report few serious issues if the car has been serviced on schedule.

The common cons and caveats:

• Space is limited. No surprise here: rear seats are fine for short trips or kids, but adults won’t be thrilled on long drives. The trunk is usable for daily errands, but a full family vacation requires Tetris-level packing or a roof box.
• Performance is modest. The 1.0-liter engine is tuned for economy, not thrills. At highway speeds, overtakes require planning, especially with passengers and luggage.
• Basic spec can feel a bit spartan. Earlier or lower trims may lack modern features like advanced infotainment, automatic climate control, or extensive driver aids. Some Reddit users explicitly recommend aiming for better-equipped trims.
• Ride and noise at high speed. While better than many rivals, it’s still a short-wheelbase city car. On rough highways, it can feel busy and a bit noisy compared to larger compacts.

The overall tone from real-world owners? Affectionate. People tend to keep their up! longer than they planned, and when they do sell, many say they’d happily buy another if they still needed a city car.

Alternatives vs. VW up! (Used / Discontinued)

In the used city-car space, you’ll see a familiar cast of competitors. Here’s how the VW up! (Gebraucht/Auslauf) tends to stack up:

• Skoda Citigo / SEAT Mii: These are essentially siblings to the VW up!, sharing the same basic platform. They can sometimes be found cheaper on the used market, with similar driving feel. The up! typically holds value better and feels slightly more premium inside, but if budget is tight, the Citigo or Mii can be smart alternatives.
• Fiat 500: Far more style-driven, with retro looks and a fashionable image. However, many owners and reviewers note that the up! feels more solid and refined on the road. The Fiat 500 often wins on character, the up! wins on maturity and build quality.
• Toyota Aygo / Peugeot 108 / Citroën C1: These triplets excel in low running costs and Toyota’s reliability halo, but can feel noisier and less refined at speed. The up! tends to offer a more "grown up" driving experience.
• Small crossovers (e.g., Renault Captur, VW T-Cross used): Buyers often get tempted by used crossovers for their higher driving position. But you pay in fuel, purchase price, and sometimes in city maneuverability. If your life is mostly urban, the up! is usually the more rational – and cheaper – choice.
• Electric city cars (e.g., VW e-up!, Smart EQ): If you have home charging and mostly very short trips, an electric city car can be an even cleaner, quieter option. However, used EV prices can be higher, and charging access is still a limitation in many cities. The petrol VW up! remains more flexible if you sometimes tackle longer journeys.

In short, the VW up! hits a rare balance: it combines the thrift of a microcar with the refinement of a bigger VW. Rivals usually make you choose one or the other.

How to Shop for a Used VW up!

If you’re convinced the VW up! might be your next city weapon, a few practical pointers drawn from owner experiences and specialist advice:

• Check service history. A fully stamped or well-documented service record is key. The 1.0-liter engine is simple but needs regular oil changes to stay healthy.
• Test drive at both city and highway speeds. Make sure you’re comfortable with the engine’s performance on roads you actually use – some people love its character in town, others find highway performance too modest.
• Look closely at tires and brakes. City cars often do lots of short trips, which can be hard on brakes and lead to uneven tire wear from constant parking maneuvers.
• Check for parking scars. The up! is a city dweller; look for bumper damage, scratched alloys, or minor bodywork dings that might give you bargaining power.
• Consider equipment level. Higher trims with features like air conditioning, better audio, and modern safety aids are worth the small price premium, especially if you plan to keep the car several years.

Final Verdict

The VW up! (Gebraucht/Auslauf) is one of those cars that makes you question why you ever thought you "needed" more. In an era of oversized, overcomplicated vehicles, the used up! feels almost rebellious in its simplicity.

You get the essentials done right: solid Volkswagen engineering, low running costs, city-friendly size, and a driving experience that doesn’t punish you on the occasional highway trip. It’s a car built for real life, not for glossy brochure fantasies.

If your days are filled with tight streets, crowded parking, and rising fuel costs – and if you secretly suspect that the big-car life just doesn’t fit you anymore – the VW up! is an answer hiding in plain sight on the used market.

Who is it for?

• Urban professionals who want a stress-free commuter that’s cheap to run.
• New drivers looking for a forgiving, easy-to-park first car.
• Families needing a second car dedicated to city errands.
• Anyone downsizing from something larger and tired of paying for unused size and power.

No, it won’t win drag races or haul half a house. But if you value freedom, frugality, and sanity in the city, the VW up! (used) might just be the most rational emotional purchase you’ll make this decade.

And with new production fading out, the best examples on the used market won’t stay cheap forever.