The Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen up! are two of the most competitive hatchbacks currently available on the market. With rave reviews and an impressive range of interior and exterior features, it's not hard to see why.
But how do they compete against each other? Our team at TC Harrison has composed this article comparing the two cars to see how they shape up.
Click the links to jump to that section:
Find out our initial impressions of the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Up!.
Look at the power, efficiency and fuel type to help decide.
Discover how high tech your car could look from the cockpit.
What everyone else sees: the outside of your car is the first impression anybody on the road will get, let's make it count!
Not all Fiestas and Up!s were created alike - find out more about the various trim levels.
Where do these cars fit into your budget?
First Impressions
The first-ever Ford Fiesta was introduced all the way back in 1976. Since then, the Fiesta has been through seven generations of development, and on top of that the 7th generation received a 'facelift' in 2021, bringing it fully up to date with modern car fashion.
The Volkswagen up! first graced the market in 2011 and was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show as a challenger to the revolutionary Toyota iQ. It was designed as an economical way to turn the traditional city car on its head and features an iconic cubic bodywork that can be recognised anywhere. It's a smart, cheery vehicle that aims to navigate you around even the most cramped of streets.
Engine sizes
One of the biggest differentiators between the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen up! is their engine sizes.
The Ford Fiesta features a specially designed three-cylinder, 1.1-litre petrol engine as standard, with the option to upgrade to a 1.0 EcoBoost, or go a stage further with an EcoBoost hybrid. Within the engine, you'll also find a direct fuel injector that helps the car to deliver high levels of power directly to the wheels, improving steering.
In the Volkswagen up! you'll find the three cylinders, but they're attached to a smaller 85 kW, 1.0-litre petrol engine - this doesn't mean that it can't still pack a lot of power though! It gets up to 60mph in 6.6 seconds, with an overall top speed of 119mph, which is more than enough to get you around the city.
Features (interior)
Steering wheel
The Fiesta has a steering wheel that's 14 inches (355mm) in diameter, which is the typical size. On it, you'll find a range of buttons that control Bluetooth phone calls, plus much more. Within the up!, you'll find red stitching and buttons for similar functions.
Seats
As the Ford Fiesta and the Volkswagen up! are both examples of hatchbacks, they must be practical for families. Each car can seat up to 5 people, with both 3 and 5-door options.
Climate control
Within the Fiesta, you'll find a manual climate control system that allows you to choose the temperature and how you want the air to be distributed as standard. Within the Volkswagen up!, the 'climatronic' climate control system is offered as an optional extra.
Boot space
Another key characteristic of a hatchback is its boot space, so you'll expect there to be a reasonable amount. In the Ford Fiesta, the boot space is 292 L, whereas in the Volkswagen up! it's 250-251 L. However, both measurements are smaller than the 300 L average.
Stereo specs
In the Ford Fiesta, you'll be able to listen to your favourite soundtrack through a B&O 675-watt audio system. Whereas in the Volkswagen up!, you'll hear your favourite songs through a 300-watt Dr Dre sound system.
Features (exterior)
There are several exterior features that contribute to the overall style of the car:
Wheels
The Fiesta has 16-inch rim sized wheels, whereas the up! comes with a range of different alloy rims ranging from 14 - 17 inches.
Appearance
The sleek Fiesta is bigger than the up!, measuring 4,040-4,068 mm (L) x 1,735 mm (W) x 1,466-1,495 mm (H) to the up!'s 3,600 mm (L) x 1,641-1,645 mm (W) x 1,492-1,507 mm (H).
Doors
The Fiesta and the VW up! are both available as either a 3 or 5 door car.
Lights
The Fiesta is fitted with LED projector headlamps, daytime running lights, and rear lights.
The up! has halogen clear headlights that feature integrated indicators, LED daytime running lights, and front and rear fog lights.
Spoiler(s)
Both the Fiesta and VW up! have aerodynamic rear spoilers as optional extras, but neither car provides them as standard.
Bumpers
The Fiesta is equipped with a rear bumper that has a diffusor. The up! has 'GTI' sports bumpers with chrome bezels.
What colours are available?
The Fiesta comes in a range of colours such as Race Red, Moondust Silver, Frozen White, Ford Performance Blue, Magnetic and Agate Black.
The up! is available in Pure White, Deep Black Pearl, Tornado Red, Kings Red and Tungsten Silver Metallic.
Car Dimensions
Exterior dimensions of a Fiesta:
- Length: 4068mm
- Width: 1735mm
- Height: 1469mm
Exterior dimensions of a VW up!:
- Length: 3600mm
- Width: 1910mm
- Height: 1504mm
Trim levels
Trim levels on each car include:
Fiesta:
- Keyless start
- Cruise control
- Rear parking sensors
- Apple Carplay and Android Auto
- DAB radio
- Manual air conditioning
Up!:
- 6 speakers
- Bluetooth mobile
- Digital radio reception
- Multifunction computer
- Smartphone navigation interface
- USB connectivity
What are the costs?
For a Ford Fiesta, the OTR total price with full trim levels starts from £16,645. For a 5 door VW up! with full trim levels, prices start from £17,190.
Both cars boast fantastic fuel efficiency, achieving over 50 miles to the gallon each, minimising their carbon footprint and keeping you on the road. Comparing is made a little easier with both cars having petrol engines, so you can get a better view of their efficiency.
For more information about the Ford Fiesta or the Volkswagen up!, contact the team at TC Harrison today.