New VW ID. Polo takes to the road...
... and upcoming GTI confirmed as more powerful than an Alpine A290
Volkswagen has announced some key details of the upcoming ID. Polo, ahead of what’s set to be a big year for EV VWs: six new battery powered models are coming in 2026. Whatever they turn out to be, the Polo feels like one of the most significant; as one of VW’s most recognisable and successful nameplates, of course, but also as a competitor in the small EV market that’s growing by the month.
Based on the front-wheel-drive MEB+ architecture that will also be underneath the Cupra Raval (both will be built at SEAT’s plant in Martorell), the ID. Polo will be 4,053mm long, 1,816mm wide and 1,530mm tall. So not a million miles from the existing combustion engined car, pleasingly, yet with some useful gains in interior space. The boot now measures 435 litres (up from 351), while passengers are said to benefit from extra shoulder, head and legroom. All very pragmatic Polo.
While exact specs on the GTI are to follow, VW has announced that it’ll have 226hp - just a tad more than the Alpine A290, if behind high voltage hot rods like the Mini JCW and the Stellantis machines. Still, outright power has never been the GTI USP; VW is also promising ‘first-class driving characteristics.’ The rest of the ID. Polo range will be made up of 116hp, 125hp and 211hp versions; the lower powered models will use a 37kWh lithium iron phosphate battery that can charge at up to 90kW, while the more potent Polo will use a 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt lump that can accept up to 130kW. It should also mean a range of up to 280 miles, though that’s still to be confirmed.
As for how the ID. supermini is going to look, there’s not a whole lot more to tell from these latest prototype pics against the last ones. But there are some familiar cues from the rest of the electric VW family, the rear light bar with a bit of Buzz to it and a front end almost directly descended from the ID. 7. Apparently this Polo is the first example of design boss Andreas Mindt’s ‘Pure Positive’ language, so get used to what’s seen here. Maybe the smaller, Twingo-rivalling electric city car to be a bit bolder with its design; this is just the next Polo, after all, albeit one with the power source under the floor rather than the bonnet.
VW CEO Thomas Schäfer said: “The ID. Polo marks the beginning of a new generation of Volkswagen: with fresh design, intuitive operation, top quality and first-class driving characteristics – and finally with a proper name again. With an entry-level price starting at 25,000 euros, we are making electric mobility accessible to many people in Europe.”
Volkswagen are nothing if not fully committed to the electrification of their core models. And if next year is too long to wait for a smart, stylish electric runaround with a VW badge on it, don’t forget the E-Up happened - it’s now from £6,000…
(yes I know there is also a 52kWh version too)Can't wait to see the (terrible) range on that. Why would you get this over a Renault 5?
Doesn't seem to move the game on at all. Come on VW, you can do better
(yes I know there is also a 52kWh version too)Can't wait to see the (terrible) range on that. Why would you get this over a Renault 5?
Doesn't seem to move the game on at all. Come on VW, you can do better
I'd say this moves the game in the right direction - away from massively over-sized, ridiculously fast tax-break cars.
(yes I know there is also a 52kWh version too)Can't wait to see the (terrible) range on that. Why would you get this over a Renault 5?
Doesn't seem to move the game on at all. Come on VW, you can do better
(yes I know there is also a 52kWh version too)Can't wait to see the (terrible) range on that. Why would you get this over a Renault 5?
Doesn't seem to move the game on at all. Come on VW, you can do better
I think once you get past the cute hype of the R5 people are having a lot of niggling issues with it. It's also not really suitable for carry rear seat passengers. Wife's friend has one that died on the road last month, got recovered, and the dealer can't look at it until February.
Now, maybe they'll have sorted their woeful UI and cabin tech and brought it somewhat back to ~10yrs ago (ie. Golf Mk 7/7.5 standard), but it'll need to be good to steal sales from the R4/R5 which seem to have the small compact pretty much sewn up.
Have to wait and see.
(yes I know there is also a 52kWh version too)Can't wait to see the (terrible) range on that. Why would you get this over a Renault 5?
Doesn't seem to move the game on at all. Come on VW, you can do better
I think once you get past the cute hype of the R5 people are having a lot of niggling issues with it. It's also not really suitable for carry rear seat passengers. Wife's friend has one that died on the road last month, got recovered, and the dealer can't look at it until February.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP635Rk3T3M
But the range, though. c. 100 miles.
It looks like a car we'd consider for a second car when we retire, particularly the GTi. For all the noise around EVs in both directions its only once polo and golf size cars come fully on stream that we will see the true market. When I bought this time I went petrol, the amount of choice was still limited in the EV space and I disliked the Tavascan interior. Next time? I imagine I'll probably be going electric. We have the money to either keep the 128 or to buy a weekend car, although as much as I enjoy a v8 or great inline 4 the engine noise has never been the draw for me. If an EV can put the power down the right way (any ive driven so far do) I'll not be crying too much.
This always seemed the sensible end of the market to start at - not the 3t supersized EV depreciation disaster zones ?!
Whilst not for me - maybe this starts to fill the hole of deleted small ICE s..?
Who knows?
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