Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Up GTI (2017-2023) – MPG and running costs

Despite more power and a sportier attitude, the GTI retains some of the Up’s frugality

Evo rating
  • An entertaining car to drive, even if it isn’t in the conventional hot hatch manner; high quality interior
  • Some of the interior’s quality should have gone into the chassis

One of the benefits of a small, light and not that powerful warm hatch is that you can almost guarantee it will be cheap to run. But, perhaps, not quite as cheap as VW would have you believe. The official combined fuel economy figure for the Up GTI is 58.9mpg, but during our test, where we covered over 100 miles and spent nearly five hours behind the wheel, we averaged just over half that, with 31mpg. Admittedly, that was during a lot of relatively quick road driving – the sort of driving the GTI is designed for – with not a lot of cruising, so we’d expect to see a more representative average mpg figure somewhere between the two.

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Up’s focus on grip and composure, combined with that modest power and weight, means you’re unlikely to be wearing through its tyres very quickly. However, a full set of 195/40 R17 Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance tyres, the rubber fitted to our test car, cost just less than £400, fitted. A reasonable price for any tyres for a hot hatch.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses
Ford Focus ST Mk3
Features

Ford Focus ST (Mk3) – the car world's greatest misses

We’d hoped the 2015 Focus ST would share a good dose of its little brother’s magic. Sadly, it didn’t
28 Apr 2025
The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever
Ferrari 296 Speciale – front
News

The Ferrari 296 Speciale has arrived, and it could be the most thrilling Ferrari ever

The 296 Speciale is the latest in Ferrari's line of mid-engined road racers, packing 868bhp and LaFerrari-beating pace on track
29 Apr 2025
Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2025 review – the ultimate Nürburgring toy
Porsche 911 GT3 RS Manthey front
Reviews

Manthey Racing Porsche 911 GT3 RS 2025 review – the ultimate Nürburgring toy

Did the 992 GT3 RS need to be made more extreme? Posssibly not. We're glad Manthey Racing has done it, though.
28 Apr 2025