A little over two years after launch at the Frankfurt show, the Brazilian version of the Volkswagen Up reached showrooms this month. It is by far the most important car the brand has ever launched in this country after the Beetle (called Fusca here) and the Gol. And it breaks the small car paradigm with five-star Latin NCAP ratings for frontal and side collisions, and four star child safety.
Besides having the lowest fuel consumption under Brazilian ratings for vehicles fitted with air conditioning and power steering, it is also ranked first in repairability in light front and rear collisions at speeds up to 15km/h/9.2mph as assessed by Cesvi (Experimentation and Road Safety Centre).
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The Up is the second shortest car (3.60m/141.7in.) volume made in Brazil after the 3.57m/140.5in. Mercedes-Benz A Class (1999-2005). Even so, inside room is adequate thanks to the 2.42m/95.2in. wheelbase (same as the Mercedes) and 4.4cm/1,73in. longer than the Fiat Uno. Rear seat shoulder room matches that of the Polo, meaning seating comfort for only two in the back. Rear knee room is poor but headroom is good.
VW made a number of changes for Brazil. The tailgate is a mix of steel and glass rather than glass alone and the rear side windows in five-door models roll down (pop-out in Europe) and there is an overall length increase of 6.5cm/2.55in. to make room for a 285-litre/10.06cu ft boot with a full spare wheel (29% more in an equivalent comparison) and a 50-litre fuel tank (43% greater).
More powerful air conditioning and a 2.6cm/1.02in ride height increase the coefficient of drag to 0.36 from 0.32.
Electric power steering is standard for all but the base version.
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By GlobalDataSome details disappoint – the rev counter is too small, there’s no shade strip at the top of the windscreen and no power rear windows.
VW Brazil managed to price the Up lower than the discontinued Gol Mk4 with airbags and ABS brakes. The five-door version starts at BRL28,900/US$12,000; the three-door due in two months is BRL26,900/$11,200. At this level is competes with the new Uno, March and a few others below the psychological BRL30,000/$12,500 threshold.
