The Volkswagen Lupo

Introduction

Volkswagen introduced the Lupo after the Seat Arosa had been out for some time. The Arosa and the Lupo share similar running gear, more or less. Seat’s offering has less engine choices, the range excludes the Lupo GTI’s 1∙6 engine and the 1∙7 SDI.

Engines

Volkswagen have given the Lupo quite an impressive selection of engines. It’s fair to say that there’s something for everybody here.

The base engine is the little 1·0 litre unit, producing 50 PS. In the Lupo, this little donk performs as well as one would expect from an ordinary VAG 8 valver petrol engine. It has lots of low down torque and a shortage of high end poke - the opposite to the Vauxhall Corsa‘s 1·0 engine. The car is benchmarked to 62 mph in either 17∙7 or 18∙4 seconds. It’s fair to say that for overtaking, one would need something like a Palm IIIxe to plan it.

The next engine is the sixteen valve 1·4 litre unit, which Volkswagen hoped would be the mainstay of the range. There are two 1∙4s, the 75 PS version and the 100 PS version. Both have respectable low down thump but it’s the higher output engine that’s much keener to rev. It’s also quieter at a cruise than the 1·0 model. All Lupo 1·4s are comfortably quicker than the Ka in a straight line.

As a footnote, Seat used the 60 PS version of the 1∙4 8 valve engine in the Arosa.

The last petrol engine is the 1·6 litre used in the GTI. I’ve not tried the Lupo GTI, simply because I didn’t want to be wanting one. On paper, it’s quick, it’s also economical and whilst it is expensive, it’s reasonably well equipped. Some of the options, however, look very expensive.

Volkswagen offer two diesels - the rather dull, but very economical, 1·7 litre and the rather more exciting, and just as economical, three cylinder 1·4 TDI unit. I tried the 1·7 litre diesel (called the SDI). It drove reasonably well once on the move, but was clattery at idle and unresponsive to accelerator pressure.

The TDI stands out as being as brisk and characterful. It’s a three cylinder engine with a throbby sensation about it. It’ll return 60 mpg fairly easily during ordinary driving. In my opinion it’s the pick of the range – but I may be biased a little.

Handling & Ride

My initial assessment of the Lupo’s ride was that it was a bit too harsh for my liking. I’ve since gone back to reassess the car, and after some time with the Ka, I can report that...

Well, they’re a bit limp, really. I tried the 1·0 version first and it doesn’t feel all that bad in terms of ride, but come to a roundabout and it’s roly-poly all the way. Next was the SDI, which is just as roly-poly but understeers more. Finally, the 1·4 16V, which is an improvement – except here, there’s a firmer ride with the same handling bias, just at higher speeds.

Perhaps the Lupo settles down on the motorway, but given the way it rolls in the twisty stuff, I found the ride rather disappointing. By all accounts, the GTI is also a bit soft [source: MattyB, uk.rec.cars.modifications].

Interior

It’s certainly a Volkswagen product, and the dashboard takes a bit of getting used to, but I like it. As far as space goes, par for the course - it’s not overly spacious, unlike the Daewoo Matiz for example, but slightly more than the Ka.

Exterior

It looks a little bit strange, and Volkswagen will let you have some quite lurid colours, but the shape and headlights have grown on me. I’m trying to be subjective, but I don’t think it has the cutesy appeal of the Ka, but it’s trying hard.

Verdict

I like the engine range, especially the TDI of course. The Lupo also has strong residual values - but the cooking petrol models leave me cold. A small car like this should be fun to zip around roundabouts and suchlike. The Lupo doesn’t have the quick reflexes of the Ka nor the ride.

The exception is the TDI and probably the GTI. The TDI’s gutsy performance and thrift is appealing, but the handling and ride lets the car down a little. Oh, and one final point - the dealers are very snooty. When I commented on the car feeling very solid, the remark from the smug salesman was something like, “as you would expect, coming from a Ka.”

I’ll let the reader guess what his face was like when I told him that the Lupo handled like a shopping trolley compared to the Ka, and didn’t such a decent 1·0 litre engine deserve a better chassis? Yeah, well, maybe I was just as rude back.