Episode Details

Volkswagen has breathed new life into its most iconic nameplate with the reveal of the electric ID.3 GTI. More powerful than any other GTI before it, the ID.3 GTI hot hatch takes over from the previous ID.3 GTX. From the chunky C-pillars to the nostalgic upholstery (with a pattern inspired by the original Golf GTI’s seats), many of the classic VW hatchback styling cues are in place, but never before have they been combined with a feisty 322-horsepower powertrain. That makes it very nearly as powerful as the gas-powered Golf R, but is the ID.3 GTI as special as that car?

GTI DNA Shines Through in Sporty Design

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Based on the less powerful ID.3 Neo, the ID.3 GTI boasts a unique front fascia with a lower honeycomb air intake (with integrated red vertical styling elements) and a red stripe between the IQ.Light LED matrix headlights. The wheels look fantastic and are perhaps one of the most eye-catching designs to grace a GTI; they measure 20 inches in size and are called Wörthersee, said to be a tribute to the GTI meet in Austria.

High-gloss black mirrors and a distinctive rear spoiler round off a very tidy styling job by VW. The car will be available in classic GTI colors, those being silver, black, red, and white. The Tornado Red hue works well with the gloss black accents around the body.

Inside, there’s a matching red on black color scheme. The sports steering wheel has a red 12 o’clock marker, and the driver faces a pair of screens. The steering wheel features real buttons, including a lower GTI button that instantly activates a driving profile of the same name. 

Premium sports seats have a Superclark pattern that VW says is a new interpretation of the original Golf GTI’s tartan upholstery. For a compact hatch, available features like massaging seats, a Harman Kardon sound system, and an augmented reality head-up display are impressive.

Related: I Drove the 2026 Volkswagen ID.3 for a Week: Here’s My Honest Review of the Electric Hatchback America Will Never Get

RWD and Sporty Performance

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One of the last rear-wheel-drive performance hatchbacks was the second-generation BMW M140i, which wasn’t sold in America. The VW ID.3 GTI is a completely different prospect, but its electric drive motor also directs power to the rear wheels exclusively. Peak outputs are 322 hp and 402 lb-ft of torque, allowing for a claimed 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 5.6 seconds. It may be the most powerful GTI, but bar