Volkswagen up! GTI FULL REVIEW VW up 2018 - Autogefühl

In today’s Autogefühl's episode, we present you the Volkswagen up! GTI. As always we cover exterior, interior, engines and driving experience.
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Autogefühl is your no. 1 resource for in-depth car reviews and your no. 1 community to discuss cars.” Each year we present you 150 cars from every segment and from a wide range of brands. If you have any suggestion, just write a comment or contact us on our other socials. Even if you have further remarks, just let us know.

[@mikolajjj]

Kudos for respecting speed limits. It saves lifes.

[@andygeurts9145]

A super review, as always!👍🏼

[@autogefuehl]

appreciated !

[@TherymasterWidnes]

Best reviews on KZbin as always! Well done and keep Up! The good work.

[@alexandrumarinescu1]

Loved the review!

[@BMWMav]

We have owned one since April 19. It is one of 3 cars we have which includes a BMW Z3. It’s an absolute brilliant little car, simple, economical, nippy, quick (enough), cheap to run & own.....a great purchase 👍

[@stve_snt5286]

What an awesome video...... Beautiful scenery. Great job as always, Thomas and team!

[@autogefuehl]

cheers man, keep recommending us!

[@Pilkboi]

Been waiting for this review! Good work Thomas!

[@autogefuehl]

enjoy m8 !

[@larsholm79]

Thomas, what car do you drive i private?

[@keithanthony8743]

Great review as always. Looks like a car you can have lots of fun with. Entry into a VW GTI product without compromising. Thanks Thomas

[@autogefuehl]

thanks keith!

[@blurayffan66]

Perfect city car- and decent too on the motorway. I have a 2012 model and I love it. 2 door looks much better than the 4 door version tho.

[@sorrowblack8875]

You mean 3 doors and 5 doors

[@InteriorDesignAnderson]

I’ve ordered one of these so this video makes me so happy also I love you Thomas and rest of the team you guys are the best

[@autogefuehl]

enjoy :)

[@royc8587]

what did You spec?

[@antonyshort6481]

Great scenery Great review Great gti 👍

[@mathiasgartner9582]

Perfect Review. Fantastic

[@autogefuehl]

thank you !!

[@christill]

I like it. Normally I wouldn’t consider an up because it looks a bit too cute. Even though I would drive a Smart Fortwo. But this one they’ve made look pretty cool. And the particle filter is great to see.

[@Nixter1974007]

So many people being critical about this car. I've just bought one, had it 2 weeks and I'm enjoying it. Its down to individual taste. Plus it's my money. I'll decide.

[@autogefuehl]

enjoy !

[@Nixter1974007]

@@autogefuehl thank you very much. Bought a 2019 car with 40k on the clock. Tornado Red 3 door. Identical to the one featured in your excellent video.

[@AndresMilioto]

Your reviews are awesome. This is a very nice little car, and it makes a lot of sense for XXI century european life. Good job VW, and good job to you!

[@autogefuehl]

thanks andres !!

[@mwk360]

this guy is so enjoyable to listen to

[@autogefuehl]

cheers =)

[@sleighte]

New Autogefühl video = new lifestyle

[@autogefuehl]

enjoy =)

[@bosse641]

Really like this one. Very nice. A proper city car.

[@YasumotoUS]

The side mirrors remind me of those fit to Subaru models, in a good way. In fact, I wish that the Golf based GTI had that side mirror design as the current sloping shape cuts down on critical visibility. Thanks for sharing the exquisite coastal scenery!

[@autogefuehl]

thanks !

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

Looks so beautiful there , Makes me want to do road trip

[@tiepabo]

We missed you!

[@autogefuehl]

a lot more stuff coming these days!

[@tedavco]

Walked the track in 1978 lol loved the vid buddy 👍🏻🙂

[@ChrisSmith-dq4ph]

Nice car. Distinctive and not boring.

[@gordonbennett6057]

Great Review Thomas and Katharina. Many thanks for the reference! This up! seems really fun, reminds me of driving the Mk1 GTI when it came out! I wondered when we'd start seeing petrol particle filters. 10:18 enjoyed your local language lesson there! Yes, thanks Thomas, always much enjoy your driving and commentary. And great views of the Prom. des Anglais. We've also driven around those roads when on holiday. Driving around Monaco was fun, and touring the GP track too.

