The Volkswagen Up Retires, Making Way for the Polo as the New Entry Point

The Volkswagen Up, the tiny city car that first went on sale 12 years ago, has been phased out of production for the UK market. This move leaves the Volkswagen Polo as the smallest model in the German automaker’s line-up.

End of an Era

While the Up is still available from dealer stock in the UK, it can no longer be ordered from the factory. The future of the Up’s production in the company’s factory in Bratislava, Slovakia, remains uncertain.

The Up was introduced in 2011 as the successor to the Volkswagen Fox. It quickly gained popularity as one of the cheapest cars on sale, with a starting price of £8256. However, over time, its starting price increased to more than £15,000.

A Variety of Powertrains

Throughout its 12-year production run, the Up was offered with various powertrain options. Initially, it could be selected with a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol engine producing either 59bhp or 74bhp. In 2016, a facelift introduced a turbocharged variant with 89bhp.

In 2014, Volkswagen introduced the electric version of the Up, known as the e-Up. It came with an 18.7kWh battery and a claimed range of 93 miles. In 2019, a larger 32.2kWh battery was offered, boosting the range to 161 miles, surpassing its newer rivals like the Mini Electric and Honda E.

Retirement of the Up GTI

The decision to retire the Up comes after the retirement of the Volkswagen Up GTI from sale earlier this year. The Up GTI, which arrived in 2018 with 113bhp and a sportier design, was temporarily taken off the market due to high demand. However, it was never put back on sale.

As part of the Volkswagen Group’s New Small Family (NSF) vehicle series, the Up was joined by the Seat Mii and Skoda Citigo. The Seat Mii was available until 2020, and the Skoda Citigo until 2021.

The New Entry Point

With the retirement of the Up, the Volkswagen Polo now becomes the smallest car in the UK line-up. However, there are indications that the Polo may also face changes in the future due to Euro 7 regulations. Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer hinted that the Polo could be removed from the line-up and eventually replaced by a small electric offering in the form of the ID 2.

Directly replacing the Up will be an ultra-compact electric city car known as the Volkswagen ID 1. This new model is expected to arrive in dealerships within the next five years and will be priced from less than £17,000.

In Conclusion

After 12 years on the market, the Volkswagen Up has retired, making way for the Polo as the new entry point in Volkswagen’s line-up. The Up’s retirement comes after a successful run as one of the cheapest cars on sale, offering a variety of powertrains and an electric version with an impressive range. As Volkswagen looks towards the future, the Up will be replaced by the ID 1, an ultra-compact electric city car that aims to continue the legacy of affordability and efficiency.