Volkswagen has officially unwrapped the ID. Polo. We take a closer look at the first-ever all-electric version of the German marque’s popular hatchback.
The ID. Polo is equipped with a single electric motor, available in three states of tune — 85 kW, 99 kW and 155 kW. Models producing 85 kW and 99 kW are equipped with a 37 kWh (net) lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack, while the most powerful of the trio upgrades to a larger, 52 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) battery. Volkswagen claims operating ranges of up to 329 km and 454 km for the LFP and NMC items, respectively. A GTI model will be introduced to the range at a later stage.
Based on the Wolfsburg brand’s MEB+ dedicated electric architecture, the emissions-free Polo measures 4 053 mm in length, 1 816 mm in width, and 1 530 mm in height; making it 21 mm shorter, 65 mm wider, and 79 mm taller than the internal combustion engine (ICE) model. The ID. Polo’s wheelbase spans 2 600 mm — an increase of 48 mm over the ICE Polo.
Despite being shorter than its ICE sibling, thanks to the stretched wheelbase, the ID. Polo’s interior length has increased by 19 mm, while boot capacity has increased by 25 per cent, from 351 litres to 441 litres. The latter increases to 1 240 litres for utility purposes when folding down the rear backrests.
Available with the choice of three trim grades — Trend, Life, and Style — the ID. Polo’s cabin plays host to 10-inch digital instrumentation and 13-inch touchscreen infotainment across the board. Audiophiles can specify a high-end Harman Kardon 425 W sound system featuring 10 speakers at additional cost.
While entry-level, Trend and mid-tier, Life spec feature automatic air-con, flagship, Style trim upgrades to dual-zone automatic climate control. The latter model also features IQ.Light LED matrix headlamps and an LED light strip, and 3D taillamp arrays.
“The ID. Polo brings a Volkswagen bestseller into the electric age,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of Volkswagen Passenger Cars. “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.”
