Volkswagen Up! — MPG & Fuel Costs 2025
VW's clever city car. Fun to drive, surprisingly spacious inside, and one of the most fuel-efficient petrol cars on the used market.
The Volkswagen Up! is a masterclass in packaging, offering a surprisingly spacious cabin and big-car stability in a tiny footprint. It is widely regarded as one of the best city cars ever made, holding its value exceptionally well.
Power comes from a characterful 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine, available in naturally aspirated form or as a turbocharged unit in the sporty GTI variant. Both units are simple, light, and highly efficient.
Achieving a real-world average of 51 MPG is easy in the Up!, with motorway commutes often returning over 55 MPG. Its low insurance groups and cheap running costs make it a favourite for first-time drivers and city commuters.
TL;DR
51 MPG
Real-world petrol
35L
Tank capacity
£47.88
Full tank (petrol)
12.2p
Per mile (petrol)
Real-World Fuel Economy: The Volkswagen Up! achieves an estimated 51 MPG in real-world UK driving conditions, accounting for a 12% WLTP real-world penalty.
Forecourt Fuel Cost: Refueling the 35-litre tank completely costs approximately £47.88 at average UK fuel price rates.
Fuel economy at a glance
51
Real-world MPG
Petrol
58.9
Official WLTP
Petrol
Annual fuel costs by mileage
| Annual mileage | Petrol |
|---|---|
| 5,000 miles/yr | £610 |
| 7,400 miles/yr(UK average) | £902 |
| 10,000 miles/yr | £1219 |
| 15,000 miles/yr | £1829 |
| 20,000 miles/yr | £2439 |
| Full tank (35L) | £47.88 |
| Cost per mile | 12.2p |
Based on UK average fuel prices: petrol 136.8p/L · diesel 142.1p/L. Prices updated regularly.
How does the Up! compare?
Tips to get better MPG from your Up!
The Up! is extremely light; keeping your inputs gentle will reward you with massive city-driving fuel economy.
Shift up early; the engine is designed for efficiency and does not require high RPMs to keep up with urban traffic.
Keep the small 35-litre tank topped up; its light weight means fuel load has a minimal impact on total vehicle weight.
Is the cheaper petrol station worth it?
In a Volkswagen Up! achieving ~51 MPG real-world, if you fill 28 litres and the alternative station is 10p/litre cheaper:
£2.80
Gross saving on fuel
£0.37
Cost of 3-mile detour
£2.43
Net saving ✓
You could drive up to 23 miles round-trip before the saving disappears entirely.
Calculate for your exact situationPopular variants
Frequently asked questions
What is the real-world MPG of the Volkswagen Up!?
The Volkswagen Up! achieves approximately 51 MPG in real-world petrol driving — around 12% lower than the official WLTP figure of 58.9 MPG due to real driving conditions. Diesel variants achieve around N/A MPG real-world.
How much does it cost to fill a Volkswagen Up!?
The Volkswagen Up! has a fuel tank of 35 litres. At the UK average of 136.8p/litre for petrol, a full tank costs approximately £47.88. Diesel costs approximately £49.73 for a full tank.
What is the annual fuel cost for a Volkswagen Up!?
At the UK average annual mileage of 7,400 miles and current petrol price of 136.8p/litre, a Volkswagen Up! costs approximately £902 per year in fuel. At 10,000 miles/year the cost rises to £1219. Actual costs vary with your driving style and mileage.
Is it worth driving to a cheaper petrol station in a Volkswagen Up!?
In a Volkswagen Up! doing ~51 MPG real-world, driving 3 miles round-trip to save 10p/litre on a 28-litre fill nets approximately £2.43 after the extra fuel cost. You could drive up to 23 miles before the saving is eaten up. Use the WorthThePump calculator for your exact situation.
How much does the Volkswagen Up! cost per mile in fuel?
The Volkswagen Up! costs approximately 12.2p per mile in petrol at current UK prices. Over a typical commute of 30 miles per day, that is approximately £3.66 per day in fuel.
What is the WLTP MPG figure for the Volkswagen Up!?
The official WLTP fuel economy figure for the Volkswagen Up! is 58.9 MPG. However, real-world MPG is typically 10–15% lower than WLTP due to cold starts, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and varying loads. WorthThePump uses a 12% real-world penalty to give a more accurate estimate.
Related guides
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