Volkswagen Up GTI review

Of course it’s got tartan seats. Wouldn’t be a GTI without ‘em. Leather ain’t an option, but the comfy if rather lofty-mounted chairs are heated as standard. They’re not hugely supportive, with the fabric friction doing more to keep you in the seat than the bolsters.

On the dash, GTIs feature a weird red’n’black fishscale pattern, while the instrument binnacle contains the world’s smallest, most adorable rev counter. The small screen below the huge speedo can show your speed, mpg and trip data, and temperatures. It’s all very simple to operate, and the Golf GTI Mk7 steering wheel is a peach. 

Like all Ups, legroom in the back is surprisingly good – it actually doesn’t feel much less roomy than a Fiesta or a Clio. The boot’s obviously on the bijou side, but with the false floor lifted out there’s 251 litres of storage, and the rear seats fold if you need to transport a dog at short notice. 

Want automatic lights and wipers? They’re grouped into a £150 option pack. Two-zone auto climate control is a £280 option, while £440 gets you a cruise control and rear parking sensors pack. It also adds a tiny reversing camera display on the dashboard. Surely a slab-sided Up is easy enough to park, though? Spending £410 on the beats audio system will rattle what little door trim the Up actually has.

And instead of paying out for Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, the Up’s solution is more… cheap’n’cheerful. Each one features an adjustable phone mount atop the dashboard, so simply clamp your chosen device into its jaws, select Google Maps, Spotify or whatever app you’re wedded to during road trips, and you’re away. It’s such a beautifully simple design, it’s a wonder all small cars didn’t go the same way years ago.