Volkswagen Up R-line Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Volkswagen Up R-line car check
Is the Volkswagen Up R-line reliable? We analysed 1,945 real MOT tests across 814 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Volkswagen Up R-line? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Volkswagen Up R-line is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Volkswagen Up R-line.
Volkswagen Up R-line Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Volkswagen Up R-line. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Volkswagen Up R-line MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Volkswagen Up R-line to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Volkswagen Up R-line Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Volkswagen Up R-line models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Volkswagen Up R-line Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Volkswagen Up R-line owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Volkswagen Up R-line MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Volkswagen Up R-line year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 109 | 86.2% | 9,231 | 15,233 | 22,952 |
| 2022 | 372 | 92.5% | 8,528 | 15,192 | 22,548 |
| 2021 | 706 | 91.5% | 9,736 | 15,358 | 23,332 |
| 2020 | 687 | 90.5% | 11,188 | 17,351 | 25,848 |
How Long Does a Volkswagen Up R-line Last?
Based on 814 Volkswagen Up R-line vehicles on UK roads.
Volkswagen Up R-line Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Volkswagen Up R-line MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Volkswagen Up R-line
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
92.5% MOT pass rate from 372 tests
86.2% MOT pass rate from 109 tests
The best year to buy a used Volkswagen Up R-line is 2022, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 92.5% across 372 tests. The 2023 model year has the lowest pass rate at 86.2% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Volkswagen Up R-line Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Up R-line THIS CAR | 90.7% | 1,945 | 16,219 mi | — yrs |
| Volkswagen Golf | 74.9% | 22,270,993 | 83,305 mi | 37 yrs |
| Volkswagen Polo | 72.9% | 14,598,296 | 60,351 mi | 35 yrs |
| Volkswagen Passat | 73.5% | 6,960,690 | 105,632 mi | 32 yrs |
| Nissan Note S | 77.9% | 1,077 | 102,892 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Volkswagen Golf (74.9% pass rate) and the Volkswagen Polo (72.9% pass rate), the Volkswagen Up R-line outperforms both on MOT reliability.
Found a Volkswagen Up R-line you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Volkswagen Up R-lineShould you buy a used Volkswagen Up R-line?
The Volkswagen Up R-line has an overall MOT pass rate of 90.7% across 1,945 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre has a bulge, caused by separation or partial failure of its structure. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Volkswagen Up R-line with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Volkswagen Up R-line owner drives around 3,857 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.