City car · 2003–2021 cars

Volkswagen up! reliability

The Volkswagen up! fails 18.8% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 392,297 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.

About averageReliability score 57/100#3 of 43 city cars

Checking a Volkswagen up! before you buy?

first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%): 18.8%; first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
fails than cars of the same age and mileage: 7% fewer; fails than cars of the same age and mileage
MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024: 392,297; MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
typical miles a year, from MOT readings: 5,600; typical miles a year, from MOT readings

What this means for buyers

The Volkswagen up! is a sound pick among city cars. Its first-time MOT fail rate is 18.8%, against 28.4% for all cars. Compared with cars of the same age and mileage, it has 7% fewer MOT fails, and it ranks 3 of 43 city car models. The year matters, though. 2020 cars did best, with 25% fewer MOT fails than cars of the same age and mileage, while 2016 cars had 23% more.

Start by checking the body, chassis and structure closely, as this is the model's weakest area, with 28% more fails there than comparable cars. Then check the car's common faults: wiper blades that do not clear the windscreen, headlamp aim set too low, tyre tread below 1.6mm, and a position lamp not working. Before you buy, make sure each one is fixed. A well-kept up! can be a good buy.

MOT fail rate by age

How the Volkswagen up! ages

Each point is the share of Volkswagen up!s of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.

Volkswagen up!All cars

Volkswagen up! first-time MOT fail rate by age
Age at MOT (years)	Volkswagen up!	All cars
3	9.4%	12.3%
4	11.7%	14.1%
5	15%	16.4%
6	18.2%	19.1%
7	19.4%	22.1%
8	20.2%	25.5%
9	21.2%	28.8%
10	22.3%	31.8%
11	23.4%	34.6%
12	28%	37.3%

By year

The best and worst Volkswagen up! years

2020 cars come out best and 2016 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.

Volkswagen up! MOT results by year of first registration
First registered	Tests	Fail rate	Against same-age cars	Typical mileage
2021	664	8.4%	12% fewer fails	14,733
2020 up!	3,942	7.5%	25% fewer fails	16,312
2019 up!	22,007	9.4%	16% fewer fails	20,071
2018 up!	43,379	13.5%	8% more fails	23,602
2017 up!	43,996	15.8%	7% more fails	29,962
2016 up!	42,290	20.8%	23% more fails	34,533
2015 up!	53,469	20.6%	4% more fails	40,523
2014 up!	69,367	19.9%	14% fewer fails	47,110
2013 up!	67,223	21.3%	19% fewer fails	53,626
2012 up!	45,945	23.3%	20% fewer fails	60,597

Common problems

What fails most on a Volkswagen up!

Its weak spot is body, chassis and structure: 28% more fails there than cars of the same age and mileage.

Fail rate by area

Lights and electrics6.2%3% below avg
Brakes4.4%12% above avg
Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.2%17% above avg
Tyres3.9%23% below avg
Suspension2.3%55% below avg
Body, chassis and structure1.9%28% above avg
Exhaust, emissions and leaks1.5%1% above avg
Seat belts and airbags0.4%0% below avg
Number plates and VIN0.2%20% below avg

Average for cars of the same age and mileage

Top MOT failures

1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.39% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
2
Headlamp aim set too low 1.32% of tests
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.27% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Position lamp not working 1.15% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Service brake excessively binding 1.13% of tests
A brake that drags when released can overheat, wear quickly and waste fuel, so it needs prompt inspection.
6
Fuel filler cap ineffective 0.99% of tests
A faulty fuel cap can let fuel vapour escape and may trigger warning lights, so a replacement is usually simple.
7
Registration plate lamp not working 0.85% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
8
Windscreen washer fluid insufficient 0.81% of tests
Washers are not supplying enough liquid, so the windscreen cannot be cleared properly, which is a safety issue.

Most common advisories

Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Volkswagen up!'s MOT certificate most often.

Tyre slightly damaged or cracking12.23%
Tyre worn close to legal limit9.79%
Brake disc pitted or scored4.81%
Suspension arm pin/bush showing wear3.02%
Brake pads wearing thin2.96%
Service brake slightly binding1.99%

Before you buy

What to check on a used Volkswagen up!

1
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
2
Headlamp aim set too low
Headlamps aimed too low light the road poorly and reduce the driver's view ahead, especially at night.
3
Tyre tread below 1.6mm
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
4
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
6
The mileage record
A typical Volkswagen up! covers about 5,600 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.

Fuel types tested

Petrol99.6%
Electric0.3%
Diesel0%
Hybrid0%
LPG0%

Most common colours

White, Red, Black, Blue, Silver

Average engine size: 1.0 litres.

Compare

How the Volkswagen up! compares with its rivals

Volkswagen up! against similar models
Model	Fail rate	Against same-age cars
Volkswagen up!	18.8%	7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 108	17.3%	3% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Peugeot 107	35.9%	8% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Citroën C1	29.7%	9% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Fiat Panda	35.2%	22% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Ford Ka	32.8%	23% more MOT fails than the average car its age
Kia Picanto	29.3%	27% more MOT fails than the average car its age

Every city car ranked in the city car reliability index, or all Volkswagen models.

Questions

Volkswagen up! questions, answered

Is the Volkswagen up! reliable?

On MOT results, the Volkswagen up! is about average: it fails 18.8% of first MOT tests, 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 3 of 43 city car models in our index.

What fails most on a Volkswagen up! MOT?

The most common MOT failures on the Volkswagen up! are wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.39% of tests), headlamp aim set too low (1.32% of tests), tyre tread below 1.6mm (1.27% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 6.2% of its tests.

Which Volkswagen up! year is the most reliable?

Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2020 cars do best (25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2016 cars do worst (23% more MOT fails than the average car its age).

How many miles does a Volkswagen up! do a year?

A typical Volkswagen up! covers about 5,600 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.

How do I check a Volkswagen up! before I buy it?

Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.

Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.

Found a Volkswagen up!? Check it free.

MOT history, mileage record, ULEZ, tax and recalls on any UK car, in seconds. No sign-up, no card.