Volkswagen e-Up! UK price announced

With a UK price of £24,250 (which reduces to £19,250 after applying the government’s Plug-in Car Grant), it’s unlikely that the Volkswagen e-Up! is going to create a spike in demand for electric cars.

Admittedly the e-Up!’s standard specification is generous, as it includes satellite navigation, Bluetooth, heated front seats, a heated front windscreen, electronic climate control and rear parking sensors.

Nevertheless, the outlay appears steep when the most expensive five-door, petrol-powered, range-topping High Up! currently retails for £11,970. Factor in unknown residual values and financially things look even more dubious.

And then there are rivals such as the Nissan Leaf that costs from £20,990 to £25,490. Larger and more practical, it would seem to be a better value proposition for anyone determined to go electric.

The e-Up! has an 18.7 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that delivers a range of up to 93 miles (150 kilometres), although a full recharge using a domestic socket takes almost nine hours. Its 80 bhp (60 kW / 82 PS) electric motor is powerful enough for a 0-62 mph (100 km/h) time of 12.4 seconds and an 81 mph (130 km/h) top speed.

Available to order now from just 24 specially-appointed dealers nationwide, deliveries of the e-Up! are due to begin next month.

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