VW ID. Polo GTI is open for orders: the first electric GTI costs €39,995 in Germany and makes 226 PS

Volkswagen opened pre-orders yesterday for the ID. Polo GTI, the first fully electric model to wear the GTI badge, launched in the very year GTI turns 50. In Germany, prices start at €39,995. Until the end of the year, the car qualifies for VW's "ID. Kaufprämie" bonus, so individual private and business customers can temporarily get it for €36,995.

That's slightly above the price promised in May at the Nürburgring 24 Hours reveal, when VW talked about "just under €39,000." The gap between the base ID. Polo (€24,995) and the GTI is exactly €15,000.

Key specs

• Motor: 166 kW (226 PS) and 290 Nm, front-wheel drive, like the first Golf GTI from 1976
• Performance: 0–100 km/h in 6.8 seconds, top speed 190 km/h (up from the 175 km/h announced in May)
• Battery: 52 kWh net, NMC chemistry; the GTI isn't offered with the base model's 37 kWh LFP pack
• Range: up to 431 km WLTP
• Charging: up to 105 kW DC, 10–80% in about 24 minutes; 11 kW AC
• Size: 4,096 mm long, 441-liter trunk, up to 1,240 liters with the rear seats folded

What makes it a GTI

Standard kit includes DCC adaptive suspension, progressive steering, an electronically controlled front differential lock, IQ.LIGHT LED Matrix headlights and 19-inch wheels. A button on the steering wheel engages the "GTI" profile, which sets up the motor, steering and suspension for sporty driving. Inside, the tartan seats are back, and a "Retro" display mimics the first Golf's dashboard.

For long trips, note that the 24-minute 10–80% time comes from a flat charging curve, not from a big peak power figure.

What about Romania?

Volkswagen Romania announced in August that the ID. Polo GTI can already be reserved there and will be available from this autumn. The next electric GTI, the ID.3 GTI, VW's first rear-wheel-drive GTI, opens for pre-orders in early 2027.