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By Jonathan Crouch

Volkswagen doesn't really believe in its GTX badge - but should you? Jonathan Crouch drives the ID.5 GTX.

Ten Second Reviewword count: 56

Volkswagen's ID.5 electric Coupe-SUV is at its fastest in this GTX form. It's supposed to be sporty - and to an extent, now is in this improved form with its much torquier drivetrain. There's a much nicer cabin for this enhanced design too. Whether it's all enough to make this pricey ID.5 recommendable is another question.

Backgroundword count: 178

At least for the time being, Volkswagen wants you to believe in GTX, it's all-electric performance sub-brand. Back in 2021, this badging launched with faster GTX versions of the ID.4 and this car, the ID.5, an SUV-Coupe. Quite a lot's happened since, with GTX versions of the ID.3, ID.7 and ID.Buzz all launched, before Volkswagen then surprisingly announced that eventually, it would transition back to more familiar 'GTI' and 'R' branding for its coming performance EV models. But that's for the future. For right now, the GTX badge is supposed to remain aspirational for faster Volkswagen EVs and adorns significantly revised top ID.4 and, as in this case, ID.5 models that have gained a completely new and far torquier APP550 drive unit. This claims to supply the performance urgency that was missing in these supposedly fast and engaging variants from launch. The other thing customers didn't like in earlier ID.4 and ID.5s was the complex and fiddly infotainment system: well the 2024 update saw that completely revised too. Time then, to give this ID.5 GTX a second look.

Driving Experienceword count: 252

There's quite a change with this updated ID.5 GTX compared to the powertrain originally offered in this model. The most significant difference is the introduction of Volkswagen's latest APP550 drive unit, which offers significantly more power, along (rather counter-intuitively) with reduced energy consumption. Specifically, the ID.5 GTX (like the latest version of its ID.4 GTX showroom stablemate) now puts out 340PS, 41PS more than before. Which means that the sprint to 62mph from rest now takes just 5.4 seconds (though the 112mph top speed remains the same). Yet at the same time, driving range (from the same 77kWh usable-capacity battery) is now rated at 328 miles, which is around 20 miles more than before: all good. At the same time, Volkswagen has refined its Vehicle Dynamics Manager system for what it calls 'an even greater spread between comfort and dynamics'. It's best to think of this like the conductor of an orchestra, co-ordinating the car's dual motor 4MOTION AWD powertrain, plus its damping and stability systems. As previously, there's also an XDS differential for extra cornering traction. As before, the GTX variant is the only ID.5 model which can be ordered with Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive damping as an option. Add that and the result is a surprisingly keen confection, aided by near-perfect 50:50 weight distribution. Which is just as well given the fact that this car has to overcome the drawbacks of its enormous 2.2-tonne kerb weight. Cornering is helped by 20-inch wheels with wide 235-section front and 255-section rear tyres.

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