Volkswagen Lupo Hatchback 1999 - 2005

The Lupo offers Volkswagen quality in the city car market. They are reliable, very drivable and offer very cheap miles. However the boot is too small to be useful and the 1.0L petrol and 1.7 Di diesel engines are a bit lightweight even for such a small car.

Engine noise is intrusive on the 1.0, but that's because you have to tank it to get any decent performance. Most other engines do better and the cabin is well insulated against wind and road noise. The front seats offer reasonable support and adequate room. Rear is only big enough for two kids and not especially comfortable for long journeys. Most buyers should think of it as a two-seater and will find the car more versatile with the seats folded down. The lack of storage in the cabin is something of a frustration.

The engine options are kicked off (if you can call it that), with the 1.0 petrol engine offering a 0 - 60 time of 17.1 seconds and top speed of 94 mph. The only option that will be likely to offer any thrills will be the 1.6 GTi petrol unit which reaches 60 mph in 8 seconds and tops out at 127 mph.

The Handling of the Lupo is, as you'd expect, reasonable. The steering is light and responsive, although it pushed can lose grip quite easily. There is little weight about the car to put any force on the road and help with grip levels.

The Lupo offers people looking for a city car something above the pack in terms of finish and quality. Whether it's worth the money is going to be a personal decision.

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