[@autogefuehl]

=)

[@indahouse2323]

+Autogefuhl - reminds of Mk1 GTI, bruh? I liked the old Lupo GTI - it felt a bit like a Mk1 Golf GTI - body-coloured metal on inside door tops, compact, fluid engine pick-up, fun! Will look forward to trying the up! GTI. Chill man!

[@gordonbennett6057]

in da house. I once drove a Lupo 3L from London to Stuttgart but couldn't quite achieve 3 l/100km. I remember I achieved 3.1 l/100km (91 mpg). Great car. Never driven a Lupo GTI.

[@gordonbennett6057]

Hi Hamish! That Polo GTI sounds good. The Mk3 Polo GTI seems to have a nice interior very similar to the Lupo GTI. That 125PS engine sounds good. I always liked the Lupo. Many thanks.

[@crttft9203]

autogefuhl. Love the original Golf Mk1 GTI. Fantastic and awesome review of your UP GTI - thank you so much.

[@stevenpoole7235]

A first class review

[@Miamivice74]

Might have found the car that will persuade me to part with my scirocco!! Good idea?Love your reviews Thomas!😎👍

[@g__e__o]

Great review as usual! It would be really interesting to see you reviewing a brazilian VW up! TSi. Pointing out the differences and similarities between these two great small car.

[@autogefuehl]

thanks! Cannot get that one here

[@Da_StormtroopeR]

23:15 also my grandmother's Peugeot 205 from 1984 had this special feature inside the doors. 😉😁Come on.

[@SonOfTamriel]

Please VW bring this to Canada, I'll be waiting at the dealer!

[@younesten5106]

Very nice car

[@harryc266]

Very tempted for my new car..

[@sparkford04]

As always from Thomas an excellent all round review.. Really liking the package ,just wish it had about130 - 150PS available. Sure some owners would like DSG ,not for me in this package .

[@autogefuehl]

thx keith!

[@harpreetchaggar1017]

Owned this car for about a year, picked it up around Aug/Sept 2019 before world went crazy alongnwith car prices. Regret selling it, had a lot of hot hatches but only felt I could use 60/70% of the power in those cars on the road and not loose my license. This car however you can rev out and feel you are extracting every inch. Excellent on fuel, regularly would get 50mpg, on a spirited drive would get mid to high 30mpg. 6th gear could do with being a bit longer at 70mph it sits around 3000rpm so doesnt feel as settled on the motorway, and the vw radar cruise control would be a good option, car only has the old cruise control which just stays at set speed. Two good aftermarket considerations are the bilstein springs, helps make the ride a bit smoother and an exhaust. From what I remember Milltek did a good sounding one, however got put off by reviews I read of Milltek exhausts cracking. If used car prices werent ridiculous would buy another used. Excellent little town car.

[@autogefuehl]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@Alan_Clark]

I have a 4-year-old orange 90HP Up! TSI, which I love, and so do the two other people who have driven it. Unfortunately it is no longer manufactured, so my next car will probably be the GTI version. I normally keep a car till it is about 8 years old, but I am tempted to make an exception in this case. It is a pity that the range of colours is so unimaginative!

[@european1114]

I wish you were in Detroit auto show to do review of the new VW Jetta. Your reviews are the best👍

[@autogefuehl]

We were: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eHakoGupgralpbs

[@dot7107]

Nice that u noticed Ioniq ev, hope that u get it for full review... 😉

[@autogefuehl]

=)

[@iantaf5559]

Great stuff, Thomas. Was there room for the Up on your yacht after the review???😃

[@autogefuehl]

LOL =)

[@kirk1015]

Really like the UP., Although we do not have it here in the U.S. It sort of could be the “spiritual” successor to the original Beetle.

[@caraddicted6794]

In my opinion a GTI model doesn´t fit to a city car like the VW up!, because it doesn´t handle like a VW Polo or Golf. If I need a small GTI I would choose the Polo GTI with the big 2.0 TSI, who has a great handling. Great impressions from Monaco - that´s why I love Autogefühl 🇫🇷 😍

[@autogefuehl]

always appreciated!

[@calmandrest9513]

its a high up with different color aspects with othe wheels and roof and sides spoilers.

