Volkswagen prepares launch for electric ID. Polo, with four power levels

German carmaker Volkswagen has revealed that its upcoming electric ID. Polo will be available next year with four power options, two battery sizes, a range of up to 450 kilometres and a lot more interior space over its ICE alternative.

Ahead of its official launch in the Northern Hemisphere’s Spring of 2026, Volkswagen said the ID. Polo will initially be available in two variants, the ID. Polo and the ID. Polo GTI, and include four power outputs and two battery sizes.

The ID. Polo will be available with three outputs, 85 kilowatts (kW) and 116 horsepower (PS), 99kW and 135PS, and 155kW and 211PS. The ID. Polo GTI will boast power output of 166kW and 226PS, though this model is expected to follow later in the year.

Both the 85kW and 99kW versions of the ID. Polo will come as standard with a 37-kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery which can be charged at DC speeds of up to 90kW.

The 155kW ID. Polo and 166kW ID. Polo GTI will both feature a 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, a variant of the new PowerCo unified cell that is making its debut in the Polo.

The PowerCo unified cell uses cell-to-pack technology eliminating the intermediate step via module housings and combining the cells directly into a battery pack. In turn, this reduces price, installation space, and weight, while also increasing energy density by about 10 per cent

Volkswagen only provided “forecast” range data for the 52kWh NMC battery, with both cars featuring a range of up to 450 kilometres and charging at up to 130kW DC.

A fleet of VW ID. Polos are apparently in the last stages of testing in “numerous regions worldwide”, fine-tuning a much-anticipated return for one of the company’s most iconic badges.

Volkswagen says that they are focusing on “intuitive operation, functionality, quality, and affordability” with the new electric Polo, and will be the company’s first electric ID. car to bear the name of an established name.

Based on the Modular Electric Drive Matrix: MEB+ and featuring a newly developed front-wheel drive, the new Polo also boasts a completely new electric drive which Volkswagen say reduces complexity, the number of components, and weight.

A number of new technologies are also making their way into the cabin of the new Polo including a “significantly enhanced” Travel Assist which can enable assisted lateral and longitudinal guidance as well as assisted lane changes on motorways and will also offer traffic light and stop sign recognition.

Interior space has also increased thanks to the efficiencies delivered by the all-electric design, including extra interior length, width, and headroom, and a luggage compartment 24 per cent larger than the classic Polo.

“The ID. Polo marks the beginning of a new generation of Volkswagen: with fresh design, intuitive operation, top quality and first-class driving characteristics – and finally with a proper name again,” said Thomas Schäfer, member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG, Brand Group Core and CEO of the Volkswagen brand.

“With an entry-level price starting at 25,000 euros, we are making electric mobility accessible to many people in Europe. And this is just the beginning: In 2026, we will launch six new electric models – all 100 per cent Volkswagen!”