The Volkswagen ID. Polo GTI costs 39,995 euros. The first electric GTI has 166 kW of power.

Volkswagen started pre-orders for the ID. Polo GTI on October 7, 2026, its first electric model to bear the GTI name. The car costs starting at 39,995 euros, but it cannot be ordered in Poland yet, and we do not know the local price list.

The launch coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Golf GTI. Volkswagen claims to bring the “legendary driving pleasure of GTI” to an electric vehicle, though performance figures suggest the manufacturer did not attempt to create a top-tier performance car.

Front-wheel drive and 6.8 seconds to 100 km/h

The front-mounted engine delivers 166 kW and 290 Nm of torque. Power is sent to the front axle, just like in the 1976 Golf GTI. The car accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.8 seconds—fast, but not aimed at breaking speed records.

The driver will have a GTI driving mode activated by a button on the steering wheel. It alters the response of the powertrain, steering system, and suspension. An electronically controlled front axle differential lock is intended to prevent torque transfer issues during acceleration and when exiting turns.

The body kit features a red strip at the front, a honeycomb pattern, and standard 19-inch wheels. Inside, there are sport seats, a new GTI steering wheel, red accents, 10.25-inch digital dashboards, and a 12.9-inch multimedia screen. The Retro Display mode changes the graphics on both screens to resemble those of the original Golf. Volkswagen even added an effect mimicking music from a cassette tape.

431 km WLTP and 105 kW charging

The ID. Polo GTI uses an NMC battery with a capacity of 52 kWh, the same as that in the regular ID. Polo. Its claimed range is up to 431 km WLTP. The maximum DC charging speed is 105 kW, and it takes about 24 minutes to charge from 10% to 80%.

The car measures 4096 mm in length, 1816 mm in width, and 1514 mm in height. With a wheelbase of 2599 mm, its dimensions remain similar to those of the gasoline-powered Polo. The flat battery and compact drive unit allow for 19 mm more interior space, and with the seats folded down, the trunk holds 1240 liters. The gasoline-powered Polo GTI offers 1125 liters in this configuration.

For comparison, the base ID. Polo starts at 24,995 euros, so the additional cost for the GTI version is 15,000 euros. Another electric model with this designation will go on pre-order in early 2027. The ID.3 GTI is expected to be more powerful and will be the first GTI to feature a rear-wheel drive system.

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