VW ID. Polo becomes design pioneer of the ID. family

After the premiere of the ID. Polo, still camouflaged, shortly before the IAA in September, Volkswagen is now showing the interior design of the new electric 25,000-euro car. This is particularly interesting because the ID. Polo will become the first representative of a new interior look that all ID. models will adopt. The carmaker therefore speaks of a new cockpit generation that is ‘systematically optimised based on customer feedback.’ According to Volkswagen, customers can expect ‘an intuitive operating environment with physical buttons and newly structured screens.’

Those with a nostalgic streak can also switch the cockpit to retro displays. In the ID. Polo ‘with just one press of a button on the steering wheel or via the infotainment system, the digital cockpit displays transform into classic views from the Golf I of the 1980s,’ Volkswagen says.

What is really relevant, however, is that the new VW software brings functions such as one-pedal driving, modern parking assistants and, optionally, a new generation of ‘Travel Assist’ on board the ID. Polo. More on that shortly. Before that, here are the general facts about the vehicle: since December, we have known that the ID. Polo measures 4.05 x 1.82 x 1.53 metres (with a wheelbase of 2.60 metres) and will come in a total of four drivetrain variants. The smaller battery will be launched with 85 or 99 kW of drive power, while the larger battery will be offered with 155 and 166 kW – in Volkswagen’s case, the 166 kW output level will be marketed as the ID Polo GTI. In all cases, the motor is the APP290 developed specifically for front-wheel-drive models, which, in line with VW naming conventions, delivers 290 Nm of torque. The inverter is also completely new, referred to by VW as a ‘pulse inverter’. This component was also developed in-house and will be manufactured internally, which is intended to contribute to cost advantages and a starting price of around 25,000 euros.

Batteries with NMC or LFP chemistry

In addition to the drivetrains, data on the two battery versions are now also confirmed. Since the presentation of the ID.2all show car in 2023, it has been clear that there will be two different batteries – an LFP battery for a low entry price and an NMC variant for up to 450 kilometres of range. The two drivetrain versions with 85 and 99 kW will be offered as standard with the LFP battery, which provides 37 kWh of usable net energy content – VW does not disclose the gross value. According to preliminary figures, this should enable WLTP ranges of up to 300 kilometres. Exact values are likely to be available only at the start of pre-sales, planned for April 2026.

According to VW, the maximum charging power of the LFP battery is 90 kW, with charging from ten to 80 per cent taking around 27 minutes. With a net energy content of 37 kWh, this means 25.9 kWh must flow into the battery in 27 minutes – corresponding to an average charging power of 58 kW. AC charging is possible at 11 kW and will therefore take under four hours.

The NMC battery for a (preliminary) range of 450 kilometres has a net energy content of 52 kWh. For the ID.2all concept, no energy content was stated at the time, only the targeted range. Back then, we estimated 55 to 60 kWh; in reality, the battery is somewhat smaller. While the preliminary range has remained unchanged up to the production model, VW has not quite met its earlier announcement on charging time: in 2023, 20 minutes were mentioned; in fact, it is 23 minutes with a peak charging power of 130 kW.

To charge the larger battery in the ID. Polo from ten to 80 per cent, 36.4 kWh of electricity input is required. If this amount of energy is to be transferred in 23 minutes, an average of 95 kW is required. With a peak of 130 kW, however, this output is likely to be sustained only briefly if the final average is 95 kW – or the power drops sharply after a longer plateau. VW has not yet published the exact charging curve.

Both battery variants use the unified cell from PowerCo. This is a prismatic cell of a standardised size that can be filled with different cell chemistries depending on the vehicle. The unified cells are installed in the underbody according to the cell-to-pack principle, meaning the previous module level used in other MEB vehicles is omitted. The basis for the ID. Polo and its sister models is the newly developed front-wheel-drive variant of the MEB+. Thanks to the front-wheel-drive concept, the ID. Polo is said to offer space for five people along with 435 litres of luggage.

