fbpx
Newspress Awards 2024 wide

Automotive Website of the Year

Automotive Website of the Year

Newspress Awards 2024 wide

Automotive Website of the Year

Automotive Website of the Year

Find an Expert Rating: 
Used Car Expert Rating

Volkswagen Up GTI (2019 to 2023)

Expert Rating

Used car score:

66
%
B

This model is no longer on sale or in production, so it doesn't have a New Car Expert Rating score.

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

75
%
B

Safety Rating:

49
%
D

Eco Rating:

69
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

74
%
B

How are our Expert Rating scores calculated?

Expert Rating

Used car score:

66
%
B

This model is no longer on sale or in production, so it doesn't have a New Car Expert Rating score.

Expert Rating report card

Media Rating:

75
%
B

Safety Rating:

49
%
D

Eco Rating:

69
%
A

Reliability Rating:

-

Running Costs:

74
%
B

Summary


The smallest and cheapest member of Volkswagen’s performance-focused GTI family, the Volkswagen Up GTI was a compact hot hatch based on the Up city car. Although the regular Up models arrived back in 2012, the GTI version didn’t join the range until the middle of 2017.

The only model to be available with a six-speed manual gearbox across the Volkswagen Up range, this small hot hatch was powered by a three-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine that produced 115hp, which meant that the Up GTI couldn’t muster the power to match its closest rivals; the 129hp Suzuki Swift Sport and the 145hp Abarth 595.

However, UK reviewers conclusively agreed that less power didn’t not mean less fun behind the wheel. Honest John concluded that the Up GTI “provides genuine laugh out loud fun, thanks to its miniscule weight, playful handling and zesty turbocharged 1.0-litre engine.”

“The Volkswagen Up GTI midget is a light, darty, chuckable, fizzy riot that growls like a baby Porsche”, explained The Sun. “It’s basically a four-seat go-kart that puts a stupid grin on my face every time I get behind the wheel.”

Car Keys commented that, while the Up GTI’s engine performance, power-to-weight ratio, agile handling and responsive gearbox culminated in a very fun driving experience, the hot hatch was an “impressively practical package”, like the city car it was based on. The Volkswagen Up GTI also won two separate awards that named it as the best value option on the market.

Despite its practicalities, the Up GTI was not the most spacious hatch on the market, while its three-star Euro NCAP rating was also off the pace of newer cars. Although the Up GTI was fitted with a DAB digital radio as standard, there was no option for a built-in navigation system. Instead, Volkswagen offered the ability to connect your smartphone for navigation and other functions.

No longer on sale, the Volkswagen Up GTI holds a Used Car Expert Rating of B, with a score of 66%.

Up GTI highlights

  • Punchy performance
  • Responsive handling
  • As practical as the regular Up
  • Great value-for-money

Up GTI lowlights

  • Infotainment system showing its age
  • Sub-par safety rating
  • Rigid ride is not the most comfortable
  • Engine noise loud on motorways

Key specifications


Body style: Small three-door or five-door hot hatch
Engines: petrol
Price: From £17,190 on-road

Launched: Summer 2017
Last updated: Spring 2020
Ended production: Autumn 2023


Media reviews


Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.

Auto Express

+

Business Car

+

Car Keys

+

Carbuyer

+

Carwow

+

Daily Mail

+

Eurekar

+

Evo

+

Fleetworld

+

Heycar

+

Honest John

+

Parkers

+

The Sun

+

The Sunday Times

+

Top Gear

+

Safety rating


Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP

Overall score: 3 stars
Date tested: December 2019
Read the full Euro NCAP review

Adult protection: 81%
Child protection: 83%
Vulnerable road users: 46%
Safety assist: 55%

Notes on safety

The Volkswagen Up GTI shared its safety rating with the regular Up hatchback. The Up was initially given a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP when it was first assessed, which was way back in 2011. However, it was reassessed in 2019 and downgraded to a three-star rating. It still provided competitive protection in the event of an accident, but no longer met the highest standards for avoiding an accident in the first place.

