Volkswagen ID 4 GTX 2021 first drive

Just as deliveries of the standard ID 4 electric SUV get under way, Volkswagen has crowned the line-up with a hot GTX variant.

As with the original Golf GTI back in 1976, VW is attempting to provide its new car with an added dash of driver engagement. The thinking is that a select group of EV buyers, just like those of conventional cars, want to stand out from the crowd. So in the same way that the GTI badge boosts the appeal of the Volkswagen Golf, the GTX badge is meant to make the ID 4 more attractive to driving enthusiasts.

It’s far from a simple reworking of VW’s second dedicated EV. In fact, the changes go quite deep – most notably to the drivetrain. Unlike the standard ID 4, which has a single electric motor to power the rear wheels, the GTX uses a motor on each axle, giving it four-wheel drive. This layout has already been seen on its sibling models, the Audi Q4 E-tron and the Skoda Enyaq iV.

The GTX’s asynchronous front motor delivers 107bhp and 120lb ft, while its synchronous rear motor develops the same 201bhp and 228lb ft as it does in the exclusively rear-driven ID 4 Pro Performance. All up, there’s a combined 295bhp and 348lb ft of torque.

The headlining output can be accessed for a period of 30 seconds before the power electronics ease it back to preserve the charge and avoid overheating. Drive is sent to the wheels via a single-speed gearbox on each axle.

The generous torque endows the GTX with brisk step-off. It leaves the line smartly, with excellent traction and an engagingly determined feel. It certainly feels quicker than the standard ID 4 on a loaded throttle – as backed up by its 0-62mph time of 6.2sec, which is 2.3sec quicker than that of the ID 4 Pro Performance.

An inherent quietness and smoothness of operation add to the perception of added performance. There’s a subtle whine to the twin-motor drivetrain when you call up the combined reserves, but they are always silken in their deployment.

Still, that initial urgency can’t overcome the 2149kg kerb weight and increasing aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance. Once you’re at typical motorway speeds, the acceleration tails off decidedly. Top speed is restricted to 112mph – 12mph higher than on the standard ID 4.

Also shared with that car are two primary driving modes: D and B. D favours coasting, allowing the GTX to roll for impressively long distances with only minimal energy recuperation on a trailing throttle. B triggers greater regen, with the brakes programmed to pull it up with maximum harvesting of electricity. In addition, there are five driving modes on top of these two settings.