New Volkswagen ID.3 GTX: electric hot hatch costs more than a Golf R

• Performance-focused ID.3
• Single-motor setup with 322bhp
• Priced from £46,225

Fancy a hot hatchback but think petrol is just too old-fashioned? The new Volkswagen ID.3 GTX is here to satisfy your craving, but you’ll have to pay for it. Priced from £46,225 in the UK, the ID.3 GTX is the most expensive hot hatchback that Volkswagen sells, costing more than the petrol-powered Golf GTI Clubsport and Golf R.

The ID.3 GTX is the German marque’s first foray into the world of electric hot hatchbacks, adopting the new badge that first appeared on the ID.4 and ID.5 GTX performance SUVs. Those three letters have since appeared on the ID.7 saloon and Tourer estate, as well as the ID. Buzz MPV, as Volkswagen charges full steam towards an electric performance car future.

Volkswagen will be hoping the ID.3 GTX can replicate the success of its previous GT models in the electric age. As it stands, rivals are few and far between; the Abarth 500e and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N exist as its closest competitors, but both differ in terms of size and speed. Its key rival will be the Cupra Born VZ, which is exactly the same car underneath but wearing a sharp, Spanish suit.

What do I need to know about the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX?

Volkswagen is no stranger to the world of hot hatchbacks. The original Golf GTI from 1976 practically founded the genre, while the Golf GTD later added a diesel engine to the sporty formula. The Golf GTE introduced electrification with its hybrid system, but the new ID.3 GTX represents the first pure electric hatchback from the brand to get the performance treatment.

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As the ID.3 GTX is first and foremost a performance car, let’s break down the important numbers. Unsurprisingly, horsepower is increased over the standard ID.3; the GTX Performance gets a 322bhp rear-mounted motor in place of the ordinary car’s 201bhp item. Volkswagen will sell a regular GTX model with a 282bhp motor in other markets, but it’s not clear whether this will be offered to UK customers.

Interestingly, the ID.3 GTX is nearly as powerful as the latest Volkswagen Golf R, which puts out 329bhp to all four wheels. While the latter can sprint from 0-62mph in just 4.6 seconds, the ID.3 GTX takes a whole second longer, perhaps due to its rear-wheel drive setup and the weight of its 84kWh battery pack. Like the Golf R, the ID.3 GTX Performance benefits from Volkswagen’s DCC Adaptive Chassis Control, enabling the driver to soften or stiffen the suspension on the move.

Range looks to be pretty impressive on paper, standing at 369 miles – nearly identical to the Cupra Born VZ. It’s compatible with charging speeds of up to 175kW, allowing for a 10-80% charge to be completed in around 26 minutes.

What does the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX look like?

In the same vein as the Golf GTI, the ID.3 GTX takes the regular car and adds a few minor styling enhancements to compliment its sportier performance. The front bumper is new, with a pair of angular daytime running lights – a styling trait that Volkswagen plans to use across all GTX models.

Elsewhere you’ll find new side skirts and a rear diffuser, both finished in gloss black paint. The 20-inch alloy wheels are new, too, and can be optioned in black to match those new styling elements. Buyers can choose between red, black, grey, white or silver for the rest of the bodywork.

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The interior is largely unchanged from the regular ID.3 save for the bucket seats, unique upholstery, red contrasting stitching and ‘GTX’ lettering on the backrests.

How much does the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX cost and when can I order one?

Prices for the Volkswagen ID.3 GTX Performance start from £46,225, making this the most expensive model in the ID.3 range. It’s also £1,600 more than the Cupra Born VZ, which is mechanically identical to the GTX.

More stark is the difference in price between the ID.3 GTX and its petrol-powered siblings – the Volkswagen Golf GTI costs around £4,500 less, while the rapid Golf R is around £2,900 cheaper. However, the ID.3 GTX will no doubt be the more affordable option for business drivers thanks to the UK’s emissions-based benefit-in-kind system.

The ID.3 GTX will be available to order in the UK from August 29th.

Read our top 10 list of the best hot hatchbacks to see what the ID.3 GTX is up against…