[@CT37BN]

Really nice car.. although those headlamps seem to have come from a very old car. Pity Volkswagen axed the car here in Oz ( because no auto offered ) hence slow sales. GTI wheels looking really sleek along with tartan chairs. At that price point ( twice the base model ) Volkswagen needs to install a standard 7" to 8"inch info screen. Scenic views in the beach area almost transports you in the 70's. So many parked vehicles at Monaco street/race circuit. Very good relaxed review there Thomas.

[@autogefuehl]

cheers !

[@Mr_Cholmondley_Warner]

Less power than a Lupo gti? No recaro seats, no xenon headlamps, no rear disc brakes. Come on VW this isn't a proper gti. I'd have the Lupo gti over this car.

[@Commentator541]

Mr Cholmondley-Warner of course it isn't look at the price

[@royc8587]

If this car had more power it would be 20k

[@cadillaclover]

Why do you need rear disc brakes ?? To replace them every year because they fucked up with rust ? Such cars don't need rear disc brakes.

[@chirpywiggins5796]

And yet, it's still great fun to drive ! So......

[@ghp0518]

I don't understand why VW choose not to put the 1.4 TSI 150 hp engine instead of this 3 cyl 1 l for the UP! GTI. I bet it would have been better in every aspect (performance, consumption and reliability) and the people interested in this version would have payed the difference for the 1.4 .

[@nudgenudgewinkwink3212]

I doubt it would fit

[@autogefuehl]

indeed, the 1.4 TSI would not fit

[@BruceLeedar]

Besides whether 1.4 would fit, VW intentionally makes performance worse than Polo GTI and similarly Polo GTI worse than Golf GTI. They want to motivate people to buy the larger, more expensive car because the profit margins are higher.

[@ghp0518]

There is a guy who swapped the engine and gearbox of a Skoda CitiGo (VW UP equivalent) with the 1.8T engine/gearbox from an Audi TT then also made it 4WD (Source: www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/243854-citigo-go-a-citigo-with-more-go/ ). If the 1.8 managed to fit I don't see why the 1.4 engine wouldn't fit.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

Because it saves VW costs. Better get a Suzuki Swift Sport, it has a 1.4 Turbo engine.

[@danielfulop]

13:29 Thomas on the back seat :)

[@autogefuehl]

=)

[@itayr4827]

Great review as always Thomas! Only one info piece missing for me, does it have driving modes like normal, eco, sport?

[@autogefuehl]

cheers! No it doesnt. Would have mentioned it otherwise :)

[@gaycha6589]

Great review. We are waiting to order one. Shame you did not get out on the open road up in the hills to give more insight. City cars especially gti premium badged, still need to be fun out of town. Cheers

[@JakeBlackHawk]

A green abandoned I guess VW Beetle on 7:12,poor Beetle :(. I would definetly buy this little pocket rocket but in 5 doors!

[@autogefuehl]

that's a 2CV!

[@l.h2511]

Great review! It’s one I’ve been waiting for a while for 😊 would you say it’s worth upgrading from a lower powered Mii to the Up! GTI? Can’t say I’m a huge fan of the phone holder. You’d expect to get more for how much the GTI version will be 🤔

[@autogefuehl]

U have the naturally aspirated engine? For sure it is more fun here, but it also doesnt make it a completely different car

[@cargueone1971]

Great Review! I wish they sold this in the United States

[@autogefuehl]

thanks for the support!

[@andreacaucino927]

Great review as usual Thomas. Question: There are a lot of difference, between this and the 90cv TSI version? is it worth the money that costs the GTI more? Thanks

[@autogefuehl]

thx! Have u watched full lenght? I explained the differences in detail, that's what the review was about =)

[@MM-ew3hu]

Great review but very disappointed VW didn’t offer reach adjustment for the steering wheel. This will surely put many of us taller drivers off.

[@vhira]

Why couldn’t Volkswagen give it more power like 125-140 bhp? Also what is the power to weight ratio of this vw shopping cart gti?

[@ScenesThroughTravels]

I want one !! Get me one of these please Thomas

[@klasseact6663]

If this car was ever brought to the US it would be the #1 choice to replace my 2013 500 Abarth....No doubt about it ==========

[@markturner-smith5309]

How would you say this compares to a 6c BlueGT 1.4TSI 150ps? I drive quite a varied motoring, lot of town but also distance out of town driving/motorway in the summer traveling to mountian bike XC race meetings/do few track days a year too in my road car. Not often other people other than me but a mountain bike lot of the time (would probably just use a roof rack + kit for a race weekend (spare set of wheels/tools/etc). How much difference in real terms would you lose going from a 150ps 1.4TSI to the UP! GTI engine in feel + fact whatever road car have does 2 track days a year. Yes would love a new Polo GTI (suspect still beyond my means) or a very late registration 6c (last generation) Polo GTI.

