Is the Volkswagen Up reliable?

The Volkswagen Up has an average MOT pass rate of 90% across 13 years, based on 194,335 tests in 2026. That's 8 points above the national average of 82%. The most reliable year is 2022 with a 98% pass rate.

Which year Volkswagen Up is best?

The 2022 Volkswagen Up has the highest MOT pass rate at 98%, while the 2012 model has the lowest at 84%. There's a 14 percentage point spread between the best and worst years.

Volkswagen Up

Reliability, running costs, and MOT data across 13 years from 194,335 real MOT tests.

Avg Pass Rate

90%

Total Tests

194,335

Best Year

2022 (98%)

Years Covered

About the Volkswagen Up

The Volkswagen Up has been tested 194,335 times in 2026 MOT data across 13 model years (2012 to 2024), with an average pass rate of 90%. That's comfortably above the national average of 82%, making it a reliable choice. Available as petrol.

Best and Worst Years

The 2022 model is the most reliable with a 98% pass rate from 49 tests. The 2012 model has the lowest at 84%. The 14 point spread between years means reliability varies somewhat, but no year is dramatically different.

Reliability Trend

Newer VOLKSWAGEN UPs show better MOT pass rates than older ones, with an average improvement of 7 percentage points.

Mileage Across Years

The oldest model in our data (2012) averages 69,357 miles, while the newest (2024) averages 59,939 miles.

Compared to the Volkswagen brand average of 85%, the Up performs 5 points better, making it one of the more reliable options in the Volkswagen range.

Estimated Running Costs

Fuel (Petrol, 998cc)

£955

Road Tax

£195

MOT Test

£55

Predicted Repairs

£200

Total per year£1,405

Per month£117/mo

Based on 7,400 miles/year, current fuel prices, and MOT pass rate data. Insurance not included.

Full 2024 details

How reliable is the Volkswagen Up?

vs national average+8% (82% avg)

vs Volkswagen brand average+5% (85% avg)

Best to worst year spread14 percentage points

Reliability trendImproving over years

Volkswagen Up by Year

Click any year to see detailed running costs, reliability data, and comparisons with similar cars.

Year	Pass Rate	Tests	Avg Mileage
2024	93%	167	59,939 mi
2023	93%	43	56,946 mi
2022	98%	49	12,515 mi
2021	95%	1,339	16,529 mi
2020	95%	2,661	19,544 mi
2019	93%	12,889	26,676 mi
2018	90%	20,009	32,253 mi
2017	88%	20,516	39,002 mi
2016	86%	20,194	43,097 mi
2015	86%	25,337	49,747 mi
2014	86%	33,757	56,147 mi
2013	86%	33,933	61,769 mi
2012	84%	23,441	69,357 mi