The ID. Polo is arriving in 2026 as the first of a new family of entry-level Volkswagen EVs. It was initially expected to start at €25,000, but that may take longer. The German automaker may still make electric mobility more affordable, but it likely won’t be as soon as expected.
“With an entry-level price starting at €25,000, we are making electric mobility accessible to many people in Europe,” Volkswagen brand boss Thomas Schäfer said earlier this month.
The Polo-sized electric car was set to launch in Europe next Spring, starting at €25,000, but local reports suggest it will be a bit more expensive when it hits the market. The German newspaper Handelsblatt reported that the cheapest ID. Polo model likely won’t be available at launch. According to dealers, VW will only offer more expensive trims, likely costing €30,000 or more.
Battery availability
Apparently, Volkswagen is delaying the base ID. Polo due to the lack of available lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. The entry-level model is equipped with a 37 kW LFP battery, promising a WLTP range of around 300 km. In comparison, the 155 kW version, for example, uses a 52 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery, delivering a WLTP range of 450 km.
The ID. Polo was scheduled to launch with three power outputs: 85 kW (115 hp), 99 kW (134 hp), and 155 kW (211 hp), with a ‘high-performance GTI’ joining in late 2026 with 166 kW (226 hp).
At launch, only the 155 kW version will probably be available. Volkswagen is expected to begin deliveries next Summer, but it could be a while later before we see the cheaper version. According to internal estimates, one dealer said, the base ID. Polo could be delayed by another six to nine months.
Already late
The new small electric VW is based on the MEB+ platform, also developed for front-wheel drive. Early reviews suggest the electric Polo may be the best Volkswagen EV yet. Expectations are that the ID. Polo should be a strong all-rounder among the pack of small EVs suddenly battling for attention.
But in this utterly competitive world, one has to deliver, of course. Competitors in the €25,000 price bracket from the big two ‘French’ groups have already been on the market for a while (Citroën ë-C3, Fiat Grande Panda from Stellantis, R 5 Electric from Renault), and, of course, the Chinese and Korean competitors are at it too.
Next year, Renault will take the next step by launching the sub-€20,000 EV, the Twingo, and others will surely follow. The new ID. Polo might well be one of the best in this new segment (to be verified), but postponing the launch of the more affordable models again will not immediately contribute to its success.
Volkswagen’s answer to the Twingo, the production version of the ID. Every1 Concept, won’t arrive until 2027. That’s still a long time away when you know that your direct competitors are gearing up at the fastest pace possible.