[@edysinsimon8646]

Sadly, we in the states cannot get the 2 door any longer!

[@Commentator541]

They are milking this thing to death but it's already really good to drive in the 1l petrol 85 hp version.

[@ronaldoroda403]

Lol Thomas, knees touching the ceiling?

[@mehmetaoz]

Hello Thomas, long time.....

[@autogefuehl]

just a few days :)

[@alexjezierski9563]

Hardware question, what camera are you using in the driver's window? Thanks!

[@autogefuehl]

hey alex, the sony one

[@nobuhlentuli8812]

Love the GTI version but isn't available in SA

[@JMB1891]

Thomas when are you going to get your hands on the new Suzuki Swift Sport?

[@autogefuehl]

is on my list, trying to get it

[@kl0br1ll3]

Some fancy stickers, bigger rims and ecu tuning. Aaaandd another gti is born

[@thepub245]

This car is similar in power size and weight to the original Golf GTI from the 70's.

[@mesuttasdemir4618]

I still prefer sub7up

[@girlkrazy6519]

Another great review, thank you.

[@chubbybrown4real]

1.2 TSI could be an evolution. Nice 2nd town car and may stop me buying something electric

[@dancingon6lass]

This or the new Ford Fiesta ST-Line 140hp if i want something sporty but good enough for a every day use?

[@autogefuehl]

compare Fiesta ST-Line here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2q2gKCEps2IjpI And Polo GTI: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5yaqKGva7aLhJI

[@JMB1891]

Fiesta ST-Line is around £4-5000 more expensive, not sure how that works out where you are? Fiesta is bigger, more powerful and really in a different class to the UP GTI.

[@dancingon6lass]

I don't like the 500 ;)

[@bestofblocket]

It's so cool, but too expensive compared to the TSI version :(

[@petisroub4619]

Hello again - thanks for perfect review. Very understandeable although english is not my motherlanguage. Would the UP GTI be suitable for a daily short highway commute? That means 20 km rural roads + 90km highway driving one way. Thanks, Jan

[@autogefuehl]

cheers! feel free to recommend us :) Sure that works!

[@petisroub4619]

So can this be done without torturing the car and driver? Not sure how is the 6speed UP geared for that highway driving...I´m sure going to try at a dealer but would like to hear your opinion. Thanks!

[@autogefuehl]

Well as I said if feel very comfortable in that one, better than in most small or compact size cars, as the seating position is upright. For more comfort I would begin with a very comfortable compact size car (Honda Civic, Skoda Octavia), Mid-Size sedan or a small SUV. Considering the size and the price car, the up performs very well in comfort

[@ivossmarttv468]

I wonder what the insurance rate will be.

[@iam3mondoot]

Great review 👍 i'm sorry but you should of chose white.

[@autogefuehl]

thanks!

[@Minemac69]

up! GTi is sadly not availiable in Finland :(

[@royc8587]

I think Im going to order one, tried 3 specs already any suggestions Thomas?

[@autogefuehl]

does it leave much options ? :)

[@royc8587]

I'm only buying one so might as well do it properly :-) All the safety Gear and in Black,plus passenger seat adjustment but that sunroof is expensive..

[@autogefuehl]

Ye thats good. Hmm yeah costly option, ask yourself how much of a open top driver u are :)

[@alexandrumihalisnicolau5231]

Are you in Monaco?

[@autogefuehl]

listen to the review =)

[@mynamehaschanged]

Awesome review as always Thomas. I don't like the look of this car, I've seen it on the street and looks horrible, as if VW ran out of ideas, it's flat and boring. Peugeot and others like Smart, heck even the Korean brands seem to do a better job with small cars design. I don't doubt it drives better than the competition.

[@autogefuehl]

thanks pal !

[@JMB1891]

For me VW have done the minimum amount of work possible to make this worthy of wearing the GTI badge, and even then I don’t think it’s enough. They’ve borrowed a GTI steering wheel from a Polo, used some truly horrible dash trim and just covered the standard seats in tartan. Power wise I think it should have had at least 125bhp. Overall a bit of a disappointment for me.

