Used Volkswagen Up GTI 2017-2023 review

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Volkswagen's baby GTI was a bargain hot hatch when it landed in 2017 – but how does it fare as a used buy?

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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.

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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.

Related Volkswagen Up GTI 2017-2023 reviews

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.

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RELIABILITY

Is the Volkswagen Up GTI reliable?

Broadly speaking, the Up GTI shouldn't be a cause for concern when it comes to relability. While the GTI version didn't feature in What Car's reliabilty survery, the regular car did. It finished behind cars like the Hyundai i10 and Toyota Aygo, but ahead of the Fiat 500 – on which the Abarth 595 is based. Volkswagen, as a brand, came 22nd out of 32 manufacturers tested. 

Gearbox: Some owners have reported an unusual noise coming from the gearbox when the car is idling or when you’re accelerating upwards through the gears. This can result in gearbox failure. It’s not a well-documented issue but is worth looking out for.

Suspension: In especially cold weather, the springs are at risk of snapping under significant loads experienced during spirited driving on undulating roads. Until they’ve had time to flex and the dampers have travelled, take bumps with care.

When buying, always check the springs and dampers for wear.

Brakes: When you start the engine, release the handbrake and attempt to move off in cold weather, the car may stick on its brakes. This is likely to be the result of moisture freezing between the pad and disc or within the rear mounted drum brake.

To prevent this, let the car heat up before you begin driving and allow the exhaust heat to thaw any ice. If this or WD-40 doesn’t work, the car will need to be checked by a dealer or specialist.

Wheels: They are large in diameter but thin in profile, so there isn’t much sidewall to the tyres, making them easier to kerb. The alloys themselves are diamond-cut, which makes them more expensive to repair.

To have one rectified at an approved workshop, set aside £90 to £110.

Body: When you’re inspecting under the bonnet, look up to check the bonnet latch. Stone chips can strip away the paintwork and leave the area prone to rust. Thankfully, because the Up GTI is a relatively new car, there should be time to rectify any issues with corrosion.

Infotainment system: In place of a large touchscreen, your phone can be mounted on the dashboard and Volkswagen’s ‘Maps and More’ app can be used for the sat-nav or to display a rudimentary rev counter.

But because the app requires a lot of data to both download and run, it can overheat your phone quite quickly.

An owner’s view

Rosemary Lees: “The Up GTI, acquired two years ago, has evoked nostalgic memories of driving in my twenties and provided an enjoyable driving experience. I’ve taken the rear seats out of mine and wrapped the roof with a custom tartan to match the Jacara seats.

"Otherwise, the car is pretty much stock for the moment. Mine has been almost trouble-free, with the exception of the common problem of the rear brakes sticking on. The only complaint I have about the car is the darn traction control: you cannot turn it off. But all in, it is a lovely, happy, fun car.”

Also worth knowing 

A sound actuator mounted on the front firewall pumps in synthesised engine noise above 3000rpm. In many cars it cheapens the character of performance on offer, but in the Up it provides a satisfying warble, much like a mini Golf R32 or Nissan GT-R.

Euro NCAP awarded the Up three stars for safety in 2019, down from five stars under the previous testing regime. It scored poorly for protection of vulnerable road users and assistance tech, though, rather than for occupant safety.

The GTI accounted for around 15% of all Up sales from 2020 to 2023.

 

DESIGN & STYLING

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review on the road rear

As with the regular Volkswagen Up, the GTI was underpinned by the VW Group’s New Small Family platform, with a transversely mounted engine sitting in its nose and driving the front wheels. Powering the car was a 1.0-litre, turbocharged three-cylinder motor from VW’s ‘EA211’ family of engines. It produced 114bhp between 5000rpm and 5500rpm, and 148lb ft between 2000rpm and 3500rpm.

The latter seemed like a particularly generous portion of pulling power for a car that tipped the scales at just 1003kg, and gave the Up GTI a much better torque-to-weight ratio than either the original Golf GTI or the Lupo GTI.

The Up GTI was equipped with a six-speed manual transmission, as opposed to the five-speed gearbox available in the standard car. The GTI wasn't offered with a the option of an automatic dual-clutch DSG gearbox. 

The Suspension was made up of MacPherson struts at the front and a torsion beam at the rear, the car’s overall ride height having been lowered by 15mm in comparison with the standard model, and its tracks widened by 8mm both front and rear.

