What is it?
It’s the revised VW Up GTI: a car made slightly pricier but no perkier to drive. That’s the short version of what has been done to Volkswagen’s smallest hot hatchback for the 2020 model year. Fans needn’t fear that the overall appeal of the car has been altered, though: it has mostly just been preserved for another showroom stint.
The hot Up attracted a long waiting list after its launch in January 2018, which VW struggled to satisfy with a limited right-hand-drive car allocation. That, combined with a looming WLTP emissions deadline, meant the old car was effectively withdrawn from sale in April 2019.
Now that it’s come back, this is one of the first VWs to get the firm’s redesigned brand logo. The lettering is slightly slimmer, although the colour scheme is the same chrome-on-black affair as previously.
Otherwise, the car is exactly as it was outwardly, with those double side stripes, 17in alloy wheels, black mirror caps and that impish little black bi-plane spoiler being the distinguishing features. Now, as before, I’d say it has just enough visual attitude: sufficient to set it apart at second glance, but not so much as to risk looking daft or to over-promise about the driving experience it offers. Nicely judged.
Join the debate
Add your comment
What are you on about Matt ?
What are you on about Matt ? -"Bi-plane rear spoiler", its deffo only mono plane - theres only one ! "Bi-plane" would be like,, for instance a Sierra XR4i.
HUGE unexplained price hike
I waited and waited and waited for this car to be launched - so I got fed-up and bought something else. Then when it was eventully launched, the waiting list, and dealership attitude, put me off.
Now it's available again, they've slapped a huge price increase on it.....and this article seems to be justifying that for VW by saying most manufacturers are turning away from making cars like this any more:
"...for what still looks like a really appealing price.." Nonsense!
Well the reason for me even considering this tiny, compromised, relatively slow car was because it was supposed to be a cheap (ish) warm hatch. If I'm going to spend this kind of money, I might as well find a bigger, better appointed car with similar performance from a mid-spec trim level instead! Or haggle a huge discount on a Kia Picanto GT-Line which is bound to be more reliable and cheaper to run.
Picanto GT-Line
.
And look like a twat.
xxxx wrote:
You mistyped, should have been benefits, rather than pay. Fool.
Buttons
Lane assist button, agree with the journo and in my opinion just one more buton, along with the stop/start one, to press at the start of every journey