VW heats up its electric family hatch, with up to 322bhp and a long official range On sale Summer Price from £45,000 (est)
George Hill george.hill@haymarket.com
NOT ALL CURRY eaters want a vindaloo; for many, a madras is more than hot enough. They might like the Volkswagen ID 3 GTX, then; it’s hotter than the regular ID 3 electric family car, but not as scorching as the spiciest versions of its key rivals, including the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and MG 4 XPower.
While those two cars have enormous power outputs (up to 641bhp and 429bhp respectively) and four-wheel drive, the ID 3 GTX offers a more reserved 282bhp in entry-level form.With a single electric motor and rear-wheel drive, it delivers a 0-62mph sprint time of 6.0sec. If you want a little more heat, the GTX Performance version ekes 322bhp out of the same motor set-up, for 0-62mph in 5.6sec.
Both GTXs are hotter than the regular ID 3 Pro, then, but they won’t scald you like the Ioniq 5 N or MG 4 XPower, which can sprint from 0-62mph in 3.4sec and 3.8sec respectively. However, you’ll still be enjoying the ID 3 GTX long after its rivals have run out of stamina; its 79kWh (usable) battery delivers an official range of up to 373 miles, beating the Ioniq 5 N’s 266 miles and XPower’s 239 miles.
Charging speeds are fairly competitive by class standards.The ID 3 GTX can accept rates of up to 175kW, meaning a 10-80% top-up should take around 26 minutes with a suitably powerful public charger.That’s slightly quicker than the XPower but slower than the Ioniq 5 N.
To complement its power and performance upgrades, the GTX looks sharper than the regular ID 3, with more aggressive front and rear bumpers, unique LED daytime running lights, blacked-out exterior trim and bespoke 20in alloy wheels.
Inside, the sporty styling t
