•Two more prominent prizes continue model's success
•'Best City Car' from Auto Express, 'Best Value Car' from The Sun
Milton Keynes – The Volkswagen up! continues its successful year, with two more prominent awards to add to the collection from The Sun and Auto Express, won through a public vote and an expert panel of judges respectively.
The up! GTI triumphed at The Sun Motor Awards, taking the 'Best Value Car of the Year' title by a public vote. The Sun hailed its fun-loving spirit, handling, engine note and value for money as the keys to its success in this category, as well as its GTI DNA and ability to thrill without the higher running costs sometimes associated with larger performance cars.
Commenting on the up! GTI's victory, Rob Gill, Motors Editor at The Sun, said: 'With a nickname like 'The People's Supercar', the up! GTI had a strong case for our Best Value award from the beginning. It's basically a four-seat go-kart that growls like a baby Porsche and loves to be pinned around corners – yet will still return 45 mpg without breaking a sweat. It's the most fun I've had in a small car this year.'
The smallest member of the GTI family, the up! GTI has been acclaimed by experts since its launch in 2017, most recently winning 'Value Car of the Year' at The Sunday Times Motor Awards, where the Golf also scooped two titles, including the 'Car of the Year' prize, and Volkswagen was named the 'Manufacturer of the Year'. The 1.0-litre, 115 PS up! GTI has also previously claimed awards including evo's 'Supermini of the Year', GQ's 'Scream If You Want To Go Faster', and Top Gear's 'Pocket Rocket of the Year' trophies.
The model's practicality, grown-up feel and capable yet frugal 1.0-litre, 65 PS engine garnered praise from the judging panel, while nods were also given to the breadth of appeal of the up!. The range comprises both three and five-door models, as well as the up! GTI and zero-emissions e-up! electric variant, which offers up to 159 miles (WLTP) from a single charge. The model's equipment and suitability to urban driving are also listed among its talents.
Steve Fowler, Editorial Director at Auto Express, said: 'The city car segment is challenging at the minute, but the onset of electrification has helped breathe new life into the sector – and Volkswagen has done just that with its updated up!. Yet despite the cheeky looks, it's the up!'s grown-up feel and relatively strong practicality that are key to its appeal – regardless of whether you choose a petrol, electric or GTI version. Whatever your budget, there's an up! for you.'
The up! is no stranger to winning awards, with this latest batch of trophies following a series of 'City Car of the Year' titles in 2019, from various media titles. The model was also named 'Most Dependable City Car' by J.D. Power, highlighting the model's reliability among its many other qualities.
Lisa Hartley, up! Product Manager at Volkswagen UK, said: 'The up! was one of the brand's most celebrated cars in 2019, and the awards didn't stop in 2020 –it has won three in the last two weeks alone! It's great to see the up! still dominating the city car class with its fourth 'City Car of the Year' title from Auto Express in a row.
'The fact that the up! – which was initially introduced in 2012 – remains the benchmark in its segment is testament to its range of talents. Meanwhile the GTI still thrills enough to win major awards. Breadth of appeal has always been among the talents of the up!, while the Volkswagen badges on the front and rear are a hallmark of quality, so it's encouraging to see this recognised by public and the experts alike.'
Photo credit: Volkswagen
posted on conceptcarz.com
•The up! wins over both a judging panel and the voting public
Next to be added to the up! award cabinet is the Auto Express 'City Car of the Year' 2020 title. The up! has now won this particular award for four years in a row, each time fighting off new competition from across the industry to take the prize in a segment where value and size matter most.
posted on conceptcarz.com