Eco rating


Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP

Model tested: GTI 4×2 manual

Overall score: 4 stars
Date tested: February 2019
Read the full Green NCAP review

Clean Air Index: 9.2 / 10
Energy Efficiency Index: 6.7 / 10

Notes on eco rating

The Volkswagen Up GTI achieved a four-star rating from Green NCAP after its emissons tests in 2019, but it must be noted that this test, while still valid, was conducted during Green NCAP’s pilot phase, and since then testing has become more rigorous, also now assessing cars for their greenhouse gas pollution.

Reliability rating


Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy

No reliability rating

As of April 2024, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen Up range to generate a reliability rating.

The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as MotorEasy has sufficient data on the Up, we’ll publish the score here.

Running cost rating

Clear Vehicle Data logo close crop

Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data

Fuel consumptionAverageScoreVariationScore
Petrol models52 mpgB51 – 53 mpgB – B
CO₂ outputAverageScoreVariationScore
Petrol models124 g/kmA120 – 126 g/kmA – A
Insurance groupAverageScoreVariationScore
All models17A17 – 17A – A

The Volkswagen Up GTI is a pretty affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.

The fuel economy is very good, particularly when compared to other petrol-powered hot hatches, and its insurance premiums sit in the lower brackets too.

Awards


Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen Up GTI has received

2020

  • The Sun Motor Awards – Best Value Car

2019

  • The Sunday Times Motor Awards – Best Value Car

Similar cars


If you’re looking at the Volkswagen Up GTI, you might also be interested in these alternatives

Ford Fiesta ST Hyundai i20 N | Mini Hatch John Cooper Works | Renault Megane RS | Suzuki Swift SportToyota GR Yaris | Volkswagen Polo GTI

Buy a new or used Volkswagen Up GTI


If you’re looking to buy a Volkswagen Up GTI, The Car Expert’s partners can help you find the right car

Motors 600x300

Search less, live more. We make finding the right car simple. Find out more

Auto Trader logo 600x300

Find your next new or used car with Auto Trader. Find out more

Carwow logo 600x300

Find your next new or used car with Carwow. Find out more

Car subscriptions


If you’re interested in a car subscription, The Car Expert’s partners can help (PS: What’s a car subscription?)

Mycardirect subscriptions – 600x300

Car subscriptions from Mycardirect.
Find out more

Wagonex logo 2023 600x300

Car subscriptions from Wagonex.
Find out more

Cocoon Vehicles logo 600x300

Car subscriptions from Cocoon.
Find out more

Used car finance

Looking for an alternative to dealer finance? The Car Expert's partners can help
We Finance Any Car 400x200

Used car finance from We Finance Any Car.
Find out more

Blue Motor Finance

Used car finance from Blue Motor Finance.
Find out more

Happy Motor Finance 600x300

Used car finance from Happy Motor Finance.
Find out more

Sell your car

Do you have a car to sell? The Car Expert's partners can offer you a great price
Motorway 600x300

Get a free valuation in seconds from Motorway.
Find out more

Auto Trader logo 600x300

Get a cash offer for your car in minutes from Auto Trader.
Find out more

Carwow logo 600x300

The free, easy way to get 3,000+ dealers all over the UK bidding on your car.
Find out more

Best car rankings

The top cars in every category

The Car Expert has the ultimate ranking of the best and worst new cars on sale, analysing scores from 35 of the top UK motoring websites to give you a definitive rating. We're adding more cars and more lists all the time, so keep checking back for the latest results.

This page last updated:

This page contains links to some of our commercial partners. If you click on any of those links, we may receive a commission.

The Volkswagen Up GTI is a fun bite-sized hot hatch which has recieved acclaim as a value-for-money package, but no infotainment is included.Volkswagen Up GTI (2019 to 2023)