Volkswagen ID. Polo: the all electric Polo is finally here
It's been one of Europe's favourite small cars for decades, and now it's gone electric. Volkswagen has officially revealed the ID. Polo, an all-electric version of its iconic supermini, and it's shaping up to be one of the more significant EV launches of 2026.
Small car, serious range
The headline numbers are pretty compelling for a car in this class. You're looking at a range of up to 454 km (282 miles) WLTP in the top-spec version, three power options ranging from 85 kW up to 155 kW, and a starting price in Germany of 24,995 euros. UK pricing hasn't been confirmed yet, but Volkswagen has said it will be announced soon.
More boot than you'd expect
The ID. Polo sits on the MEB+ platform, the same underpinning used across VW Group's newer electric models. One practical benefit of that is boot space: 441 litres, which is 25% more than the combustion-engined Polo and actually beats a lot of cars from the class above. Fold the rear seats down and you get 1,240 litres. For a car that's just over four metres long, that's genuinely useful.
Two batteries, one fast charger
There are two battery sizes on offer. The entry-level 37 kWh (net) LFP battery pairs with the 85 kW and 99 kW motors and gives a range of up to 329 km (204 miles), with a 10-80% fast charge time of around 23 minutes. The larger 52 kWh (net) NMC battery is reserved for the 155 kW version, which is where you get that 454 km (282 miles) range figure and a similar 24-minute charge time. DC fast charging is standard across the range, which is worth noting at this price point.
An interior that's caught up with the times
Inside, VW has fitted a 10-inch digital driver display and a 13-inch central touchscreen, along with physical buttons for the controls people actually use regularly. The interior design follows VW's new Pure Positive language, which essentially means cleaner lines and less visual clutter than some of the earlier ID. models. There's also a vehicle-to-load function as standard, meaning you can plug devices into the car and draw up to 3.6 kW, handy for camping trips or charging an e-bike on the go.
Tech you wouldn't normally find at this price
Technology-wise, the standout optional feature is Connected Travel Assist with automatic traffic light recognition, which VW says is a class first. One-pedal driving is included as standard. Optional extras push things further still, with a Harman Kardon sound system, panoramic roof and a pneumatic massage function for the front seats that feels like it belongs in a much larger car.
When can you get one?
The ID. Polo goes on sale in Germany today, initially in Life trim with the 155 kW motor at 33,795 euros. The base 24,995 euro version and additional powertrain options follow in the summer. For UK customers, it's a case of watching this space, as specs and pricing are still to be confirmed.
We'll bring you more detail on UK specs and lease pricing as soon as Volkswagen announces them. Sign up to the DriveElectric newsletter to be one of the first to know.