For me the outsides are too similar - as I've stated before.. Took me weeks before I noticed that VW spent a ton of money to give the rear side windows an upwards kink. Thus giving the car less light inside. They spent all that money to press different side panels to then not even get it noticed.

But to me it is the interiors that clinch the deal. The Seat, as ever, has a horridly plastic light grey dash in seemingly every version of the Mii. The Škoda dash looks a bit better but is also the same colour in all models. Go to VW and you have a real quality looking interior. Some in body colour, white or the best one: the piano black. The VW dash looks miles and miles better than the other two to my eyes. And that is where you'll be spending most of your time.

As to glass rear doors: the C1/107 have these too and I've never heard of issues about them shattering or costing the earth. They are on a cheap car so logic would dictate it is cost effective solution over steel and to me it looks good on the Up!

Specsavers still do a two for one!

Seriously though, I imagine you're in the minority if you really can't notice the differences on the outside - the kinked VW windows that took you weeks to notice took me all of a matter of seconds. And the nose is entirely different, the VW one is clearly marketed at our feminine side! It's a bit like saying you can't really notice the difference between the C1 / Aygo / 107.

I've no doubt the perception of the VW interior will be more favourable, that's why the badge costs £500 more across the range.

I would still worry about the VW glass rear though, it's a more general issue I have over how ductile a large expanse of glass is within such a small frame. Time will tell.

Specsavers still do a two for one!

Seriously though, I imagine you're in the minority if you really can't notice the differences on the outside - the kinked VW windows that took you weeks to notice took me all of a matter of seconds. And the nose is entirely different, the VW one is clearly marketed at our feminine side! It's a bit like saying you can't really notice the difference between the C1 / Aygo / 107.

I've no doubt the perception of the VW interior will be more favourable, that's why the badge costs £500 more across the range.

I would still worry about the VW glass rear though, it's a more general issue I have over how ductile a large expanse of glass is within such a small frame. Time will tell.

Sorry right back at ya - re Specsavers. The Aygo/C1/107 triplets have TONS more differentiation between them than the VAG triplets can ever dream of. They spent money on obvious changes like grilles (how can one miss that C1 Audi grille?!) and unique rear lights (especially the Aygo) where the VAG lot have but slightly different head and tail lights! What non-car punter out there will notice that?! Or heaven forbid a stupidly expensive different glass line?! To people that only differentiate between cars based on their colour these VAG triplets will look al but the same.

As to £500 more for the VW interior? I've sat in very many an Up! at the Frankfurt motor show and they are worth that premium. Cheap and nasty they did not feel. The Seat and Škoda ones look cheap and nasty to me - albeit well built I'm sure in that Porsche/Audi factory. They had not been out yet in Sept at Frankfurt so I've not yet sat in either alas.

Sorry right back at ya - re Specsavers. The Aygo/C1/107 triplets have TONS more differentiation between them than the VAG triplets can ever dream of. They spent money on obvious changes like grilles (how can one miss that C1 Audi grille?!) and unique rear lights (especially the Aygo) where the VAG lot have but slightly different head and tail lights! What non-car punter out there will notice that?! Or heaven forbid a stupidly expensive different glass line?! To people that only differentiate between cars based on their colour these VAG triplets will look al but the same.

As to £500 more for the VW interior? I've sat in very many an Up! at the Frankfurt motor show and they are worth that premium. Cheap and nasty they did not feel. The Seat and Škoda ones look cheap and nasty to me - albeit well built I'm sure in that Porsche/Audi factory. They had not been out yet in Sept at Frankfurt so I've not yet sat in either alas.

Well, that's the wonderful freedom we have to enjoy different opinions.

Let's see how your judgement on the Skoda Citigo interior looking "cheap and nasty to me" bears out.

Well, that's the wonderful freedom we have to enjoy different opinions.

Let's see how your judgement on the Skoda Citigo interior looking "cheap and nasty to me" bears out.

Well you questioned my view on the Aygo etc looking different first telling me I need glasses... Erm... So again right back at ya! Practice what you preach.

As to the interiors. As I said I reserve full judgement until I've sat in all three.

Well you questioned my view on the Aygo etc looking different first telling me I need glasses... Erm... So again right back at ya! Practice what you preach.

As to the interiors. As I said I reserve full judgement until I've sat in all three.

No, the words "I reserve full judgement" have inexplicably not appeared in your post, the only thing I saw were your words that the Skoda interior looked "cheap and nasty to me".

Let's just wait and see if your "cheap and nasty" description was accurate, then we'll know if my "glasses" reference was warranted.

