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In-depth reviews

Volkswagen up! review - MPG, CO2 and running costs

The Volkswagen Up is a small car with a small engine, which means low running costs

Overall Auto Express Rating

4.0 out of 5

MPG, CO2 and Running Costs Rating

4.2 out of 5

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If you order a Volkswagen up! today the only engine available is a 1.0-litre three-cylinder petrol motor that produces 64bhp and produces CO2 emissions of up to 119g/km. According to Volkswagen, the three-door up! can deliver a maximum combined economy of 55.4mpg, while the five-door version will return 54.3mpg at best.

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Volkswagen doesn’t offer a diesel or hybrid engine with the up! and the 113bhp up! GTI is no longer available to order. If you buy a secondhand example of the GTI though, it's only slightly less efficient than the less sporty models, rated to deliver  51.4mpg and emit 125g/km of CO2.

The fully-electric e-up! is no longer part of VW's line-up, either. But again, find a used example and the 36.8kWh battery in newer models should allow for a maximum range of 159 miles (based on the WLTP test cycle that is), while older models can cover less than 100 miles on a single charge.

Insurance groups 

Being a small car with a focus on value, the Volkswagen up! is about as cheap to insure as it gets. The entry-level three-door up! sits in group 2 out of 50, as does the base five-door model, while Black Edition, Beats and R-Line variants all land in group 3. As a result, the VW up! will make a great car for learner drivers, who normally pay high premiums to insure their cars. Unsurprisingly, premiums will predictably rise if you opt for the GTI, as this sits in group 17.

You can get personalised car insurance quotes fast with our comparison tool powered by Quotezone...

Depreciation 

The Volkswagen up! is predicted to keep around 55 per cent of its original value after an average ownership period of three years and 36,000 miles. 

To get an accurate valuation on a specific model check out our valuation tool...

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Which Is Best

Cheapest

  • Name
    1.0 Take Up 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £8,525

Most Economical

  • Name
    1.0 Take Up 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £8,525

Fastest

  • Name
    1.0 115PS Up GTI 3dr
  • Gearbox type
    Manual
  • Price
    £18,050
News reporter

As our news reporter, Ellis is responsible for covering everything new and exciting in the motoring world, from quirky quadricycles to luxury MPVs. He was previously the content editor for DrivingElectric and won the Newspress Automotive Journalist Rising Star award in 2022.

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