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| HIGH ON THE HIGHWAY: The new Volkswagen Up comes with a simple design that is pleasing to the eye |
This is Volkswagen’s most serious attempt to build a ‘people’s car’ since the Beetle. With the Up, the German car maker is looking to target new buyers and bring them into its fold. In fact, the Up will play a key role if the German auto giant is to realise its ambition of becoming the world’s leading car maker by 2018.
VW believes that small cars are the way of the future both in the mature markets of Europe and in key growth markets like India, where it’ll be the car maker’s main pillar. Hence, the Up’s importance in India cannot be underestimated, especially since the VW-Suzuki partnership is on the rocks.
The Up project started off on the wrong foot; rather, with the engine in the wrong (or right?) place. The original plan was to develop a rear-engine, rear-wheel-drive car — a great layout for packaging and sheer space, as the Tata Nano has proved. But to make a stand-alone rear-engine car in the range meant that sharing parts with other models would be limited. Hence, it was in the interest of costs (crucial for the project’s success) that VW reverted to a transverse front-engine, front-wheel-drive layout. But did the Up lose out on cabin space in the process? I’ll come to that in a bit.
STYLE FILE
Launched in three-door form (a five-door version is expected in 2012), the Up is almost true to the original concept launched in 2007. Like most Volkswagens, the styling is unremarkable and the simple, two-box shape, though pleasing, won’t turn heads. The upright stance, long wheelbase and short nose point to its practical character and promise of interior space.
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But the design is not all plain vanilla — there are some interesting details too. The Up’s small engines don’t require large cooling intakes, so there’s no grille — there’s a simple, black band that runs between the small but stylish headlights. What looks unique is the honeycomb frame surrounding the bumper. The tailgate has an outer glass cover and vertical tail lights which, though part of the body, look integrated with the hatch. All this makes the Up look less heavy from the rear. The Up weighs around 930kg, making it as light as the i10 and Brio.
INSIDE STORY
VW has smartly used painted panels instead of plastic on the dashboard and the interiors are appealing because of the bright colours. Though there is a Spartan feel without a proper centre stack and fully-clad doorpads, this low-cost solution works well and doesn’t feel cheap. In fact, items like the steering wheel, gear lever and switches are high-quality bits and the headlight switch feels like it’s been plucked out of a Jetta.
There’s some stinting though. This Euro-spec car had no passenger-side power-window button for the driver, which won’t be acceptable in India and I am sure VW will correct this before the Up comes here.
VW has carved out every inch of space in the Up’s cabin to offer generous room for passengers. But the fact is that this VW can never hope to swallow five large adults the way a Tata Nano can. The front seats with integrated head-rests and smart piping are incredibly comfy and generous. Flipping forward the front seats and jumping into the back is something we won’t have to do in India (only the five-door will come here) but once I’ve settled down at the back, I’m astonished at the comfort of the back seat. The 251-litre boot is pretty spacious and with a false floor, which can divide it into two compartments, it’s clever too.
UNDER THE HOOD
A new-generation petrol 1-litre, three-cylinder engine (EA211) makes its debut in the Up. This compact and lightweight twin-cam motor is offered in two states of tune in Europe. A compact diesel is on the cards but that won’t come for another year.
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I can’t remember when a car impressed me from the moment I started it, as much as the Up. The engine is amazingly refined for a three-cylinder and though that characteristic thrum is always present, it doesn’t amplify into uncomfortable vibrations. Both the Up’s engines are responsive and quick off the block, but when you want to press on, the 60PS unit, which has a weak bottom, feels a touch sluggish. The 74bhp gives you all the power you need for daily use. The five-speed gearbox is pretty slick and though you have to use it a fair bit, given the limited torque of both motors, it’s never a cause for complaint.
DRIVER’S DEAL
The mature dynamics and surefooted handling derived from the finely-tuned suspension and large wheels is something you just don’t find in this class. If there is a fault, it’s that the ride can get choppy on uneven surfaces and the Up pitches quite a bit over undulations. But for most part, the ride is quite pliant. The handling is superb and the Up’s electric steering is one of the best there is. It’s notably light yet responsive and weighs up quite well.
FINAL VERDICT
The incredibly user-friendly Up looks like a winner already and when it comes to India at the end of 2013, it will set new benchmarks in several areas. However, the one area, and possibly the most important one, where it may struggle, is cost. This car may look basic but it’s got some high-quality content, which may make meeting cost targets (with the Hyundai i10 as the benchmark) the biggest challenge. However, VW is determined to get the Up right. This could be Maruti’s toughest challenge yet.
spec check.
VOLKSWAGEN UP
- Price: Rs 3.5 lakh to Rs 4.5 lakh (est)
- Engine: Petrol/ 3 cyls in-line, 999cc/ front, transverse, front-wheel-drive
- Power: 74bhp at 6200rpm
- Torque: 11.06kgm at 3000-5000 rpm
- Suspension (F/R): Independent, MacPherson struts/ non- indep-endent, torsion beam
- Brakes (F/R): Discs/ drums
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My dream car
I am drawn to vintage cars. As a teenager, I watched Satyajit Ray’s film Abhijan in which Soumitra Chatterjee drove a vintage Chrysler and thought it would be great to own such a car. I also had a toy Rolls Royce as a child. Among the new breed of cars, I like SUVs like the Land Rover.
– Parambrata Chatterjee, actor