Edited 28 December, 201114 yr by Cauliflower

No, the words "I reserve full judgement" have inexplicably not appeared in your post, the only thing I saw were your words that the Skoda interior looked "cheap and nasty to me".

Let's just wait and see if your "cheap and nasty" description was accurate, then we'll know if my "glasses" reference was warranted.

Let's just park it there since in my view your glasses comment only related to my view of the differences between the exteriors of these cars viz a viz those of the Aygo et al "that look exactly the same" to your eyes. Let's just agree the gaping Audi grille on a C1 vs the tiny Toyota snout on the Aygo are things you simply don't notice at all and that I on the other hand don't notice a tiny kink in the side glass of the VAG triplets. Then we're both happy.

Needing glasses has nothing to do with the interiors as that is a separate issue. Perceived interior quality is a very grey area and one man's lovely Seat Leon interior is another's idea of hell. As stated I've been in many an Up! and their perceived quality is amazing. Touching and using any of the three will be fine as they share the same basic quality bits. But the VW interior will always be perceived better as it "looks" better. But as I say, some people perhaps just like huge slabs of dull grey plastic in their cars and will have no bones with the Mii or Škoda interiors. Each to their own.

Let's just park it there since in my view your glasses comment only related to my view of the differences between the exteriors of these cars viz a viz those of the Aygo et al "that look exactly the same" to your eyes. Let's just agree the gaping Audi grille on a C1 vs the tiny Toyota snout on the Aygo are things you simply don't notice at all and that I on the other hand don't notice a tiny kink in the side glass of the VAG triplets. Then we're both happy.

Needing glasses has nothing to do with the interiors as that is a separate issue. Perceived interior quality is a very grey area and one man's lovely Seat Leon interior is another's idea of hell. As stated I've been in many an Up! and their perceived quality is amazing. Touching and using any of the three will be fine as they share the same basic quality bits. But the VW interior will always be perceived better as it "looks" better. But as I say, some people perhaps just like huge slabs of dull grey plastic in their cars and will have no bones with the Mii or Škoda interiors. Each to their own.

Each to their own as you say, but I DISAGREE with your suggestion to "Let's just agree the gaping Audi grille on a C1 vs the tiny Toyota snout on the Aygo are things you simply don't notice at all and that I on the other hand don't notice a tiny kink in the side glass of the VAG triplets." No, I don't agree.

Incidentally, I have now received a warning from the moderator for expressing my opinion to you, which is disgraceful.

Its all irrelevant now anyway as Fiat have the all new Panda out soon too.... and it looks way better than all of these new VAG products, I think VAG are about to have their thunder stolen by the Italians

Its all irrelevant now anyway as Fiat have the all new Panda out soon too.... and it looks way better than all of these new VAG products, I think VAG are about to have their thunder stolen by the Italians

The Panda is a five door and a price notch above these triplets I dare say. So I don't think VAG has much to worry about.

I've sat in the Panda too and although it is nice, for a Fiat, and is all Allegro square steering wheel inside (from the actual steering wheel to every control being a rounded square) it is still no match inside for the cheaper VW Up!

My favourite is the piano black Up! interior:

That is when you notice the Audi chrome edges to things, the seat piping and little feel good details like that.

I don't think VAG do city cars well.

Be interested to see some sales stats for this market.

Needs to be a vRS version

Needs to be a vRS version

No doubt they will wedge a 1.4TSI in there and bring out a limited edition (hopefully).......New Lupo GTI anyone B)

No doubt they will wedge a 1.4TSI in there and bring out a limited edition (hopefully).......New Lupo GTI anyone B)

Already out in concept:

Just Google image search VW Up GT.

Still only a turbo'd 1.0, would be insane to have the 1.4 TSi under the bonnet

The lighter colour of the CityGo's dash saves it, if it was all black it would look as dull as the Mii's compared to the Up!

I've just read with interest the WhatCar? group test (Fiat 500, Toyota Aygo, VW UP! and Kia Picanto), one question I have is if the drivers side electric window control has just the one button, then how does the driver operate the passenger side electric window?

I noticed on the Fiat 500 that there are also just two buttons but they are either side of the radio so that both front seat occupants can reach either button - a neat cost saving.

I noticed on the Fiat 500 that there are also just two buttons but they are either side of the radio so that both front seat occupants can reach either button - a neat cost saving.

My Partner van has this, one either side of the gearstick.....cost saving yes but far enough apart that you can't reach both buttons at the same time and they aren't one touch either.....mucho annoying