VW now include an all-electric version in their popular (in Europe) Polo small passenger car range – the ID. Polo. Following the opening of European pre-orders in April this year, it has now become available for pre-order in the UK.
This means, with the introduction of a right-hand drive, English language version comes the question: will we see it in Australia? All we know so far is it is ‘under consideration’ by VW here.
Based on VW’s latest evolution of their modular electric drive (MEB) platform, the MEB+, it was jointly developed by VW’s Design Centre in Wolfsburg and Cupra in Spain (Cupra/Seat are part of the VW Group). The ID. Polo is built at Seat and Cupra’s Martorell plant in Spain.
A feature of the MEB+ platform is reduced complexity and lighter weight, making the ID. Polo both cheaper to make and more efficient to run. As such, the ID. Polo will start at £23,945 (Au$$45,613). Given that includes the UK VAT of 20%, an around $40k price tag here would not be out of the question.
So what would we get, should VW decide to bring the electric Polo to Australia? At 4,053mm long, 1,816 mm wide and 1,530 mm high, it is almost identical in size to the current petrol version – however it takes advantage of the all-electric platform to offer significantly more interior space that the petrol version – including 24% more luggage space.
In the UK it is being offered with two battery options (37 kWh and 52 kWh) and three power outputs (85 kW, 99 kW in the 37 kWh battery and 155 kW for the 52 kWh). DC charging is 90kW for the smaller battery and 105 kW for the larger.
As for what it could do in terms of Australian sales: well, the light passenger segment here is not a big selling one, although it was once.
This might be a case of ‘which came first, the chicken or the egg?’ applying. The established manufacturers here persist in not offering compelling models in the segment, citing a lack of interest from buyers who ‘want medium SUVs’.
However, if there isn’t much to choose from in passenger cars, but there is a surfeit of options in the medium SUV segment – it is hardly surprising where buyer dollars go in search of the ‘perfect’ fit. Where someone does offer interesting smaller passenger cars (like BYD and MG) they do seem to sell in reasonable numbers.
Given a common theme in questions at my talks on the BEV market is ‘I want a small car, but there are so few small hatchback/passenger BEVs to choose from!’, perhaps the lack of sales reflects the lack of options rather than a lack of preference for the segment?
Manufacturers may just be surprised at the return of the segment if they would only bring in reasonably priced, compelling models.
Given the ID. Polo’s 50-year European heritage and styling, plenty of physical buttons and knobs along with mechanical door handles – it could make a viable mid-market small passenger BEV option for buyers who currently only have the cheap-and-cheerful Atto 1 ($31.3k on the road in Victoria for the long-range) and perhaps even the next size class size up BYD Dolphin (currently starting at $33.4k for the 340km range version).
It could also make a very scary competitor for Mini’s high-priced/slow-selling all-electric Aceman. (Currently starting at around $67k, it came in at 1% of the segment’s June sales).
Perhaps the segment could even take off, if models like the ID. Polo, Renault 5 E-tech and Nissan Micra EV were to come to our market. Sadly, of those three, it seems VW is the only one even considering bringing in a new small passenger car, given they currently sell the petrol Polo here. We can only live in hope!
UK Specifications for VW ID. Polo versions:
And for a full rundown of all available EV models in Australia, please go to our Compare EVs page here.
You can find 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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