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Skoda Citigo-e iV vs Volkswagen e-up!: range and charging

The basic Skoda Citigo-e iV doesn’t come with fast charging as standard, but the SE L does – and for less than the price of the single-spec Volkswagen

Skoda Citigo-e iV vs Volkswagen e-up!

You’d be forgiven for thinking there’s little to separate these two cars aside from the badge on their nose, and a quick glance at the numbers does little to change that impression. Both the Skoda and Volkswagen use a 36.8kWh battery (with a usable capacity of 32.3kWh) powering a single electric motor for a total system output of 81bhp.

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Officially, they’ll each manage 159 miles on a single charge. However, our time with the cars suggested that in cold, wet weather that figure will be closer to 120 miles. Still not a bad effort, and close to what more expensive cars like the MINI Electric and Honda e can manage.

The simplicity of these models will be part of the appeal for many e-up! and Citigo-e buyers, but the one of the inevitable shortcomings is that there's no clever technology to preserve the cars’ batteries and no innovative sat-nav that can route you around charge-sapping motorway runs. Each car has a selection of drive modes, but use them at your peril – the most restrictive setting switches off the climate control for only a few miles of extra range.

Charging

The main difference between the Citigo-e iV and e-up! is the rate at which they can charge. The basic Citigo-e iV SE is restricted to a 7.2kW charge; you need to pay extra (£720) for CCS fast charging, whereas every e-up! – and the Citigo-e iV SE L we've tested here – gets this technology as standard.

Using a home wallbox allows you to recharge the Skoda’s batteries in five and a half hours, or almost 17 hours if you’ve only got access to a three-pin socket. These numbers apply to the e-up! if you charge in the same way.

However, by specifying the CCS fast charging option you’ll be able to recharge the Skoda to 80% in just under 50 minutes at a public charging point. The Volkswagen will accept the same 40kW charge rate for an identical top-up time.

Both cars come with Type 2 (AC) and Mode 3 (three-pin) cables as standard – and each is a decent length, which will help with charging flexibility. There’s a small box at the base of the boot for storing the wires, although space is limited so you have to be selective about which leads you carry around.

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Richard is editor of DrivingElectric, as well as sister site Carbuyer.co.uk, and a regular contributor to Auto Express. An electric and hybrid car advocate, he spent more than five years working on the news and reviews desk at Auto Express and has driven almost every new car currently on sale.

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