Volkswagen's baby GTI was a bargain hot hatch when it landed in 2017 – but how does it fare as a used buy?
The Volkswagen Up GTI created a desirable problem for its maker when it arrived in 2018. At that time, the cheapest way of bagging yourself a warmed-up city car was the Renault Twingo GT or Suzuki Swift Sport.But both were significantly more expensive than the snub-nosed Wolfsburg warrior. And both were less economical, less fun to drive, and not quite as well resolved. The result, apparently to VW’s surprise, was an order backlog that began almost immediately and didn’t really stop until the car went out of production at the start of 2023.What’s the deal, then? Why did a lukewarm hatchback with 118bhp, a 0-62mph time of 8.8sec, and a top speed of 122mph become such a sales hit?Well, enthusiasts love cars that prove the quality of performance matters much more than outright quantity. Take the Toyota GR86 or Mazda MX-5.But while those naturally aspirated machines offer an immediate throttle response and love to be pushed to the outer reaches of their operating envelope, the Up GTI’s 1.0-litre turbocharged three-pot looks to strike a compromise between lowdown grunt and the free-revving readiness needed to explore its 6000rpm redline.And, for the most part, it achieves this. It manages to behave like a bigger engine than it actually is, especially in towns and, crucially, on B-roads.Tipping the scales at 995kg, this spiritual successor to the Lupo GTI and, in performance terms, the original Golf GTI has 148lb ft of torque, which is sent through a six-speed manual gearbox only. Our sole gripe with this engine is that, while it behaves nicely at lower speeds, it can start to feel almost asthmatic once you reach motorway pace.Economy can’t be faulted, though. It is officially pegged at 58.9mpg and will average around 40mpg in the real world over a mixture of roads. Your correspondent had the pleasure of owning one for just over a year, during which its fuel economy never went below 39mpg or above 46mpg – impressive considering it wasn’t driven economically.Similarly impressive is the way it handles itself. While we would fawn over a bigger GTI for its grip, ride composure and progressive body control, the Up GTI – with stiffened suspension lowered by 15mm over the standard car and an 8mm-wider rear track – does nothing to shun those big-car dynamics for plucky, lively dynamism.Its ride composure takes a bit of a hit when compared with a Polo GTI and it’s not as direct as a Mini, but crucially it beats the Swift Sport, Abarth 595 and Twingo GT. It’s a shame, however, that you can’t turn the traction control off.Its equipment list was structured in the same vein as its main rivals’, with just one model on offer and a few optional extras.As standard, cars got red ambient lighting, air conditioning, a dashboard-mounted phone holder, Bluetooth, attractive one-piece Jacara tartan seats, and a 5.0in colour TFT display. Optional extras included heated seats, two-tone paint, a reversing camera, and automatic air conditioning.The kit roster remained unchanged throughout its life despite the car being facelifted in 2019 and made compliant with the latest emissions regulations. But apart from a new badge, its appearance stayed the same.That’s a good thing because its design – courtesy of Walter de Silva – delivers the visual appeal to match its engine, economy, driving dynamics, and interior. To find all that for a sub-£8000 starting price is something to be celebrated.
