Summary
The Volkswagen e-Up (styled as e-up!) had been around in the UK since 2014, undergoing a major update in 2019, before it was discontinued in 2022. It was developed from the mainstream Up range which is still available – regarded by many reviewers as the best small car on the market.
The e-Up arrived in early 2014, two years after the original petrol Up. Facelifted versions had a far more efficient drivetrain than earlier models. An 82hp motor was paired a 32.2kWh battery to porduce an official range of 161 miles – further than the more recent Mini Electric and brand-new Honda e, both of which cost rather more than the Volkswagen.
Plus points included a charging socket where the fuel filler cap would normally be, a full recharge from a 7kW home wallbox taking around four hours. Reviewers pointed out the flaw in Volkswagen’s much trumpeted claim that a fast charger will add 80% to the battery in under an hour, as most rapid chargers are at motorway service areas and the e-Up was more likely to be employed around town than eating up motorway miles.
The e-Up was like many EVs; quiet and refined on the road, but for a small car its handling was considered ponderous. Reviewers did like the extensive regenerative braking options though, helping to put charge back into the battery.
Despite equipment including two-zone air-conditioning, heated seats and a rear-view camera, the £24K starting price of the e-Up! earned criticism. The fit and finish was highlighted as tired compared to more recent rivals. Instead of a proper infotainment system, drivers were expected to plug in their phone – the interior was not significantly updated in the decade the car was on sale.
After production stopped and started during 2020 and 2021 thanks to Covid-19 factory shutdowns and then supply shortages, the Volkswagen e-Up will finally end production in 2022. Apparently the company is still building cars to fulfil previous orders, but the e-Up can no longer be ordered new in the UK.
The Volkswagen e-Up has an Expert Rating of 64%, based on 19 reviews. This is some way behind the regular petrol Volkswagen Up, and also a few points the almost-identical SEAT Mii Electric which was discontinued around the same time.
e-Up highlights
- Better battery range than some pricier rivals
- Refined and quiet on the road
- Generour reat-seat space and boot
- Sensible placement of charging socket
e-Up lowlights
- Expensive for a city car
- Modest equipment levels
- Uninspiring handling
- Now dated against newer rivals
Key specifications
Body style: Small five-door hatch
Powertrain: electric motor, battery-powered
Price when new: From £24,085 on-road
Launched: Winter 2013/14
Last updated: Winter 2019/20
Ended production: Summer 2022
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road test and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-up! is certainly more appealing given its vastly extended range.”
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“it won’t cost much to run, and makes sense for those who can charge it at home and at work. However, there’s little reason to buy one, simply because it’s extortionately expensive and has a frustratingly short range.”
Read review
Autocar
Model reviewed: Style
Score: 8 / 10
“Much of what the e-Up presents will be familiar; despite the modest tweaks inside and out it is a classy small car that manages to justify the premium price you pay for the (new) VW roundel on the nose.”
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Business Car
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“Usual EV flaws but a good all-round, alternative fuel city car.”
Read review
Car
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“Its dimensions and electric powertrain make it useful around town and it’s not out of its depth on the motorway, either.”
Read review
Car Keys
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“When you compare it to cars that are on par price-wise, the Volkswagen e-up! doesn’t quite stack up. There are more practical offerings available and the range isn’t as good as other electric cars on offer. It’s a good effort, but there are areas for improvement in upcoming versions.”
Read review
Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-up! is a well equipped and quick electric city car, but the price tag will put many people off.”
Read review
Carwow
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-Up is an all-electric version of the standard Up. It costs buttons to run and has decent performance in town. Alternatives have longer ranges, though.”
Read review
Daily Mirror
Model reviewed:
“The Volkswagen e-Up electric hatchback is expensive but may suit short-distance urban commuters.”
Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-Up is one of the cars with the lowest cost of ownership in the market, but at the end of the day it’s based on a design from 2011. So your best bet is to spend an extra £4 to £6k and look at buying either the MG ZS EV, Mini Electric, Renault Zoe or Honda e, depending on your preference for handling, space, styling and range.”
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Green Car Guide
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-up! is primarily designed as a city car and the electric range of this new model has proven to be completely sufficient for a week of city driving. It’s better to drive in a city than a petrol-engined equivalent, both for the driver, and for anyone breathing in emissions of passing cars.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“It’s easy to see why the Volkswagen Up works so well as an electric car. This is, after all, a car designed for city and urban use.”
Read review
Motors.co.uk
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-Up! is pricey for what it is, and for most people, justifying the purchase of the electric version over its petrol counterpart is incredibly difficult. Even with the government’s electric car grant, you are looking at spending almost double what you would for a base petrol engine.”
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Parkers
Model reviewed:
Score: 9 / 10
“Appealing electric city car now has a longer range.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed:
“Great car, but faces a stiff challenge being so much more expensive than the Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe.”
Read review
The Telegraph
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“Wonderful fun to drive and very well packaged, but too expensive and still not a viable only car for most people.”
Read review
Top Gear
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen e-Up! is a superb, gimmick-free electric car. Try this before you go for that ID3.”
Read review
What Car?
Model reviewed: Range review
Score: 6 / 10
“The VW e-Up is great to drive, easy to park and comes with a decent, if not class-leading, electric range.”
Read review
Which?
“The Volkswagen e-Up is surprisingly nippy to drive, and surprisingly easy too. Unfortunately, after being re-tested by Euro NCAP in 2019, it was found to be lacking compared to modern safety expectations and subsequently we’ve made it a DON’T BUY model.”
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: December 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 81%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 46%
Safety assist: 55%
Notes on safety
The Volkswagen e-Up shares its safety rating with the rest of the Up range, which is not always the case for an electric model. The Up was initially given a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP when it was first assessed, which was way back in 2011. However, it was reassessed in 2019 and downgraded to a three-star rating. Testers highlighted marginal chest protection in some tests, and that autonomous emergency braking was not a standard feature on the Up!
In summary, the e-Up still provides competitive protection in the event of an accident, but it no longer meets the highest standards for avoiding an accident in the first place.
Eco rating
No eco rating
As of June 2022, the Volkswagen e-Up has not been lab tested by Green NCAP. Now that it is ending production, it’s unlikely to be put through Green NCAP’s testing process.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen e-Up has received
2016
- Next Green Car Awards – Best City Car
2013
- Next Green Car Awards – Next Generation Award
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volkswagen e-Up, you might also be interested in these alternatives
BMW i3 | Fiat 500 Electric | Honda e | Mini Electric | Peugeot e-208 | Renault Zoe | SEAT Mii Electric | Smart EQ Fortwo | Smart EQ Forfour | Vauxhall Corsa-e
The rapidly expanding electric car market is changing almost monthly, but is still relatively small compared to the number of petrol and diesel models available. That means that there are fewer direct competitors but a variety of different cars for a given price point. Of the cars listed above, few are genuinely similar to the Volkswagen e-Up in terms of size and specification, but all are trying to fill a similar role for urban driving.
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