[@optimusprimeg189]

the seat recliner is a knob for 5 door?

[@autogefuehl]

sorry, what, where ?

[@optimusprimeg189]

Autogefühl UK So to simplify my question: are the seat recliners traditional knobs instead of levers if i opt for the 5 door?

[@autogefuehl]

hm, I dont see a reason why they would change that for the 5 door

[@rolande59]

No acceleration test? It's a GTI.. Come on Thomas! :)

[@autogefuehl]

Where exactly ? ;-) Safety and traffic regulations first. If we can handle without being illegal, we do, but not always possible ;-)

[@rolande59]

I was hoping perhaps there was a highway close by? Personally, acceleration times are super relevant for me as a viewer. 0-100, 80-120, etc. That's the only thing missing for your videos to become perfect, in my opinion. Anyway, thanks for the reply and great review as always Thomas :)

[@autogefuehl]

We should have some acceleration perspectives in the driving part!

[@-Loki--]

Excellent review as ever, Thomas is the best. The car on the other hand is a damp squib. Not a real GTI by any stretch, what a let down (by Volkswagen standards).

[@autogefuehl]

cheers !

[@nobuhlentuli8812]

Why isn't this car available in SA

[@ImOothman]

3:08 i would not wanna park there WTF lol

[@stuey36]

It needs Ford's 1.0 litre ecoboost at 125ps

[@alxactly]

It's like a lobster in the skin of a shrimp. 🤔

[@stephenphoenix-roberts9447]

Omg this car is annoying me I love it but very should have put a bigger power plant in there.

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

For what? If you want a bigger power plant then step up to another model.

[@stephenphoenix-roberts9447]

True but polo boring and I already have a golf gti m6.

[@Johnnyynf]

I still think citigo looks better Such a shame that it dont have vrs version

[@darexdarex]

95% particulate filtration, according to VW. So, that means 40% filtration in reality, in independent testing? 😉

[@JMNTN]

when you're doing a review on a sporty car and you get overtaken by a van

[@alfonsodriver1324]

Ha ha! Nice one! Yes, when the police are there, there's a low speed limit, and your driving licence is your job and lively hood! (also remember: the speed of a car is to do with the driver, not the car!).

[@autogefuehl]

Indeed. I wont exceed speed limits just because my "honor" is damaged by a van - that's for kids to play around ;-)

[@user-lh8ql5zr5e]

Exterior looks like the old Daihatsu Sirion!

[@Commentator541]

I think it still has a great turning circle unlike the abarth, it's just not nearly as cool, and abarth has far better interior and infotainment, not to mention the looks in general

[@kgspvgsp7569]

Commentator541 abarth has very cheap interior

[@DanLekin]

Nice car, but still too expesnive for what you get there.

[@JMNTN]

how can they call this a gti, 8.8 seconds 0-100 is just slow. if it did it in like 7 seconds this would be way better

[@royc8587]

Peugeot 205 1.6 gti xr2 1.6 mk1+Mk2 Nova GTE were all slower and didnt give 50 mpg, however respect there is no real replacement for displacement

[@tadeuferreira5705]

VW is letting me down, no LED headlights, no decent center console and hard plastics every. Every year the Koreans are getting better and the Germans getting worst. Today we have to pay a premium on the Germans brands for things that should be standard.

[@bigmacdaddy1234]

I had a modern Kia and it still sucks. Paint flaked off all over the place, rear windshield vibrated when the weather was cold, transmission leaked since new, rims were poorly made and tire bubbles kept forming, leather interior was cracking after a month...I had to get rid of it within 10 months it was so bad. Nothing was honored by the warranty either. I will take the worst German car any day over the best Korean car.

[@Mgoblagulkablong]

The new Suzuki Swift Sport with it's 1.4 4 cylinder turbo engine is so much better than this.

[@milandramaric5724]

Too expensive for such a small bucket

[@10tenman10]

The front looks OK but the back is awful. I would avoid this one.

[@davidthompson4346]

So Thomas thinks it's great this car has a particle filter, but has no issue with this company poisoning monkeys in the name of "research". Sad, I expected more from him and this channel.

[@autogefuehl]

Why would you conclude that I have no problems with what they did with the monkeys? Did you even look at the date where the news were published and the date the video was published? Do you know how we fight against using of animals for cars on this channel?