VW Up GTI: PH Fleet
It's been hailed as the new Mk1 Golf GTI. We now get to test whether it's worthy of the 21st Century
I’ll be honest, I’ve been waiting for this one for quite a while. Ever since Matt and I had a little wager on the prospect of an upcoming Up GTI - these are the kinds of things that preoccupy us at PH - the notion of a suitably warmed version of Volkswagen’s city car has excited me.
Anticipation levels increased further when the specs were announced. With 115hp and 147lb ft it would produce similar power to the Granddaddy of the modern hot hatch, the Mk1 Golf GTI. Though it would weigh rather more, VW had still kept it under 1,000kg, and its extra torque meant the Up would be slightly faster too.
While its forebear was at the cutting edge of hot hatch development, however, this car would be a welcome reprieve from the current arms race. All-wheel drive, DSG gearboxes and ever-increasing outputs, and price tags, were to be replaced with two driven wheels and a six-speed manual for what should be plenty of cheap and cheerful thrills.
The car has since arrived, of course, and it’s been very well received indeed. Nic branded it “just shy of bloody brilliant” when we put it head to head with a Mini back in March, and the enthusiasm of the press was matched by that of the public.
Demand was so high, in fact, that within just a few days of UK order books opening waiting times began to skyrocket. The situation worsened from there, with some dealers quoting backorders as long as a year before Volkswagen was forced to temporarily suspend sales in July until a plan to ease the backlog had been devised.
This is the backdrop against which ‘our’ Up GTI arrives, then. And with fewer on the roads than there should be, but the huge excitement still seemingly unabated by the lack of supply, it’s not a moment too soon either. So far it’s had a fairly inauspicious start, tagging along on our Bentayga shoot in Wales, and running the commute to and from the office, functioning more as an Up than a GTI.
That’ll all change soon, though, with plenty to discover about the junior hot hatch. Will the charm wear off during a longer period behind the wheel? Is it worth the premium over a standard Up? Would you be better off stretching to slightly higher priced alternatives? And how does it stack up against its chief competitor, the new Suzuki Swift Sport? If there’s anything you’re keen to discover, then let us know in the comments below and we’ll be sure to investigate over the next six months...
FACT SHEET
Car: Volkswagen Up GTI
On fleet since: August 2018
Run by: Dafydd Wood
List price new: £14,055 (As tested £16,005 comprising Deep Black paint (£520), Vodafone Protect and Connect 6 (£485), City Emergency Braking Pack (£380), Cruise and Park Pack (£300), Climate Control (£265)
Last month at a glance: The Up GTI arrives at PH in the midst of summer with plenty of potential to entertain over the next six months
What on earth is that piece of cr** that has been screwed on the top of the dash of this car? I am sorry, but that just screams of product marketing and finance battling about whats needed and the need to make sure it doesn't cost too much!
The Mk1 Golf GTI would never have compromised itself in this way - it was on the whole a well engineered and aesthetically pleasing piece of kit internally (at least in my opinion !)
Drive it like Miss Daisy and you’ll get 60mpg, rag it and you’ll get around 45mpg. And whilst flying around the Milton Keynes racetrack you have to rag it! It’s so much fun to drive. Just wish it had another 15bhp and it’d be perfect.
I’ve had some pretty nice cars in the past (Elise, V8 esprit, 997, Tesla) and though obviously completely different i have a very similar emotional connection with it as i did those.
Just get one... if you can. I was very lucky - bought one the dealer already had on order at the end of Jan. Red, black roof, 5 door and had camera, sensors and cruise retrofitted.
VW have done a fab job on this one - for this money I don’t think you can get a more fun new car.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
These small turbos just don't work - you might as well have a turbo diesel, because at least with them you get something resembling throttle response. They need to be raggable!
Still, it's a great price and looks fantastic - and the base car is one of the nicest places to sit at any price as it is, so this will work. I'd love a go, and might consider one in a couple of years - small cars are just better cars.
Maybe should just get a roof box and stuff the whole family in it, who needs a 250hp/tonne estate...
I too have driven (although not owned) both the 60PS model (great fun, good all-rounder to drive) and the 90PS TSi model, which whilst much faster than the 60PS one - i wouldn't actually say it was more 'fun'.
The 60PS version was fun as you had to work it hard, and with it being N/A, you had a more pure kind of response (well, as pure as you can get these days in terms of throttle response etc- ie not brill)
The 90PS version i saw as more of a GT car. Must faster...but more like...torquey (obviously) but like...not fun to work hard.
Given the choice id take the TSI of course as it had plenty of performance but in terms of actual....'fun'.....the N/A was more so IMO.
So it would be good to see if they have done more to the GTi than just add a bit more oomph to the 90ps engine, IMO.
I completely agree it's better to have it as an app than a baked in device.
As for who cares what it looks like - well it's a good job we are all different, but I certainly would care - because as the driver I would have to see that everyday !!!! and this just looks like an aftermarket stick on phone mount from halfords - hence my comment.
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