THE VOLKSWAGEN ID. POLO IS THE PEOPLE’S EV ALL GROWN UP - AND ELECTRIFIED!
Volkswagen is getting serious about small electric cars again, and the ID. Polo is the clearest sign yet that Wolfsburg wants EVs back where the Polo has always lived: in the hands of normal humans. With its world premiere looming in spring 2026, near-production prototypes are pounding out final test kilometres around the globe, polishing the details that matter. This isn’t positioned as a straight Polo replacement, but it absolutely targets the same sweet spot. Familiar strengths like intuitive operation, solid quality, everyday usability and attainable pricing headline the brief, with VW openly talking about a €25,000 entry point (around R490,000 - which would be miles away from the actual price if it came here). Just as importantly, the ID. Polo debuts the brand’s new Pure Positive design language, bringing a cleaner, friendlier face to the ID family while finally restoring a proper, heritage-rich name to a compact electric Volkswagen.
Under the skin, the ID. Polo rides on the evolved MEB+ platform with a newly developed front-wheel-drive layout that saves weight, cuts complexity and frees up space. Power comes in four flavours, ranging from 85 kW up to a future 166 kW GTI, with two battery options to suit different budgets and needs. Entry models use a 37 kWh LFP battery with DC charging up to 90 kW, while higher-output versions get a 52 kWh NMC pack good for up to 450 km of range and 130 kW fast charging. Thanks to compact electric hardware and clever packaging, the ID. Polo is roughly Polo-sized on the outside but noticeably roomier inside, with more rear legroom and a boot that’s grown to 435 litres. Add next-gen driver assistance, improved Travel Assist, and software drawn from VW’s latest tech stack, and you get a compact EV that feels genuinely thought-through. Built in Martorell as a Brand Group Core collaboration, the ID. Polo isn’t about chasing trends - it’s about making electric mobility feel normal, useful, and unmistakably Volkswagen.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the chaps at Autogefühl as they take a deep dive into the electric version of the VW Polo, a car that looks fantastic on paper with specs and pricing, but we'll likely not see these in SA where people don't trust EVs yet and where you can get a regular Polo for far, far cheaper.Is the all-new VW Polo the future of small cars? FIRST DRIVE 2026 ID.Polo! | Autogefühl
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