In VW’s electrification roadmap, the German automaker has refrained from touching its icons, but that is set to change with ID. Polo and ID. Golf. You heard that right. Two VW defining models, which are celebrating their respective 50th anniversaries, are going electric. While ID. Golf is official; it is far from materializing. The electric Polo, though, is currently a near-production concept, shown under camouflage at events like IAA Mobility 2025. Expect a GTI model, too. So, yeah, it is an exciting time for eco-conscious VW compacts devotees.
Volkswagen is officially done tip-toeing. The ID. Polo is no longer a vague promise or a designer’s PowerPoint dream. It is a nearly production-ready electric hatch that is already pounding test miles around the globe, fine-tuning ride, handling, and all the small details that turn an EV into a proper Volkswagen. This is also the first ID model to reclaim a familiar name instead of inventing a new one, which already feels like progress.
Built on the new MEB+ platform, the ID. Polo introduces a newly developed front-wheel-drive electric layout designed specifically for compact cars. Fewer components, lower weight, and better efficiency translate into more interior space and sharper driving manners. Volkswagen claims the driving precision matches cars from the class above, which is very on brand for the Polo lineage.
Power options range from sensible to spicy. At launch, the ID. Polo will offer outputs of 85 kW or 114 hp, 99 kW or 133 hp, and 155 kW or 208 hp. The ID. Polo GTI follows later with 166 kW or 223 hp, keeping the red-badged tradition alive, just silently. Two battery sizes are available: a 37 kWh net LFP battery for the lower outputs and a 52 kWh net NMC battery for the higher-performance models. Range stretches up to 450 km or about 280 miles, with DC charging speeds of up to 90 kW for the smaller battery and up to 130 kW for the larger one.
Dimensionally, the ID. Polo measures 4,053 mm long or 159.6 inches, 1,816 mm wide or 71.5 inches, and 1,530 mm tall or 60.2 inches, riding on a 2,600 mm or 102.4-inch wheelbase. Thanks to the compact electric drivetrain, interior space grows by 19 mm, while cargo capacity jumps to 435 liters or 15.4 cubic feet, expanding to 1,243 liters or 43.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.
Inside, Volkswagen leans hard into its new Pure Positive design language, blending physical buttons, retro-inspired digital displays, and an interior that aims to feel familiar rather than futuristic for the sake of it. Assistance tech includes an upgraded Travel Assist system with lane guidance, assisted lane changes, and traffic light and stop sign recognition.
The ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI marked a turning point for Volkswagen. This is not just an electric car. It is the Polo, rewritten for the electric era without losing the traits that made it a bestseller for five decades.
Price: from under 25,000 euros (about US$29,226).
Images: VW.
