VW ID. Polo

Some time last year Volkswagen showcased a small EV hatchback called the ID Every1 (original article here). That car was a precursor to the VW ID. Polo, which has just been shown to the world.

The ID. Polo brings a Volkswagen bestseller into the electric age. For decades, the Polo has been part of people’s everyday lives. With the ID. Polo, we are making electric mobility accessible to many more people: with clear and timeless design, intuitive operation, strong quality and technologies from higher segments. A genuine Volkswagen just like our customers expect from us
– Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen passenger cars brand

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Little and New

The new ID. Polo is 4 053 mm long, 1 816 mm wide and 1 530 mm high. The wheelbase is quite large for a small car at 2 600 mm, which is probably a handy side-effect of riding on a platform that was designed from scratch for an electrified drivetrain. The new ID. Polo is the first production model to showcase the brand’s Pure Positive design language. The result is a compact car with design features such as the C-pillar derived from the first Golf, and a likeable front end.

The same design language has been carried over to the interior. The cockpit has a digital infotainment screen with a diagonal of 260 mm. The touchscreen is located centrally in the dash panel and is easy to reach for both the driver and front passenger. The digital instrument central display features a ‘retro display’, which has the look the Golf 1.

Powertrain Options

At the time of launch there are three electric powertrains on offer. Each of them connected solely to the front wheels. The first motor offers 85 kW, the second dishes up 99 kW. The 85 kW and 99 kW versions will be equipped as standard with a 37 kWh battery. This battery offers a range of up to 329 km. The most powerful makes a Polo GTI-beating 155 kW and is powered by a 52 kWh battery pack which provides 454 km of range.

There is no word yet if we will see the VW ID. Polo on sale locally. VW SA has been, to date, quite conservative when it comes to new-energy vehicle (NEV) introduction into the local market. However, there has been an increase in electrified models being introduced, particularly from China, which may provide the momentum needed for the EV sector to grow.