Skip advert
Advertisement

Volkswagen Up GTI (2017-2023) – design

The handsome Up is made even more desirable by a selection of typical-GTI design cues

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 factor that makes the Up GTI so desirable is its tough and chunky looks. The basic Up, with its clean lines and short overhangs, is a very fine looking car and fits with the very sharp, subtle and elegant designs of other modern Volkswagens. Although, less understated are the VW badges on the Up that look 25 per cent too large, but that does give the impression the car is even smaller than it is.

Advertisement - Article continues below

As for the specific GTI elements – the big, diamond-cut wheels pushed right out to each corner, the red grille highlights, side stripes and its spoiler flicking off the trailing edge of the roof – they make it look like a proper performance car, no matter what its size.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test
evo tyre test 2026
Features

Best car tyres 2026 – evo tyre test

What are the best road tyres for your hot hatch? We tested and ranked nine of them
18 Oct 2026
No, you can’t drive the ‘flying’ Tesla Roadster on the road, or buy one…
2028 Tesla Roadster
News

No, you can’t drive the ‘flying’ Tesla Roadster on the road, or buy one…

The demo for the revived Tesla Roadster was certainly awe inspiring, but don’t start planning your flight routes to work just yet
16 Oct 2026
Bentley Continental GT (Mk3, 2018 - 2024) review – the last 12-cylinder Bentley is now BMW M2 money
Bentley Continental GT Mk3
In-depth reviews

Bentley Continental GT (Mk3, 2018 - 2024) review – the last 12-cylinder Bentley is now BMW M2 money

Bentley’s last-generation GT was an major upgrade on its predecessor and now, it’s properly good value
15 Oct 2026