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Owner’s guides

The Volkswagen up! GTI

115 PS, a six-speed manual and tartan seats. Why the up! GTI became a cult car, and what to look for if you want one.

By Harvey, who runs up mii goUpdated 5 min read

What it is

Volkswagen launched the up! GTI in 2018, and it was quickly compared with the original Golf GTI: a light, simple, affordable car that’s more fun than its power output suggests.

  • A turbocharged 1.0 TSI three-cylinder with 115 PS, the most powerful engine any up!, Mii or Citigo had from the factory.
  • A six-speed manual gearbox. There was no automatic.
  • Lowered sports suspension, bigger wheels and the classic GTI details: red stripe in the grille, tartan seats and GTI badges.

What it's like

The GTI isn’t fast by modern hot hatch standards, and that’s the point. It’s light, it turns in eagerly, and you can use all of its performance on a normal road without breaking the law. The turbo engine pulls hard through the middle of the rev range and makes a characterful three-cylinder noise.

The ride is firmer than a standard up!, which you’ll notice on broken roads, but it’s still comfortable enough for every day.

Living with one

It’s still an up! underneath, so it’s practical, easy to park and cheap to run by hot hatch standards. Economy is good if you drive gently, though most owners admit they don’t. Insurance is higher than a standard up!, but low for a GTI.

The engine is a turbocharged petrol, so it’s worth using the right oil, keeping to the service schedule and letting it warm up before using all the revs.

Buying one

GTIs have held their value well, so condition and history matter even more than usual. As well as the checks in our buying guide:

  • Ask about modifications, and get receipts. A remapped car should come with details of who did it.
  • Check the alloys for kerb damage and the tyres for matching, quality brands. Budget tyres are a sign of a car run on the cheap.
  • Feel for a slipping clutch in a high gear, and listen for a grumbling gearbox. Hard launches and track days take their toll.
  • Look for signs of track use: worn brake pads and discs, tyres worn on the outer edges, or a track day sticker or two.
  • Check the tartan seat bolsters, which wear on cars that have been climbed in and out of a lot.

Standard is worth more

An unmodified, well-documented GTI is easier to sell and to insure. If you’re buying one to keep standard, it’s worth paying a bit more for the right car.

Modifying

The GTI has a big modifying scene: remaps, intakes, exhausts, suspension and wheels are all popular. If you modify yours, tell your insurer about every change, keep the original parts if you can, and use a specialist for anything that touches the engine.

The forum and the register are full of members’ GTIs, standard and modified, and the owners are happy to share what worked for them.

Got a GTI?

Put it on the register, post it in Revs, and enter Car of the Month. GTIs tend to do well.

Add your car

This guide is general information from the club, not professional advice. Every car is different, so get a used car inspected by someone you trust, and check with your garage, insurer or the official sources linked above before making a decision.