German automaker Volkswagen has officially unveiled an all-electric version of one of the brand’s most successful models, the ID. Polo, boasting a simplified design profile, range of up to 454 kilometres, and a return to physical buttons inside.
Volkswagen has been selling the Polo since 1975, during which time it has become one of the most popular models in the company’s lineup, with over 20 million models sold.
The new ID. Polo – critical to the company’s plans to regain the initiative from China EV makers – has supposedly been “completely reimagined and systematically geared towards the future” while still coming in at an entry-level price starting from €24,995 ($A40,650, converted).
“The ID. Polo brings a Volkswagen bestseller into the electric age,” said Thomas Schäfer, member of the board of management of Volkswagen AG and CEO of the Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand.
“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.”
The new ID. Polo will be available in three technical variants but with names referring to the technologies included and not the drivetrains. For example, the entry-level drivetrain – with its 85kW motor and 37kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery, delivering a driving range of up to 315km (WLTP) – will be available with both the Trend and Life packages.
Up a step is the middle drivetrain option, still with the 37kWh LFP but with motor output of 99kW and WLTP range of 329km. This option will be available with both the Life and Style variants, but not the Trend.
Finally is the top-of-the-line variant with a 52kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery, a 155kW motor, and a driving range of up to 454km, which will be available with either the Life or Style packages.
DC fast-charging up to 90kW will be available on the lower two variants, capable of charging from 10 to 80 per cent in 23 minutes, while the top-of-the-line variant can charge the bigger battery from 10 to 80 per cent in only 24 minutes thanks to its 105kW DC charging.
And all three models also come with vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging, which allows the ID. Polo to supply power to external devices such as e-bikes or outdoor camping equipment.
The car itself measures 4,053mm long, 1,816mm wide, and 1,530mm high, with a wheelbase of 2,600mm.
A new front-wheel drive concept based on the MEB+ architecture allows for plenty of interior space for five and an increased luggage compartment capacity than other vehicles in the compact car segment – 441 litres with the rear seats up and 1,240 litres when the rear seat backrests are folded down.
Inside, a 13-inch infotainment system is paired with a 10-inch digital cockpit for the driver. However, even with improved touchscreen technology Volkswagen has also reverted to physical buttons everywhere else, reflecting a burgeoning trend by carmakers turning their backs on making everything touch sensitive.
The three named variants – Trend, Life, and Style – refer to the technologies and assist options available, as well as aesthetic choices inside and out.
The ID. Polo is already available to order in Germany, but there is no word yet when or whether Australia will be getting a look at the new Polo anytime soon.
See The Driven’s detailed EV sales data here: Australian electric vehicle sales by month in 2026; by model and by brand.
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Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.