The Volkswagen Up doesn’t have a huge boot – but then, no car in this sector does. What will surprise you, though, is the sheer amount of space on offer for those sitting up front. The adjustable driver’s seat can cater to even the tallest adults. And in the back, you can still fit 2 adults with relative ease. Rivals like the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10 can squeeze a 3rd person into the middle seat, but they won’t want to be in there for long.

The 3-door models have wide opening doors which help when clambering into the back, but you’ll want a 5-door if you intend to ferry passengers around regularly. Storage space for phones, wallets and bottles is decent in the front – and you can even put a fair number of items in the glovebox. There’s a cupholder in the rear and 5-door models have small door pockets at the back, too.

The boot, meanwhile, offers 251 litres of space. This is on par with the Up’s rivals and is just about spacious enough for a shopping trip. The rear seats do fold down, a process which gives around 951 litres of loading space.

The base 65hp 1.0-litre model will return approximately 55mpg in mixed driving – while the much quicker 115hp turbocharged variant gets 51.7mpg. Both are on par with rivals, but it is the electric E-Up that might well be the most economical to run.

Despite the slightly higher leasing costs, the E-Up falls into a much lower benefit-in-kind (BIK) tax bracket than the other 2 – and charging the batteries to 100% at home should only cost around £5. Total range is around 160 miles, which would cost you around £15 in petrol.

The VW Up has fared well in terms of reliability over the years. Owners have reported few issues and each new car comes with a 3-year/60,000-mile warranty. Some competitors do offer more comprehensive warranties – the Kia Picanto in particular has an industry-leading 7-year warranty.

The Volkswagen Up can pack 251 litres into its boot with the rear seats up and 951 litres with the seats folded. This is well in excess of what the Toyota Aygo can provide, but slightly less than the Kia Picanto and Hyundai i10.

The base trim is simply called the Up, while beyond this there are also the Beats, White Edition, Black Edition, GTI and R-Line specifications to choose from. Most offer subtle visual differences but the GTI trim is the only one available with the punchy 115hp engine.

The Volkswagen Up offers comfortable seating for 4 adults – that’s as long as those occupants up front don't push their seats too far back. The boot isn’t quite big enough if everyone wants to bring a large bag along, but it’s no smaller than rival offerings. Storage bins in the doors, 3 cupholders and a useful glovebox mean that you won’t have to travel too lightly.

The VW Up is in many ways a VW Golf that has shrunk in the wash. It may be small, but it rides and drives like a bigger car and the interior hasn’t been built down to a price. Leasing the most affordable VW in the range doesn’t mean you get a cut-rate experience.

Leasing an UP with Vanarama is the smartest way to upgrade what you drive. Not only will you get the best price, guaranteed with our Price Promise*, there’s also no hidden fees, extra protection should the worst happen and access to expert advice when you need it! What are you waiting for? Find your New Lease Of Life today!