Volkswagen e-Up! 36.8 kWh

Overview

The 2023 Volkswagen e-Up! 36.8 kWh is a plucky little electric hatchback that, while never officially gracing US showrooms, carved out a niche in Europe as a cracking city car. Think of it as VW's nimble urban warrior, perfect for darting through tight streets. With its focus on efficiency and compact dimensions, this particular e-Up! boasts a 36.8 kWh nominal battery. As a discontinued model not sold in the US, any examples found here would be special imports, with pricing reflecting that rarity rather than an original MSRP.

What's New for 2023?

For 2023, the big news for the Volkswagen e-Up! 36.8 kWh was that it was taking its final bow, as production officially wrapped up this year. This makes the 2023 models the last of their kind, representing the most mature version of this specific electric city car. No major overhauls or feature shake-ups were introduced for its concluding year; instead, it solidified its reputation as a straightforward, no-nonsense EV ideal for city life, ending its run with the tried-and-tested 36.8 kWh battery configuration.

Design & Exterior

The e-Up! 36.8 kWh sports a classic, friendly city car look – it's a compact five-door hatchback that’s all about maximizing urban practicality. Its cheeky face and tidy proportions make it instantly recognizable. Key dimensions are a diminutive 141.7 inches in length, a slender 64.8 inches in width (perfect for tight parking spots!), and a height of 58.7 inches. While not a flashy design, its purposeful stance and clean lines, often complemented by small, efficient alloy wheels, give it an honest, contemporary appeal perfectly suited for zipping around town.

Interior, Tech & Cargo

Inside the e-Up! 36.8 kWh, you'll find a surprisingly airy cabin for its size, seating four. The design is functional and robust, typical VW quality, even if not dripping in luxury. Tech-wise, it’s usually equipped with a basic but clear infotainment system, often centered around smartphone integration for navigation and media, likely supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. For your bits and bobs, there's 8.8 cubic feet of trunk space, expanding to a useful 32.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. Don't go looking for a frunk, though – it's all business at the back!

Performance & Driving Experience

Don't let its size fool you; the e-Up! 36.8 kWh is a zippy little performer for city duties! It'll get you from 0-60 mph in a respectable 11.5 seconds. Power comes from a single Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) driving the front wheels, dishing out 61 kW (around 82 hp) and a handy 155 lb-ft of instant torque. This makes it feel nippy off the line and super agile for darting through traffic. The ride is generally comfy for a small car, and its regenerative braking helps eke out extra miles.

Range, Battery & Charging

The e-Up! 36.8 kWh features a 32.3 kWh usable battery pack, delivering a Green Cars Compare calculated real-world range of around 139 miles – plenty for city hops and commutes. It's pretty efficient too, sipping juice at about 4.3 mi/kWh. For charging, its standard 7.2 kW on-board AC charger can top it up from empty in roughly 5 hours. When you need a quicker boost, it supports DC fast charging at up to 40 kW, which can get you from 10-80% in about 45-50 minutes. Its native European port is CCS Type 2 on a 400V system.

Safety & Driver-Assistance Features

While the Volkswagen e-Up! never underwent NHTSA testing due to not being sold in the US, it scored a fantastic 5-star rating from Euro NCAP, which speaks volumes about its safety credentials in its home market. For driver assistance, you'd typically find essentials like lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking often came as standard fitment in Europe for this model year, reflecting a good baseline of modern safety tech to keep you secure on those urban adventures, though specifics could vary by market configuration.

Warranty & Maintenance Coverage

Since the e-Up! 36.8 kWh wasn't officially sold in the US, there's no direct US warranty. However, if it were, you'd likely expect Volkswagen's standard EV coverage: a basic vehicle warranty around 4 years/50,000 miles, and a battery warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles, guaranteeing at least 70% capacity. Powertrain components would typically fall under this battery warranty. VW USA often includes some complimentary maintenance too, perhaps for 2 years/20,000 miles. For an imported e-Up!, warranty would depend on the importer or be aftermarket.