Volkswagen e-Up Review 2023
The Volkswagen e-Up is an all-electric small car that's perfect for the hustle and bustle of city life. The e-Up is ideal for those who need an agile city car with a practical interior and low running costs.
Rivals to the e-Up include the Fiat 500 Electric Hatchback, Mini Electric, Renault Zoe, and Seat Mii Electric.
Volkswagen e-Up Pros:
- Nippy around-town performance
- Practical interior
- Affordable to run
Volkswagen e-Up Cons:
- Basic technology compared to rivals
- Rivals have a better range
- Interior needs a revamp
Our Volkswagen e-Up review covers:
- Same style as the normal Up with a boxy exterior and upright rear end
- Practical interior, but it's missing a premium touch
- 251-litre boot
- One 36.8kWh battery is available
- Standard trim only
The exterior of the Volkswagen e-Up hasn't changed much compared to the traditional Up. It still has its boxy exterior and upright rear end, but if you look closely, you'll find a few changes to the front bumper and filled-in air vents across the body.
For a compact city car, the e-Up excels in practicality. There's plenty of headroom in the front, and a couple of adults shouldn't have too many issues getting comfy in the back. The only downside is that there's only room for two passengers in the rear.
Open the boot, and you'll find 251 litres of luggage space, which can be extended to 959 litres with the rear seats folded. This should be good enough for your weekly shopping trip but falls short of the 338 litres in the Renault Zoe.
The interior of the e-Up is simple and effective. On the dashboard, you'll find a well-planned setup that's easy to use, and all the buttons you'll use feel well-built and solid. However, as you move down, you'll find some exposed metal and hard plastics, making it fall short of the Mini Electric.
Technology in the e-Up is a bit of a blast from the past. On the dashboard is a small 5-inch screen that displays information about the radio station and the rear-view camera image. If you want a more interactive experience, stick your smartphone into the cradle above the dashboard and use the Volkswagen app for navigation.
One trim comes as standard for the e-Up. It comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, halogen headlights, a 12V socket in the centre console, sliding front seats with memory function, cloth upholstery, a multifunction leather steering wheel, lane keep assist and regenerative braking.
The e-Up is available with a 36.8kW battery. It comes with a power output of 82bhp, achieves 0-62mph in 11.9 seconds and has a top speed of 81mph. For its electric range, Volkswagen provides an official range of 160 miles which is more than the Honda e but falls short of the Fiat 500 Electric Hatchback and Renault Zoe.
Although the performance statistics seem a little underwhelming, the e-Up is perfect for urban driving. Its handling is responsive and fun to use, while its suspension tackles bumps in the road excellently well for a city car.
The regenerative braking system is also good to use. Move the gear shift into 'B' mode, and it kicks in, using the energy lost when braking and to top up the battery. This means that the car naturally slows down as you move off the accelerator, meaning you can use one pedal unless you need to come to a complete stop.
Prices for the new Volkswagen e-Up start from £22,865.00 OTR* or to lease from £247.07 per month.
Looking to get behind the wheel of the Volkswagen e-Up? Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is one of the UK's largest car leasing brokers and offers a range of affordable leasing deals to suit your every need.
Leasing may be cheaper than an outright purchase thanks to a low initial deposit, fixed monthly rentals, and various benefits included in your deal, such as road tax and breakdown cover.
*' On the road' price correct at time of publication and includes one year's road fund license, DVLA first registration fee and number plate fee. Prices are subject to change, always check with your nearest retailer.
