But not just the exemplary agility will please you. The sound engineers have taught the three-pot turbo a foreign language. When it revs up with its naturally rough sound, you don’t need a lot of imagination to think of the wonderfully throaty sound of a five-cylinder engine.
In fact, the up! GTI has all the ingredients to generate positive feelings. Everything – handling, torque, gear shift – is so smooth that you automatically slip into an elegant, effortless swing without thinking about it or working at it. This mighty midget is packed with an amazing amount of harmony. You catch yourself humming the easy-listening classic, “Up, Up and Away” by The 5th Dimension. Only flying is better? As if!
On the ride back, the commonplace qualities of the up! GTI become apparent as soon as you have left the mountains. Even after hours, you are still sitting comfortably; it doesn’t bounce too much either on the motorway or over urban potholes. To be sure, the GTI’s suspension is a bit harder, but within reason.
As a daily driver, the up!GTI is not an obtrusive athlete that wants to prove its abilities. Rather, it keeps them discretely at hand for whenever they are needed. Or when you want to treat yourself to an exciting kick.
A wonderful driving machine with talents that only the experts will perceive. Then there are a few restrained GTI emblems, the really beautiful 17-inchers with the Brands-Hatch design and plaid seats referencing the original GTI. All in all, the appearance is pleasantly subdued, above any sort of vanity, which fits in well with the overall image. The up! has always earned the exclamation point in its name, but the GTI is especially deserving.