More buttons for direct functions

Until now, it was known that the interior would combine digital and physical controls. Volkswagen had already announced a Digital Cockpit with a 10.25-inch screen paired with a centrally mounted 13-inch touchscreen for infotainment. The manufacturer is now providing more detail. Customers can look forward to ‘displays with clear information and tidy menu structures.’ Volkswagen is also announcing more buttons for direct functions, a steering wheel with clearly defined button control and the adoption of familiar VW operating patterns.

In addition, the new ‘Pure Positive’ design language includes, among other things, fabric-covered surfaces on the dashboard and door inserts, as well as a uniform haptic feel across all surfaces, buttons, dials and handles. The aim is to create an inviting and friendly atmosphere. In the words of Volkswagen’s head of design Andreas Mindt: “The all-new ID. Polo is an affordable friend for everyday life. Just as the Polo always was, but now electric.” Mindt continues: “We have created an interior that feels like a friend from the very first contact. Clear physical buttons provide stability and trust, warm materials make it appealing, and charming details such as the new retro views of the instruments show the typical Volkswagen wink.”

Retro view at the push of a button

The retro view appears at the push of a button on the steering wheel or via the infotainment system. The digital cockpit displays then transform into classic views of the Golf I from the 1980s. Volkswagen generally favours a horizontal orientation of the cockpit architecture: the two displays mentioned shape the new layout. They are arranged along a single line of sight and ‘the graphics are high-resolution and precis.’

Separately, in a strip below the infotainment screen, Volkswagen’s developers have integrated buttons for the central climate functions and the hazard warning switch. The multifunction steering wheel is also completely new, with its clearly structured button fields. And: between the smartphone tray and the cup holders, there is a rotary controller that is equally easy to reach for driver and front passenger, used for audio control. It adjusts the volume and also allows tracks and stations to be changed via a track function. Volkswagen also describes the ‘ID.Light’ as significantly further developed: for the first time, the light strip in the lower area of the windscreen extends not only across the width of the instrument panel, but now also into the front doors.

ID. Polo supports one-pedal driving

Thanks to a new software version, the ID. Polo also gains access to the third generation of ‘Travel Assist’, which will in future recognise red traffic lights and stop signs. One-pedal driving is also entering the ID. model world. Kai Grünitz, Volkswagen brand board member responsible for Technical Development, is convinced: “Our new interior architecture, starting with the all-new ID. Polo, elevates the customer experience to a new level: with clean lines, high-quality materials, and an intuitive operating environment with physical buttons and newly structured screens. In addition, from the ID. Polo onwards, our next software generation will deliver noticeably more comfort and functions for our customers.”

Customers may initially have to opt for more expensive versions

It was previously unclear whether all four drivetrain versions of the ID. Polo would be available directly at the start of pre-sales in April 2026. Handelsblatt has now learned from dealer circles that while the VW ID. Polo is set to be configurable from April, customers will apparently initially only be able to buy the higher-powered and more expensive versions. Specifically mentioned is the ID. Polo with 155 kW of power and the larger battery. This variant costs significantly more than 25,000 euros, although dealers reportedly do not yet have concrete prices.

Según Handelsblatt, industry insiders assume that the initially available versions are likely to be well above 25,000 euros. Speculation points more towards 30,000 euros and upwards. The price-defining entry-level version, on which the advertised 25,000-euro promise is based, is expected to follow later. Volkswagen itself also confirmed to Handelsblatt, upon enquiry, that the ID. Polo at the entry price will only be orderable at a later date. The reason given is the later availability of the cheaper battery. However, deliveries would differ by only ‘a few weeks,’ the manufacturer said. The first ID. Polo models are set to be delivered from late summer.

volkswagen-newsroom.com, handelsblatt.com

Este artículo fue publicado por primera vez por Cora Werwitzke para la edición alemana de electrive.