With the exception of high-mileage drivers that spend a large chunk of time on the road, making the leap from petrol, diesel and even hybrid power straight to all-electric has so many advantages. Zero emissions mean cleaner air and communities, while battery power opens up a near-silent and rather relaxing motoring experience. How do the all-electric e-up! and e-Golf models from Volkswagen compare?
Its larger cousin, the e-Golf, is a full-size hatchback and measures 4.25m in length and just shy of 1.8m in width, meaning it’s the more practical car if space is a key factor. Special LED lights, an array of attractive blue-coloured details plus unique 16-inch Astana alloy wheels set it apart from other Golf variants. A brilliant choice for families and also urban-based business drivers who are conscious of costs and the environment, the e-Golf with its timelessly classy styling has strong road presence.
Conclusion: the e-up! is perfect for frequent town and city drivers
Inside the e-Golf things are more spacious and comfortable given the car’s increased dimensions, and non-functional components are finished in slightly finer materials. The standard cloth seats can be upgraded to sumptuous Vienna leather, while standard equipment generously comprises the Discover Pro DVD nav/radio system with gesture control, front and rear parking sensors, split-folding rear seats and electrically-folding wing mirrors. The e-Golf’s 341-litre boot is slightly smaller than its conventionally-fuelled siblings but is still very good for families and other usage. VW’s classy all-electric hatchback also excels when it comes to safety, with front assist and adaptive cruise control (ACC) as standard. Conclusion: the e-Golf is the one to pick if more space for people and luggage is required
Little or large?
The most compact car in VW’s line-up, the e-up! has a footprint 3.6m long and 1.5m wide, making it perfect for city driving and urban life in particular, although its dimensions are also ideal for threading through narrow country lanes. Being a Volkswagen, the 5-door e-up! oozes solidity and high quality, its face has a youthful appearance complete with distinctive C-shaped LED daytime running lights, and its glossy black rear screams sophistication.Its larger cousin, the e-Golf, is a full-size hatchback and measures 4.25m in length and just shy of 1.8m in width, meaning it’s the more practical car if space is a key factor. Special LED lights, an array of attractive blue-coloured details plus unique 16-inch Astana alloy wheels set it apart from other Golf variants. A brilliant choice for families and also urban-based business drivers who are conscious of costs and the environment, the e-Golf with its timelessly classy styling has strong road presence.
On the inside
The e-up! may not be quite as plush as its larger electric relative but the cabin still exudes the high-quality materials and strong ergonomics that Volkswagen is synonymous with. Its standout features includes leather-trimmed controls, heated front seats and windscreen, tinted windows, a funky dashpad finished in ‘Sharkskin’, climate control, plus VW’s latest ‘maps + more’ smartphone integration, along with loads of other connected technology. Although suited more to shorter journeys for four adults, shoulder and headroom is relatively impressive in the back because of the car’s upright rear design. Equally, although boot space is unsurprisingly compact in general terms, 251 litres from the e-up! is the same as non-electric variants thanks to the motor being positioned under the bonnet.Inside the e-Golf things are more spacious and comfortable given the car’s increased dimensions, and non-functional components are finished in slightly finer materials. The standard cloth seats can be upgraded to sumptuous Vienna leather, while standard equipment generously comprises the Discover Pro DVD nav/radio system with gesture control, front and rear parking sensors, split-folding rear seats and electrically-folding wing mirrors. The e-Golf’s 341-litre boot is slightly smaller than its conventionally-fuelled siblings but is still very good for families and other usage. VW’s classy all-electric hatchback also excels when it comes to safety, with front assist and adaptive cruise control (ACC) as standard. Conclusion: the e-Golf is the one to pick if more space for people and luggage is required
The joys of electric motoring
Just because all-electric cars powered by motors and batteries are environmentally green and don’t emit any CO2 or NOx into the atmosphere doesn’t make them dull - far from it, in fact. The nature of electric motors means that they provide instant torque, translating into impressively swift acceleration in near silence, making the EV driving experience highly relaxing.
The Volkswagen e-up! powertrain produces peak horsepower of 82PS and torque of 210Nm, compared to the e-Golf with 136PS and 290Nm. Despite being physically larger, the e-Golf is faster and reaches 62mph in around 9.6 seconds. Range is important to electric car drivers and the e-up! has a NEDC-rated range of 99 miles against the e-Golf’s figure of 186 miles, the choice coming down to driving habits and requirements. Using a DC charger, the e-up! battery can be recharged in just 30 minutes, taking around 6 hours using a domestic mains socket. The e-Golf takes 60 minutes via DC and around 10.5 hours with a household plug. The battery warranty for both models is the same at 8 years for peace of mind.
Conclusion: unless you cover more than around 75 miles per day, the e-up! will go the distance and is faster to recharge
The Volkswagen e-up! powertrain produces peak horsepower of 82PS and torque of 210Nm, compared to the e-Golf with 136PS and 290Nm. Despite being physically larger, the e-Golf is faster and reaches 62mph in around 9.6 seconds. Range is important to electric car drivers and the e-up! has a NEDC-rated range of 99 miles against the e-Golf’s figure of 186 miles, the choice coming down to driving habits and requirements. Using a DC charger, the e-up! battery can be recharged in just 30 minutes, taking around 6 hours using a domestic mains socket. The e-Golf takes 60 minutes via DC and around 10.5 hours with a household plug. The battery warranty for both models is the same at 8 years for peace of mind.
In numbers…
|
|
Min |
Min |
|
Power (HP) |
82 |
136 |
|
Torque (NM) |
210 |
290 |
|
Emissions (CO2, g/km) |
zero |
zero |
|
Charging DC (min) |
80 |
93 |
|
Charging AC (min) |
30 |
60 |
|
Top Speed (mph) |
360 |
650 |
|
0 – 60mph in…. (seconds) |
12.4 |
10.7 |
|
Price |
£25,640 |
£32,730 |
Volkswagen has introduced the many benefits of all-electric motoring to its line-up via two extremely compelling models in the form of the compact e-up! city car and e-Golf premium hatchback. The choice just comes down to your lifestyle, so why not test drive one or both of these remarkable cars at Inchcape Volkswagen?