The car rode on 17in alloys of 6.5J rim width. The wheels, designed by VW’s R Division tuning arm, were 4mm less positive offset than the standard Up’s alloys and giving the car a wider track. 

The sporting modifications weren't limited to the car’s underpinnings, however. The Up GTI gained a more sporting exterior design, with the ‘transverse rod’ styling feature that spaned the width of the front end having been finished in glossy black, and a splitter element marking out the bottom of the bumper. Overall the car’s detail upgrades were cleverly handled.

 

INTERIOR

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review cabin

Climb into the powered-up Up and you were greeted by seats that had been upholsted in VW's GTI-familar Jacara cloth tartan check. The three-spoke steering wheel was given a subtle flat bottom, too, similar to that of its big brother, the Golf GTI. 

The gearknob and door sills were branded, and the dashboard was trimed in a neat-looking red pixel motif that elevated the GTI's sporting feel. The roof-lining was black, which did more for the sporting cause than you’d think. Meanwhile, the cabin’s matt chrome trim was a welcome and effective trick in making the Uo seem worth it's original list price of around £14,000. 

With no changes to the car’s architecture, you still got the same deceptively capacious packaging and good ergonomic attention to detail that made finding various controls effortless - although the dials were a touch more stylish within the instrument binnacle than in lesser models.

The Up GTI’s infotainment system came in two parts: one supplied by Volkswagen, the other by you. The former was a 5.0in colour screen that displayed basic functions such as radio and phone, and featured Bluetooth connectivity. The latter was your smartphone, which could be mounted on a neatly integrated cradle atop the dashboard, with a USB socket via which to recharge it and connect it to the car.

Given the physical growth of smartphones generation on generation, it was a bit of an oversight on VW's part, that the frame only accepted devices with screens up to 5.5in. You'd struggle to cram the latest Apple iPhone in there today.

However, should your mobile fit, you can control the navigation functions – and more besides – via the Up’s physical controls by downloading VW’s free ‘Maps + More’ app onto iOS or Android devices. There were physical ventilation controls neatly clustered in the middle of the dash, too, just below the smartphone mount.

Space? There was more available than you’d credit. In the back, an average-height adult would be tolerably comfortable over short trips, while the standard car’s class-leading boot space remained intact.

ENGINES & PERFORMANCE

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review engine

The quality of performance matters more that outright quantity when it comes to warmed-up superminis. You expect junior hot hatchbacks to set a slightly unspectacular standard against the clock, but it matters greatly that they make up for what they may lack in pace with free-revving willingness and readiness to be wrung out.

In some ways, the Up GTI was able to stike that compromise well, but not in every detail or across the board.

Its three-cylinder turbo engine didn't have perfect throttle response, but it had enough grunt to seem both energetic and likeable.

Through the middle of the car’s rev range, the rush of torque that accompanied your every dig into the right-hand pedal’s travel made the Up accelerate keenly even at middling revs and in third and fourth gears.

On the road, there was enough potency to make the car feel peppy and enthusiastic right the way up to motorway speeds – at which point, the car’s available acceleration was quite a lot less distinguishing.

But, while working that engine hard between 2500 and 5000rpm is was certainly a cheery treat. Keeping your foot in and chasing the car’s 6500rpm redline was an act less compelling than it might be. You simply needn’t use the last thousand revs of the Up GTI’s engine’s range to get the best out of it and in a car like this, it seemed like a lost opportunity.

Likewise, although the shift quality of the Up GTI’s six-speed gearbox was respectable, it’s wasn't desperately special. The car’s shift planes were a little oddly spaced, and there’s was only an ordinary sort of precision and slickness to the way the lever moveed through the gate. 

RIDE & HANDLING

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review side profile

The all-round ride composure, remarkable road-appropriate suppleness, assured grip level and progressive body control that were the dynamic hallmarks of VW’s bigger GTI hatchbacks weren't easily conjured in the smaller Up GTI.

Compared to the Up GTI’s rivals, it was clear that some key compromises were made in order to improve its handling.

The car rode like an Up that had been lowered on its springs, and firmed up in its suspension in more ways than one – though perhaps not so carefully honed. It was a busy, reactive and excitable car to be in when travelling at a decent clip on a typical country road, and plainly one of a fairly short wheelbase that would often fall into sunken hollows and rebound out of them.

The car’s ride composure was often somewhat lacking when serious questions were asked of its chassis, and its anti-roll settings were also quite unforgiving. 

