AT12MARVolkswagen up! might be an unfamiliar name at the moment, but just wait. This elegant city car is tipped to be one of the biggest sellers when 12-plate fever hits this March.

It might be smaller than a bottle top, but the up! pulls off a neat trick. It feels just as grown-up and quiet as the bigger Polo and makes the refinement of its competitors feel downright last decade.

Whisper it – the up! might even tempt some city-dwellers out of the evergreen Golf, which is bad news for Volkswagen, considering it costs from £7,995 – almost exactly half the price of the family hatchback.

It has a bigger boot than you’d expect in a city car too. With 251 litres behind the rear seats, it has 112 litres more room than the Toyota Aygo and 91 more than the MINI Hatch.

Despite its tempting price tag, we’d avoid the entry-level Take up! trim as if life itself depended on it. Wind-up windows, manual door locks and a simple blower will leave your friends sweating this summer.

The Move up! trim might be £975 more, but that’s a small price to pay for air-con, electric front windows and remote central locking – and the fact you’ll have mates who want to get in a car with you.

12-plate wish list

Feb 01: Hyundai i40 Tourer
Feb 02: Audi A4
Feb 03: Ford Focus
Feb 06: Citroen DS4
Feb 07: Volkswagen up!
Feb 08: Vauxhall Astra GTC
Feb 09: Audi A1 Sportback
Feb 10: Renault Scenic
Feb 13: Subaru XV
Feb 14: Renault Twingo (video)
Feb 15: MINI Coupe
Feb 16: Nissan LEAF
Feb 17: MINI Coupe (video)
Feb 20: Hyundai i30
Feb 21: Chevrolet Camaro
Feb 22: Porsche 911 (video)
Feb 23: Kia Picanto
Feb 24: BMW 1-Series
Feb 27: Honda Civic
Feb 28: Hyundai Veloster