Volkswagen confirms its cheapest EV will drop the ID.2 name, and now we've seen the interior for the first time.
Big changes throughout. Not only has Volkswagen has confirmed its upcoming small electric hatchback will be called the ID. Polo, rather than the ID.2 name used so far during the model's development, but it has also revealed the interior.
This is important because this interior will be rolled out to a whole host of next-generation VWs. Initial appearances look promising, with VW listening to customer feedback and reinstalling a lot of proper buttons and controls.
A big name change for electric Volkswagens
We'll talk more about the ID. Polo in just a second, but this move to the ID. Polo name marks the start of a shift of the entire VW electric car range to more familiar names – expect to see the ID.3 become the ID. Golf, the ID.4 become the ID. Tiguan and so on.
CEO of Volkswagen, Thomas Schäfer, said: "Our model names are firmly anchored in people's minds. That's why we're moving our well-known names into the future. The ID. Polo is just the beginning." No more remembering your ID.3 from your 4 from your 7, then.
Volkswagen ID. Polo interior
It looks like VW has remembered how to create nice interiors – a good thing considering how many models will be using these parts.
The touchscreen is big at nearly 13 inches across, but it looks like it uses broadly the same infotainment system as the latest Golf and Tiguan. There are configurable icons at the top of the screen, giving you quick access to commonly used features, and the home screen is split into obvious areas.
One thing that VW is keen to point out is that, with one touch of a button, you can change the display to be reminiscent of a 1970s Golf. And there are plenty of buttons on the steering wheel, which look to be easy to use while driving.
There's a row of physical controls beneath the steering wheel, replacing the much maligned climate control sliders. These are for the main heating controls and the hazard lights, although some climate functions are still located on a bar at the bottom of the screen.
The material quality has been thoroughly looked at, too – we can see a lot of fabric-covered surfaces in the ID. Polo's interior, and a move away from a completely black or grey interior design.
Volkswagen ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI specs and battery size
So far, we know that the ID. Polo will be a similar size to its petrol-powered brother – so it'll have five doors and measure 4.05m long.
It's confirmed to use either a 38kWh or 56kWh battery, with a 226hp motor on the faster GTI version. Expect to see a theoretical maximum driving range of about 260 miles for the bigger-battery car. The larger battery should be able to fast-charge at 125kW for a 10-80% charge time of around 20 minutes.
The ID. Polo GTI will get an electronically controlled locking differential on the front axle for tidy corner exits and to hunt out grip. It'll also get an illuminated red VW logo on the bootlid.
Volkswagen ID. Polo price and release date
Volkswagen has confirmed the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI will be releasing in 2026, and you'll also be able to get an SUV version called the ID. Cross (likely to be renamed the ID. T-Cross before release).
As it stands, the ID. Polo will be Volkswagen's most affordable electric car, starting from around £22,000 for the version with the smallest battery. We expect the GTI version to set you back closer to £32,000.
