Volkswagen up!

Which Volkswagen up! Version Should You Buy?

The Volkswagen up! range offers three distinct powertrain choices: Gasoline, LPG, and Electro. For the strongest acceleration, choose the restyled 1.0 MT with 90 hp: it reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and 185 km/h. For lower measured combined consumption among the combustion versions, the restyled 1.0 MT with 60 hp or 75 hp records 4.1 l/100 km, while the 60 hp 1.0 DSG also returns 4.1 l/100 km.

The Volkswagen up! range offers three distinct powertrain choices: Gasoline, LPG, and Electro. For the strongest acceleration, choose the restyled 1.0 MT with 90 hp: it reaches 100 km/h in 9.9 seconds and 185 km/h. For lower measured combined consumption among the combustion versions, the restyled 1.0 MT with 60 hp or 75 hp records 4.1 l/100 km, while the 60 hp 1.0 DSG also returns 4.1 l/100 km. Drivers wanting an Electro version can choose between 82 hp and 83 hp; these provide up to 212 Nm and produce 0 g/km of measured CO₂. All listed versions are FWD five-door Mini models.

Volkswagen up! generations: what changed?

The original 1 generation ran from December 2011 through June 2016. Its listed range contains eight versions: 60 hp and 75 hp Gasoline 1.0 MT models, 60 hp and 75 hp Gasoline 1.0 DSG models, a 68 hp LPG 1.0 MT, and an 82 hp Electro AT, including repeated database entries for the 75 hp 1.0 DSG. Combustion models use a 999 cc Inline engine with 3 cylinders and 4 valves per cylinder. Depending on the version, kerb weight ranges from 929 to 1,031 kg for combustion cars, while the Electro AT weighs 1,214 kg.

The 1 generation, restyling 1 began in July 2016. The data lists 15 modifications, of which 12 are shown. It retained the 999 cc Gasoline and LPG choices, added a 90 hp Turbo Gasoline 1.0 MT, and includes 82 hp and 83 hp Electro AT variants. The quickest listed up! therefore belongs to this restyling. Measured combined consumption reaches as low as 4.1 l/100 km for several Gasoline versions, and the available wheel-size list expands from 165/70 R14 through 195/40 R17 on the combustion cars.

Volkswagen up! engine specs compared

Repeated version names are distinguished by power and generation below. “Not measured” means the supplied data contains no figure.

Among the 999 cc engines, output is approximately 60.1 hp per litre for the 60 hp versions, 68.1 hp per litre for the 68 hp LPG version, 75.1 hp per litre for the 75 hp versions, and 90.1 hp per litre for the 90 hp Turbo. The Turbo therefore supplies about 15 hp per litre more than the 75 hp engine and about 30 hp per litre more than the 60 hp engine.

Performance and mpg-equivalent consumption figures

The restyled 90 hp 1.0 MT is the clear performance choice. Its 9.9-second acceleration to 100 km/h is 3.6 seconds quicker than the restyled 75 hp 1.0 MT, and its 185 km/h maximum speed is 13 km/h higher. Its measured consumption is 5.5 l/100 km in the city, 3.8 l/100 km on the highway, and 4.4 l/100 km combined.

For the restyled Gasoline range, the 75 hp 1.0 MT combines 13.5-second acceleration with 4.1 l/100 km combined consumption. Compared with the 60 hp 1.0 MT at 14.4 seconds and either 4.1 or 4.4 l/100 km combined, the 75 hp version is 0.9 seconds quicker without exceeding the lowest measured combined figure. The 75 hp 1.0 DSG takes 14.9 seconds and uses 4.2 l/100 km combined; the 60 hp 1.0 DSG takes 15.3 seconds and uses 4.1 l/100 km.

The restyled 68 hp LPG 1.0 MT reaches 100 km/h in 16.3 seconds, has a 165 km/h maximum speed, and records 5.6, 3.9, and 4.5 l/100 km for city, highway, and combined use. Its measured CO₂ figure is 82 g/km, which is 13 g/km below the restyled 60 hp 1.0 DSG and 19 g/km below the 90 hp Turbo 1.0 MT.

The original-generation 60 hp 1.0 MT records 5.6 l/100 km city, 3.9 highway, and 4.5 combined, while its restyled equivalents record either 4.1 or 4.4 combined. The original 75 hp 1.0 MT has entries with 13.2- or 14.2-second acceleration and 4.7 l/100 km combined. The original 75 hp 1.0 DSG records 13.9 seconds and 4.5 l/100 km combined. These differences make the exact power, gearbox, weight, and performance entry important when comparing cars with the same version name.

