Volkswagen Reveals The First Electric GTI: ID. Polo GTI
The GTI badge has been part of Volkswagen’s line-up for 50 years now, and has been placed on a number of cars - Golf, Polo, Lupo, Scirocco and the Up!. All of these have been petrol, up until now, with the introduction of the first-ever electric GTI in the form of the ID. Polo GTI.
Previously, if you wanted a sportier electric Volkswagen, you had to go for a GTX model, but that badge doesn’t quite have the same ring as GTI.
The latest GTI is based on the recently launched ID. Polo and is said to be “a sports car you can use everyday”, which is basically the motto for all GTI products.
Performance is about on par with an outgoing petrol-powered Polo GTI, with 223bhp and 290 Nm of torque from a front-mounted electric motor, a 0-62mph time in 6.8 seconds and will go up to a top speed of 109mph. Battery size is modest, but perfectly acceptable for a car of this size - 52kWh, which can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in about 24 minutes, and offers a WLTP range of 263 miles. It’s also refreshingly lightweight for an EV, with a minimum weight of 1540kg. There’s also a standard electronically controlled front differential lock, too.
The ID. Polo GTI features an enhanced interior and exterior, based on the existing ID. Polo. The car sits on 19-inch alloy wheels, which feature an eight-spoke design, the iconic red stripe sits proudly on the front end and is now full width, a rear mounted roof spoiler that’s split into two parts, and a bespoke diffuser.
Inside, the GTI theme continues and clearly sets itself apart from the regular ID. Polo. There are bits of red scattered throughout the interior, featuring on the dashboard, seat inners, a 12 o’clock on the steering wheel, as well as the stitching.
Other than the hints of red, the interior is largely the same as the regular ID. Polo, which is a refreshing design compared to recent Volkswagen Interiors. This means you get physical switchgear for the essentials, a 10.25-inch driver's display, and a 12.9-inch infotainment display, as well as separate electric window controls for the front and rear windows.
If you want to make the inside of your ID. Polo GTI even plusher, you can spec a 425W Harman Kardon sound system, a panoramic sunroof and according to Volkswagen, a segment-only option - a massage function for the 12-way electrically adjustable front seats. Sounds like this Polo is now more luxurious than cars in two or three segments above it.
How does it drive you ask? Well, we have no idea as we haven’t driven it. But, if you do want to know how it drives, our friends at Autocar have already had a go in the ID. Polo GTI and they seemed to like it…a lot.
We don’t know how much the ID. Polo GTI will cost in the UK, but we do know UK sales will start towards the end of 2026, with deliveries starting soon after, in early 2027. Personally, I can’t wait, and those timings are convenient…more on that in good time.