Made famous by the Golf range over the last 40 years, the GTI moniker is one that now is used on three Volkswagen models – all of which offer a great driving feel in stylish and functional packages.
The hot compact trio of the Golf, Polo and Up! give drivers a great sense of fun on a day-to-day basis with their accessible power and well-balanced chassis – as well as coming with the iconic red detailing and tartan upholstery.
We get behind the wheel of all three current GTI models and see exactly why they are some of the best drivers’ cars at the moment.
What is the current line-up?
Volkswagen currently make three GTI models for your selection – the legendary Golf currently in its updated seventh generation guise, the Mk6 Polo and the first version of the Up!. All come with the same VW build quality, GTI design details and sporty bodywork, but all with their unique twist. As the latest GTI addition, the Up! is brings a fresh outlook on the moniker and harks back to the original Golf version from 1975 by having almost identical power, weight and speed. With the recently launched generation of the Polo as the base, the GTI version is lower and wider than before as well as having new design details. As the Golf has gone through a mid-life refresh, the Mk7.5 as it were is the top-end GTI that provides the quintessential performance of the moniker.
How does the Up! GTI fair?
For this model, VW has fitted a turbocharged 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine that produces 113bhp – helping the hot city car get from 0-60mph in 8.6 seconds and go onto a top speed of 122mph. It is a very exciting unit that is amplified in the interior through a portal from the exhaust – helping it sound absolutely fantastic.
It’s lively and lots of fun to drive, with the sharp manual shift and great steering feel giving a modern take on the original GTI formula that is almost irresistible. The quality is very good too, as it feels solid, well-built and like it was made to last.
Find great Volkswagen deals todayDoes the mid-range Polo do well?
Although it may not be as fun to drive as the Up!, the Polo still performs very well as an overall cruiser. It is a more mature option than its smaller sibling, and feels very composed when you put your foot down on the open road.
Under the bonnet is a detuned version of the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder petrol found in the Golf and here it produces 197bhp. Available with a seven-speed DSG – with a six-speed manual coming later – the Polo can get from 0-60mph in a smidge under seven seconds. It is our least favourite of the three, but a serious piece of kit nonetheless.
Is the Golf GTI still the daddy?
The Golf GTI has always managed to be composed on road and on-track, and the story is no different with the latest version. In recent years, it has matured even more so, meaning it is great to drive all the time, soaks up the bumps and ruts of the road, and is as practical as any of its rivals.
As the most powerful of the three, it leaves the Polo and Up! in its dust, thanks to its 242bhp unit in Performance Pack guise. Both transmission options are excellent and offer great driving all the time. As the longest standing GTI model, it is the best version of the badge and continues to be the flagship Volkswagen performance model.
If you’re after a practical yet fun performance car in either city car, supermini or family hatch shapes, Volkswagen should be your first port of call – as the Up!, Polo and Golf are all class-leading efforts that uphold the GTI name’s reputation.
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