For Electro models, fuel consumption is not measured. The 82 hp AT reaches 100 km/h in 12.4 seconds and 130 km/h; the 83 hp AT takes 11.9 seconds and also reaches 130 km/h. The latter is 0.5 seconds quicker and adds 2 Nm. Both restyled Electro entries record 0 g/km of CO₂.

Volkswagen up! weight, clearance, tank, and wheel specs

Combustion versions are substantially lighter than the Electro cars. The lightest listed restyled car is the 60 hp 1.0 MT at 926 kg, equal to about 15.4 kg per hp. The 934 kg version of the same 1.0 MT equals about 15.6 kg per hp. The restyled 75 hp 1.0 MT weighs 936 kg, or about 12.5 kg per hp, while the 90 hp 1.0 MT weighs 1,002 kg, or about 11.1 kg per hp. This gives the Turbo the best weight-to-power result among the supplied versions.

The restyled 68 hp LPG 1.0 MT weighs 1,033 kg and has a gross weight of 1,380 kg. Restyled Electro cars weigh between 1,214 and 1,235 kg, with gross weights from 1,500 to 1,530 kg. At 1,235 kg and 83 hp, the Electro AT carries about 14.9 kg per hp, but its 212 Nm is 117 Nm more than the naturally aspirated 75 hp Gasoline engine.

Ground clearance is generally 144 mm for the restyled combustion range and 132 mm for Electro versions. In the original generation, listed clearance spans 132 to 162 mm depending on the version. Every supplied version has a tank figure of 35 litres, including the Electro entries as recorded in the source data.

Restyled combustion-car wheel sizes are 165/70 R14, 175/65 R14, 185/55 R15, 185/50 R16, and 195/40 R17. The 83 hp Electro AT lists 165/70 R14, 165/65 R15, and 185/50 R16. Wheel sizes for the original generation and the restyled 82 hp Electro AT are not measured.

All versions use Independent, spring front suspension and Semi-independent rear suspension. Braking hardware is Ventilated disc at the front and Drum at the rear.

Which Volkswagen up! should you buy and why?

Choose the restyled 90 hp 1.0 MT when acceleration and power density matter most. It offers 160 Nm, 90.1 hp per litre, 9.9-second acceleration, and the range’s highest listed maximum speed of 185 km/h. The trade-off against the restyled 75 hp 1.0 MT is 66 kg more kerb weight and 0.3 l/100 km more combined consumption, using the 4.1 l/100 km 75 hp entry.

Choose the restyled 75 hp 1.0 MT for the strongest numerical balance among the naturally aspirated Gasoline cars. It matches the 4.1 l/100 km combined figure of the lower-powered manual while reaching 100 km/h 0.9 seconds sooner. It is also 1.4 seconds quicker than the 75 hp 1.0 DSG and uses 0.1 l/100 km less combined fuel.

Choose the restyled 60 hp 1.0 DSG if a Robotic gearbox matters more than acceleration. Its 4.1 l/100 km combined figure equals the lowest measured Gasoline result, but its 15.3-second acceleration is the slowest among the listed Gasoline variants. The 75 hp 1.0 DSG improves acceleration by 0.4 seconds and maximum speed by 10 km/h, while combined consumption rises by 0.1 l/100 km.

Choose the 68 hp LPG 1.0 MT specifically for its LPG powertrain and its 82 g/km measured CO₂ result in restyled form. It is not the performance option: compared with the 90 hp 1.0 MT, it is 6.4 seconds slower to 100 km/h and 20 km/h slower at maximum speed.

Choose the 83 hp Electro AT over the 82 hp AT on the supplied specifications. It adds 1 hp and 2 Nm, reduces the acceleration time by 0.5 seconds, and retains the same 130 km/h maximum speed. Consumption is not measured, so the data does not support a running-cost or range comparison.

For an original-generation car, check the complete specification rather than relying on the 1.0 MT or 1.0 DSG badge alone. Identical names cover different powers, weights, clearances, acceleration times, and consumption figures. The restyled range is the more compelling numerical choice when seeking the 90 hp Turbo, the 83 hp Electro drivetrain, or a 75 hp manual combining 13.5-second acceleration with 4.1 l/100 km measured combined consumption.