Volkswagen e-up! review – DrivingElectric

The Volkswagen e-up! has been updated for 2020 with a bigger battery and longer driving range. So can it still compete against the new crop of stylish electric city cars? Richard Ingram finds out.

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[briansergeant]

E-Up? That’ll go down well in Yorkshire!

[KensDIYandHowTo]

A cheap, compact, entry level EV starting priced around $20k. A niche market which Tesla hasn't produced a car fof yet. Well done VW, bring them to USA please!

[rogerhudson]

Why do reviewers go on about the 81mph speed limiter ?? 130kph ( 81.25mph) is the maximum road speed in 25 of the 27 EU countries. This car will excel in the 20mph British towns. As for range, reviewers alwys talk about 'normal driving' but the world is changing and fast acceleration and violent braking is so 20th century. These days waft along (an old RR idea) and listen to some calming music.

[musclerent]

It might be good to point out that any decent smart phone will work fine and not just the brand mentioned

[antoniopalmero]

These are available on lease in 🇬🇧 now for £140 a month, great value.

[sevnpicoferro]

This is the smallest, cheapest and most efficient electric useful car on this globe.
Still enjoyable and comfortable.
Many don't need more. Many need more, so then, please pass by.

[Aaronage]

Fair review. Has some faults but overall a great little thing.

85 miles motorway range seems surprisingly low, how did you get that number?
My ~30kWh usable e Golf will do ~3.5miles/kWh on the motorway so 105 miles range (100% to 0%) or 94.5 miles range (100% to 10%). I would expect the e Up to be similar at worst, but more likely better since it's a smaller/lighter car with a weaker motor.

[shellokyle]

Its not true that the range is dropping that low on the motorway. There are tests where they have around 16 kwh/62 miles or less at 70mph

[Kay_Emm_]

How does it compare to the Nissan Leaf? I especially would like to know what it’s like in cold weather.

[xchopp]

Steering wheel is covered with leather -- but does it tilt/telescope?

[stefan]

Very nice car for city traffic and short stretches on the highway. The only downside are the front seats. Standard camping chairs offer more comfort than these "boards with raised edges". But drives really great, even in eco-mode.

[Darx]

how's the sound quality of the speakers

[xchopp]

VW: please bring this to the US. Pretty please!

[cannavaras]

"Very latest iphones" *sigh*

[manuelschulz]

Good review, interesting upgrade. Seems like a smart city car but the huge halogen headlights are a dealbreaker. Rather wait for ID.1 in 2023.

[xchopp]

7:02 ICE cars generate more white noise than the EV? EV = complete silence? Wind/air/road noise is not more "white" than the ICE version? I don't get it.

[tagg]

You could buy this for short journeys, a used Hyundai Iqoniq SE hybrid with only around 20k miles still under warranty (£15k from dealer on auto trader), and still keep 2 grand in the pocket when compared to buying the "affordable" Tesla Model 3.

[pigeonpoo]

Never seen an up outside of a town, so the perfect perfect city car. same price as a titanium Fiesta. It's no contest really. Shame, cos I like the up. And so do you, nice review.

[raffiefoxmew]

"so unless you've got one of the latest iPhones" or just....any Android phone from the last 8 years XD

Seriously though, if you've got a 6 inch smartphone, or better yet a folding phone that opens up into a mini tablet, then having the ability to use this as your nav/info screen is absolutely fantastic. I wish cars twice the price offered the same option!

[miloslogic]

I wish it had digital driving display, it'd add up to the whole electric experience