Volkswagen unveils ID. Polo as a new entry-level electric model

Volkswagen has presented the ID. Polo, outlining power options, battery choices and a planned 2026 launch. Learn what is known so far.

Volkswagen is entering the final stage of development with the new ID. Polo, an all-electric hatchback set to become a cornerstone of the brand’s mass-market EV strategy. Nearly production-ready prototypes are currently completing their last test kilometres across multiple regions worldwide, with the world premiere scheduled for the coming months. The series version is expected to debut in spring 2026.

For Volkswagen, the ID. Polo represents more than just another electric model. Almost 50 years after the launch of the original Polo, the company is bringing the familiar name into the ID. family, underlining a focus on accessibility, practicality and brand continuity. The entry-level price is set at around €25,000, positioning the ID. Polo as one of the most affordable new electric vehicles in Europe.

At launch, the ID. Polo will be offered with three power outputs: 85 kW, 99 kW and 155 kW. A sportier ID. Polo GTI with 166 kW will follow later. The lower-output versions will use a 37 kWh (net) LFP battery with DC fast-charging capability of up to 90 kW, while the more powerful variants will feature a 52 kWh (net) NMC battery, supporting DC charging up to 130 kW and enabling a driving range of up to 450 kilometres.

The model is based on the further developed MEB+ platform with front-wheel drive. According to Volkswagen, this layout reduces complexity and weight while improving efficiency and interior packaging. Power comes from the new-generation APP 290 electric motor, combined with a new battery system using PowerCo’s unified cells and cell-to-pack technology, which increases energy density by around 10 percent while lowering costs.

Although its exterior dimensions are comparable to the conventional Polo, the electric ID. Polo offers noticeably more interior space. The car measures 4,053 mm in length with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. Boot capacity has increased to 435 litres, expanding to 1,243 litres with the rear seats folded, clearly surpassing the figures of its combustion-engine predecessor.

Advanced driver assistance systems play a key role in the new model. The significantly enhanced Travel Assist provides assisted longitudinal and lateral guidance, automated lane changes on motorways, and, for the first time in the ID. Polo, traffic light and stop sign recognition. These features bring technology usually associated with higher vehicle classes into the small-car segment.

The ID. Polo was developed as a joint project within Volkswagen’s Brand Group Core. SEAT & CUPRA led the development process, the design was created at the Volkswagen Design Centre in Wolfsburg, and series production will take place at the Martorell plant in Spain. With its combination of price, technology and practicality, the ID. Polo is intended to play a significant role in expanding Volkswagen’s electric portfolio across Europe from 2026 onwards.