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.
