Used Volkswagen e-Up 2013-2023 reliability

Check for bumps and scrapes to the bumpers and bodywork, as this will all cost money to put right. Also, the e-Up provides its infotainment system through an app on your smartphone, which is held in a cradle on top of the dashboard. As this is removable, check that the previous owner has left it in the car. Also, make sure the car comes with all of its charging cables and that they're in good condition, since they can be expensive to replace.

Look in the boot when you go to view an e-Up, because only its floor is carpeted. The sides are exposed paint and could easily be damaged by the contents of whatever has been stowed in there.

Also check the DAB digital radio; it's unlikely to be covered under warranty if the unit fails or the screen gets scratched, because Volkswagen views it as a wear and tear item. Also, the e-Up has a heated windscreen, unlike the regular Up. This is highly useful on an icy morning because you don't have to get your hands cold and it clears the screen faster than the heater can. The downside is that because it is unique to the e-Up, it'll cost significantly more to replace than a regular Up windscreen, so look out for any chips or cracks in the glass.

The e-Up didn’t feature in our most recent Reliability Survey, but the regular Up finished firmly mid-table in the city car class. Most of the problems mentioned centred around non-engine electrics. Volkswagen as a brand finished a slightly disappointing 17th out of 37 manufacturers.

There have been two recalls that apply to the e-Up. The first is for examples produced between 1 February 2014 and 1 August 2014 for unintentional airbag deployment, and the second is for cars produced between 1 February 2016 and 5 April 2016 that are fitted with panoramic sunroofs, because the glass can come unstuck.