The Volkswagen ID4 wants to be an everyday SUV for everyday drivers first, and an electric vehicle second. One thing the ID4 doesn’t have currently that most of its SUV competitors do is all-wheel drive. This changes with the sporty ID4 GTX variant—at least in Europe. While VW has no plans to bring the GTX name to the United States, its latest ID4 trim is said to preview the upcoming U.S.-spec ID4 AWD, which we think will—sadly—ditch some of the GTX’s sporty styling details.
The ID4 you can buy right now relies on a lone 201-hp motor that powers the rear wheels and afford an EPA-rated driving range of 250 miles—a figure we were able to meet or slightly exceed in normal driving during our own testing. For now, however, we Yanks receive nothing like the GTX treatment, which looks inspired by the Golf GTI hot hatch thanks to its sporty accents and redesigned fascias.
Aesthetically, the GTX is set apart by a black roof and rear spoiler, while the “frame bar” (the swoopy, distinct pillar that arcs above the side glass) is done up in anthracite. The “honeycomb” daytime running lights also echo a similar setup on the 2022 Golf GTI. The interior of the GTX takes on a classy look with different material colors for more contrast. This includes red stitching and various panels that are now trimmed in a dark blue shade.
We’re not likely to get any of that on the consumer-grade ID4 AWD, but the mechanical aspects should be similar. The ID4 GTX gets an additional front-axle motor, which works with the rear unit to produce a peak 299 horses in total and go from 0-62 mph time of 6.2 seconds. Our ID4 AWD could, conceivably, be a little slower if a different powertrain calibration is fitted. That said, we’ve already reported the ID4 AWD should deliver 302 hp, so perhaps it will match its overseas cousin in a drag race.
Whatever the numbers, the GTX is being marketed as a performance version of the ID4, unlike what we expect VW to do with the ID4 AWD. That said, perhaps some of the GTX’s unique styling might make it stateside in an R-Line trim. We’ll know more once we have full details on our home-market ID4 AWD. Until then, we can just look on as the ID4 GTX goes on sale in Europe this summer.
