Future classic: Volkswagen up! GTI

A diminutive hot hatch that deserves its fabled badge

Since the ’70s, the hot hatch has developed from a humble turbocharged shopping trolley into a complex, mid-size machine with enough grunt to rival a supercar.

Case in point: where the definitive hot-hatch – the original Volkswagen Golf GTI – was a pared-back pocket rocket, the current range-topping Golf R is a technologically advanced hatchback with more horsepower than a Ferrari 250GTO.

Good news! The German marque has decided to go back to basics with its most recent variant – the up! GTI. Pairing low weight with moderate power, it harks back to the pioneering machines that defined the hot-hatch breed.

Here’s why you should buy this future hot-hatch classic today.

Small but mighty

Low on power and weight, and all the better for it, this tiddler lives up to the fabled GTI formula: it’s based on an affordable city car with a tiny footprint, simple body and a frugal 999cc three-cylinder engine.

Tuned with turbo

Naturally, the revised version steps things up a notch. Ride height is lower by 15mm, a slick six-speed manual gearbox is on-board and that plucky motor gains a turbocharger – which helps squeeze out a hefty 114bhp and 147ft lb of torque.

Bigger feet

The track has also been widened by 8mm and the huge 17in wheels offer 4mm less positive offset than the cooking model, further widening the footprint.

Chequered cockpit

Slip into the cabin and you’ll find a dose of the quirkiness that made its ’76 Golf ancestor so popular. Well-finished, the interior features a smart tartan trim, a chunky leather wheel and a red-and-black carbon-effect dashboard.

Unlike its forefather, the up! is also available as a five-door.

Light and bright

On the road? Let’s just say the up! GTI exceeds expectations. Very much in the vein of the early hot hatch classics, a kerbweight of just 1070kg means those modest power figures don’t represent its true pace.

Quick off the mark

What’s more, 0-60mph in 8.8 secs feels much faster in such a pint-sized package and, while the turbo isn’t instantly responsive, the punch of useful torque from 2000-3500rpm is very impressive.

Torque for days

In fact, the featherweight up! beats the torque-to-weight ratio of both the MkI Golf GTI and the later Lupo GTI. 

Addictive mix

Behind the wheel, steering is well-weighted and communicative, never feeling over-assisted or dull – and the combination of a gutsy engine and lively handling encourages spirited driving very much in the hot-hatch mould.

Roundabout blaster

Power does die off at around 5500rpm, but the engine’s low-end grunt means you’ll have a lot more fun blasting out of roundabouts and tight bends than you will chasing the redline – just like in the glory days of the Citroën AX GTi.

Very tempting

At around £1000 more than the top-spec standard up!, the punchy GTI variant makes a very compelling proposition as a compact bundle of fun.

One to hold on to

What’s more, with Lupo GTIs holding their value incredibly well – plus growing interest in Fiat’s similarly themed 100bhp Panda – signs are good that the up! GTI will become a sought-after machine in years to come.

Modern day hooligan

The best news? While you’re waiting for it to become a desirable classic, the up! GTI will revolutionise your weekly shop. Not since the early ’90s have empty supermarket car parks looked so appealing.

Badge of honour

Few badges carry such weight of expectation as VW’s GTI, and the up! makes a very solid fist of keeping up the low-weight, turbo-power tradition.

On the up!

Sure, it doesn’t rival the MkI Golf for driver appeal – despite similar vital statistics – but it offers a refreshing change from the hot-hatch horsepower arms race and definitely has the makings of a true classic.