The Volkswagen e-Up is the electric version of the very well-known VW Up compact hatchback city car. The e-Up was introduced back in 2013 which means that it is a relatively old EV considering how fast the technology has developed in the meantime. Therefore, is Volkswagen e-Up a good car?
The VW e-Up can be considered a good car in only the perfect usage scenario for such a car. The only way it makes sense to own an e-Up is if you live in a busy city and you can charge the car on a daily basis. In other circumstances, the VW e-Up is not really a good car and that is why not many people bought them.
Either way, in this article we will go in-depth about the e-Up, we are going to discuss the powertrain, the design, and the way the e-Up drives. We are also going to discuss how well the e-Up does in the reliability department and does it offer decent value? Finally, we are going to discuss how practical the e-Up is and if it makes sense to own one.
Either way, the e-Up is not the most popular car on the market for a few distinct reasons. Firstly, newer EVs are leagues above the e-Up, secondly, the e-Up simply isn’t able to deliver all that is necessary from a modern-day car.
VW e-Up – The powertrain
The VW e-Up offers a 36,8kWh battery mated to a single electric motor that drives the front wheels exclusively. This is enough for the e-Up to offer 83hp which does make it relatively nippy considering the car only weighs 2500lbs. Maximum torque is capped at 154lb-ft which is also decent for such a small town car.
The older VW e-Up model only comes with a 16kWh battery which enables the e-Up to do just shy of 60 miles on a full charge. However, even the 16kWh battery VW e-Up offers 82hp which means that the real-world use of these two is not too different, at least not from a power standpoint.
Either way, the e-Up powertrain now seems too weak, especially considering what the very latest similar electric cars can do. Charing the e-Up takes around 5-6 hours while fast charging is able to recharge the battery from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes which is also nowhere near as good as some modern-day cars, especially if you consider that these numbers are for the 16kWh model.
VW e-Up – Design and chassis
The VW e-Up is designed with ergonomics and smart space management in mind which means that it prioritizes both of these above design. As such, the e-Up looks basic without anything special about it. The e-Up does come with a few small design specialties, but overall, the e-Up is more or less the same as the normal VW Up.
The Interior is mostly barebone, but the Up is a lot more sophisticated than most cars in this segment. The suspension and chassis design of the VW e-Up is tailored towards comfort, ease of use, and accessibility. This means that the e-Up drives without a specific character trait. It is just basic, and that is more or less it.
VW e-Up – Reliability and common issues
The Volkswagen e-Up is a decently reliable car which means that it does not suffer from all that many issues. However, the fact is that it’s difficult to accurately assess the VW e-Up because it was never sold in any significant numbers. Either way, the most common issue with the e-Up is the mileage decrease during winter.
The e-Up was also part of the recall due to faulty reprogrammed side airbags, issues with the electronics, and the infotainment system. It’s also worth mentioning that the e-Up is not the type of car people tend to drive over long distances anyway, so who knows what might happen to a higher mileage example.
VW e-Up – Value and practicality
The VW e-Up offers decent value if you are the type of person that can fully take advantage of such a small automobile. On the other hand, if you are not, you are more or less wasting your money and that is why these aren’t being used all that often.
Practicality-wise, the e-Up is decent for one or two passengers, but any more than that is definitely a crowd. Cargo space is small, also fitting for up to 2 people.
FAQ Section
Is the VW e-Up still available?
The VW e-Up can only be bought used which means that VW has discontinued the VW Up completely almost 2 years ago now. The Up is finished and is not likely to come back because VW focuses its efforts on the ID. electric range which should also offer a car similar to the e-Up eventually.
Either way, the e-Up is available as a second-hand market car, but not many people are actually buying these. The ones that do typically use them as neighborhood commuters or delivery vehicles.
Is the VW Up better than the e-Up?
The VW Up is the original Up which means that the e-Up is more or less the same as the Up, with the only difference being the electric powertrain. The e-Up is more efficient and easier on your wallet, but it is heavier with a shorter overall range. The regular Up can be used even for some longer distance journeys while the e-Up can not.
As such, the breadth of ability the regular Up offers is a lot broader, and that is why it is the better car of the two.
Does it make sense to buy a subcompact small-battery EV?
The VW e-Up, the electric Smart, or even the Renault Twizzy can often be seen in busy city centers being driven as daily commuters. However, does it make sense to own one at all? Firstly, these cars are not all that compact anymore which means that you need to find a dedicated parking space to even be able to park the car without getting a fine.
Secondly, it may be easier to live with such a small car in the city, but people tend to live just fine with seven-seater SUVs. That being said, it only makes sense to buy cars such as these if you like them, otherwise, it’s pointless.
How long does the 2019 VW up battery last?
Volkswagen e-up! The warranty on the 18.7kWh lithium-ion batteries is for an eight year period or 99,360 miles (or 160,000 km). Volkswagen states that the “gradual decrease in high-voltage batteries capacity over time” is part of the component’s nature.
Are electric cars automatic?
Yes, they are. They have a manual mode where you can select gears manually, but most people will never need to go into this mode. In addition, there is no clutch pedal either which makes driving much simpler.
Do electric cars need oil?
Electric vehicles do not use oil in the traditional sense. This is because their electric motors aren’t equipped with oil that must be changed. However, other lubricants may be used that need to be checked at least periodically.
Do back seats on VW up fold down?
The Up has 60/40 split-folding rear seats. This is also the case for the Hyundai i10. The front seats of the three-door Up slide forward to make it easier to access the rear and then return to their original position when they are folded down.
