Volkswagen up! retains top Fleet World award

Volkswagen up! is part of the automaker\'s low-budget range After 18 months and over 15,000 UK sales, the Volkswagen up! continues to win plaudits, having been named Best City Car in the Fleet World Honours for the second year in a row.  The trophy was presented at a ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club, Pall Mall Tuesday. The Fleet World Honours are presented annually, and the judging process combines the expert opinion of the Fleet World editorial team with the objective values provided by a number of leading leasing companies and fleet data providers.
The judging panel is chaired by Steve Moody, Editor of Fleet World, and includes John Kendall, Alex Grant, Natalie Wallis, Dan Gilkes and Ross Durkin from the Fleet World editorial team.  Residual value, maintenance and reliability data is provided by ALD Automotive, Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions, Lex Autolease, LeasePlan and Arval.  Market value data is provided by EurotaxGlass and VIPDATA.
Commenting on the up!, Fleet World Editor, Steve Moody, said: ‘Volkswagen’s up! continues to set the benchmark for quality in a segment that is often more to do with cheapness.  As a result, it is hugely desirable, and yet economical to run thanks to its efficient engines.  It’s pretty spacious too, for such a compact car, illustrating clever design and packaging.’
Fleet World’s Managing Editor, Ross Durkin, added: \"This was without doubt the hardest year ever for the judges.  The industry has been undergoing substantial change for some time and we are now on the cusp of seeing the introduction of some really exciting new technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells and credible electric vehicles, alongside highly fuel-efficient yet desirable petrol and diesel powered cars.  You really have to take your hat off to the car manufacturers who continue to rise to the challenges set by government and fleet buyers alike.\"
Claire English, Business Development Manager for Volkswagen, collected the award on behalf of the brand, and commented: \"The up! has now been on sale for over a year and although it’s primarily seen as a retail car, it’s performing well in the fleet market.  Its combination of high quality, high desirability and low whole-life costs make it popular with drivers and fleet managers alike.  The up! is a small car but it means big business.\"