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VolkswagenE-Up (2014-2024)

Used only
City
Electric

£5,922Typical price

Test score

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Volkswagen has taken its characterful Up city car and swapped the petrol engine for an electric motor. The result is the battery-powered VW e-Up, launched in 2014 and revised in 2019. Is this one of the most credible electric cars yet, or does it fall a bit flat? Find out in our full Volkswagen e-Up road test review.

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What's included?

What is it?
What’s it great at?
What’s it like to drive?
How reliable are Volkswagen's electric cars?
How comfortable and spacious is it?
How economical is it to run?
How safe is it?
Is there anything I should look out for?
Should I buy it?

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KEY TEST RESULTS
Comfort and practicality
Brand reliability 0-4 years

Jan 2023Last checked by Which?
Nov 2020First reviewed by Which?
Jan 2014Released

The overall Which? test score is made up of the following star ratings, all determined by our rigorous lab tests.

How we test cars

6 Jun 2025

Ease of driving

Overall
Visibility
Smoothness of power delivery
Driving stability
Cabin layout

How we test ease of driving

To find out how easy a car is to drive, we assess cars across a number of areas from visibility and handling to the layout of the cabin and how smoothly the engine delivers its power.

Performance

Overall
In-gear acceleration
Brakes
Electric car range

How we test performance

We test braking distances and whether the effectiveness of the brakes fade with repeat use. Performance is based on in-gear acceleration.

Comfort and practicality

Overall
Entry and exit
Seat comfort
Ride quality
Quietness
Seat space
Boot space (small and sports cars)

How we test comfort and practicality

Comfort and practicality includes how easy it is, or not, to get in and out of the car and the maximum height of occupants. We also measure road, wind and engine noise and assess how well the car deals with bumps from large potholes to jittery surfaces like cobble stones.

Euro NCAP

How we test euro ncap

Any car that receives a rating of two stars or less from Euro NCAP is made a Don't Buy. Any car that receives three stars can't be a Best Buy. If a car has been available for more than four years and has not been tested by Euro NCAP, it cannot be a Best Buy.

Safety kit

How we test safety kit

We factor in the safety equipment that’s factory-fitted or optional, along with how well the car protects its occupants and pedestrians in the event of an accident. We also test how easy it is to fit a variety of child car seats.

Brand reliability 0-4 years

Overall
Electric car reliability
Plug-in hybrid reliability
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

How we test brand reliability 0-4 years

Our reliability ratings are based on the feedback from tens of thousands of UK motorists, as collected in our annual Which? car survey. We divide all reliability feedback into three age groups: cars aged up to four years, five to nine years, and 10 to 15 years.

Brand reliability 5-9 years

Overall
Plug-in hybrid reliability
Diesel reliability

Brand reliability 10-15 years

Overall
Petrol reliability
Diesel reliability

General
Class	City
Luxury	No
Convertible	No
Availability	Used only
Used price	£5,922 - £12,018
Fuel type	Electric
Tested fuel efficiency	3.52 to 4.54mi/kWh
Length	3,540 to 3,600mm
Width (excluding wing mirrors)	1,645mm
Width (including wing mirrors)	1,885 to 1,910mm
Height	1,492 to 1,507mm
Driver max height
Second-row passenger max height
Boot space with seats up
Boot space with seats down
Number of seats	4
Folding rear seats	Yes
Isofix attachments	Yes
Turning circle	10.45 m
On sale date	15 January 2014
Lowest pence-per-mile cost	£5.67

Latest tested engine
Engine and trim name	Style
Fuel type	Electric
Battery capacity
Energy required for full charge
Charging losses
Transmission	Single-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Tested fuel efficiency (mi/kWh)
Cost per mile	6.92p per mile
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	0
Tested electric range (miles)
Official Euro emission level	Electric - N/A
Engine test date	21 October 2020
Test programme	2017

Engine two
Engine and trim name	E-up
Fuel	Electric
Battery capacity
Energy required for full charge
Charging losses
Transmission	Single-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Tested fuel efficiency (mi/kWh)
Cost per mile	7.31p per mile
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
CO2 at tailpipe/tank-to-wheel (TTW) (g/km)	0
Tested electric range (miles)
Official Euro emission level	Electric - N/A
Engine test date	30 October 2018
Car test programme	2017

Engine three
Engine and trim name	E-Up
Fuel type	Electric
Battery capacity
Transmission	Single-speed automatic
Driven wheels	Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
Tested fuel efficiency (mi/kWh)
Cost per mile	5.67p per mile
Monthly fuel cost
Annual fuel cost
Tested electric range (miles)
Official Euro emission level	Electric - N/A
Engine test date	23 October 2013
Car test programme	2012-2016

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VolkswagenE-Up (2014-2024)

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