The Up GTI didn't exactly dart into corners or change direction with anything like, say, a Mini Cooper. It would have to gather itself on its outside contact patches and think, for an instant, every time you turn the wheel.

This Up wasn't a car that rolled to extremes; in fact, it maintained a surprisingly flat body control. Once you’d got it turned in, however, you were made aware that the lateral grip level at your disposal was quite delicate and that you could move the car around underneath you, by deploying power or taking it away, quite freely.

Freely, that is, up to a point: when the non-switchable stability control system called time on your fun and activated the brakes to bring the car’s rear axle back into line.

Once you’ve overcome the car’s initial reticence to turn in, the Up GTI would rotate remarkably keenly underneath you, and showed off a gameness you didn’t expect it to have.

Even at this point, your enjoyment of the car wasn't entirely unqualified because, while the chassis was pleasingly sensitive to a trailing throttle and was ready to be quite playful, VW had only developed the stability control system enough to allow fleeting glances of the car’s off-throttle adjustability in advance of pretty unreconstructed brake interventions.

But, at the right moment, the car was able to paint a pretty broad smile on your face in spite of it all. When it worked, it was great: zesty, tenacious and a lot of fun. It’s just a shame that it didn't work better more of the time.

Volkswagen Up news

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Official: Volkswagen Up axed after 12 years
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Volkswagen Up GTI taken off sale as order books hit limit
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Nearly new buying guide: Volkswagen Up GTI
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Take it or leave it: used picks for 17 June

Even so, there was plenty of fun to be had finding out how much licence that ESP system would give you, not least because the car communicated the limits of grip under those all-important front tyres quite well.

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MPG & RUNNING COSTS

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review on the road

With used prices srating at around £8000 the Up GTI has maintained its value well considering it went on sale for just shy of £14,000 when new. 

It was frugal hot htach, too, averaging more than 40-to -the-gallon.

Cost of insurance will be of interest to plenty of younger buyers. The Up GTI is in group 17, making it significantly cheaper to cover than an Abarth 595, though costlier than a Renault Twingo GT.

 

VERDICT

Volkswagen Up GTI 2018 review four star car

The Volkswagen Up GTI was as genial and charming a car as any pint-sized ‘pocket rocket’ there had ever been – and as a used buy, may be even more desirable today. 

The car’s engine, while torquey and characterful, wasn't quite compelling enough. Its chassis, in turn, had moments of swivelling brilliance; but it didn't cover the dynamic basics quite well enough, or have the all-round polish needed, to wear a GTI badge entirely comfortably.

It's no performance landmark, but the Up GTI delivers plenty of bang for your buck
Matt Saunders
Road test editor

But for sub-£8000 on the used market, it's hard to find a small hot hatch that offered the same level of perceived quality and visual allure. 

While it wasn't quite the driver's car we envisaged it being all those years ago, time has played into the hands of the Up GTI in a way that has enabled it to become a very welcoming used buy. 

 

Jonathan Bryce

Jonathan Bryce
Title: Editorial Assistant

Jonathan is an editorial assistant working with Autocar. He has held this position since March 2024, having previously studied at the University of Glasgow before moving to London to become an editorial apprentice and pursue a career in motoring journalism. 

His role at work involves running Autocar's sister title Move Electric, which is most notably concerned with electric cars. His other roles include writing new and updating existing new car reviews, and appearing on Autocar's social media channels including Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

Matt Saunders

Matt Saunders Autocar
Title: Road test editor

As Autocar’s chief car tester and reviewer, it’s Matt’s job to ensure the quality, objectivity, relevance and rigour of the entirety of Autocar’s reviews output, as well contributing a great many detailed road tests, group tests and drive reviews himself.

Matt has been an Autocar staffer since the autumn of 2003, and has been lucky enough to work alongside some of the magazine’s best-known writers and contributors over that time. He served as staff writer, features editor, assistant editor and digital editor, before joining the road test desk in 2011.

Since then he’s driven, measured, lap-timed, figured, and reported on cars as varied as the Bugatti Veyron, Rolls-Royce Phantom, Tesla Roadster, Ariel Hipercar, Tata Nano, McLaren Senna, Renault Twizy and Toyota Mirai. Among his wider personal highlights of the job have been covering Sebastien Loeb’s record-breaking run at Pikes Peak in 2013; doing 190mph on derestricted German autobahn in a Brabus Rocket; and driving McLaren’s legendary ‘XP5’ F1 prototype. His own car is a trusty Mazda CX-5.

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