The Volkswagen ID.3 GTI brings a new level of power to the GTI badge, with 322 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque from its electric motor. But despite those figures, the electric GTI is not the quickest factory-built GTI in Volkswagen’s lineup.
The Golf GTI Edition 50 Sets the Pace
The Volkswagen ID.3 GTI sends its power to the rear axle, making it the most powerful GTI yet. Its 322-hp electric motor also produces 402 lb-ft of torque.
On paper, those numbers suggest the ID.3 GTI should have an advantage over the gas-powered Golf GTI Edition 50, which produces 321 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The difference in horsepower is minimal, while the ID.3 GTI has substantially more torque.
However, Volkswagen lists the Golf GTI Edition 50 with a 0-to-62-mph (0-100 km/h) time of 5.3 seconds. The ID.3 GTI takes 5.6 seconds to complete the same run.
The 0.3-second difference is negligible for everyday road use, but it produces an interesting result: in this case, more power does not translate into quicker acceleration.
ID.3 GTI Has a Lower Top Speed
The difference becomes even more pronounced at higher speeds. The Volkswagen ID.3 GTI is limited to 124 mph, while the Golf GTI Edition 50 can reach 168 mph.
For most drivers, the difference is unlikely to matter in normal road use. Still, it is notable because the electric ID.3 GTI combines higher power with torque that is technically available instantly, a characteristic that is important when accelerating from a standstill.
Why Isn’t the ID.3 GTI Faster?
Volkswagen’s GTI cars have never been defined solely by outright power. The ID.3 GTI already includes a GTI mode that changes the throttle and chassis parameters.
Because the electric drivetrain is programmable to a high degree, the ID.3 GTI’s software could potentially be altered to change its performance parameters. The car’s GTI mode also raises the question of whether the ID.3 GTI is truly a GTI before that button is pressed.
The GTI badge has traditionally represented a combination of affordability, quick performance and driving enjoyment. The ID.3 GTI brings those principles into an electric drivetrain while using rear-wheel drive instead of the traditional front-wheel-drive layout.
Despite having more horsepower and substantially more torque, the Volkswagen ID.3 GTI remains slower from 0 to 62 mph than the Golf GTI Edition 50 and has a significantly lower top speed.
