A Crucial Model
The ID. Polo might not make it to the U.S, but it’s possibly one of the most important cars that Volkswagen has rolled out in recent history. That’s because this entry-level EV has a lot riding on its shoulders. It’s not just the future of VW that’s at stake here, but also Europe’s response to the influx of electrified vehicles from China.
It made its world premiere just a few months ago, and it aimed to be one of the most affordable EVs in the European market. Now, it’s been made available in Germany, and considering how expensive cars are across the Atlantic, VW has stuck to its promise.
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What a Sub-$30K EV Gets You
The Volkswagen ID. Polo is offered in three trims, namely Trend, Life, and Style. For €24,995, that gets you the Trend model, and that’s roughly $28,500 at current conversion rates. For reference, that’s actually a little less compared to the least expensive EV in America, the Chevrolet Bolt, which goes for $28,995. Considering that’s a direct conversion from German pricing with taxes and all, the ID. Polo is a bit of a bargain.
So, what does the ID. Polo Trend have to offer? It gets basic advanced driver assists in the form of blind spot monitors, lane keep assist, autonomous emergency braking, as well as Emergency Assist that automatically pulls the car over to the side should the driver be unresponsive after several prompts and warnings. It also comes with a customizable 10-inch Digital Cockpit that includes MK. 1 Golf-inspired gauges, along with the 13-inch Innovision infotainment system, automatic climate control, and a plethora of honest-to-goodness buttons.
The Powertrain
Providing energy to the ID. Polo Trend’s single motor is a 37-kWh battery plus a fast-charging system that goes from 10 to 80% in around 23 minutes at DC quick-charging stations with up to 90 kW. That gives you around 207 miles of range under a combined cycle, which doesn’t sound particularly great, but it’s not bad considering the compact battery pack. That said, VW claims up to 285 miles in pure city driving.
The ID. Polo an inter-urban runabout, so don’t expect hair-raising power and torque figures from it. Besides, there’s the ID. Polo GTI for that, but we’re pretty sure that won’t go for under $30,000. The base model makes 114 hp and 214 lb-ft of torque, so while power is adequate for its purpose, there should be a fair amount of shove from a standstill.
There is an option to go for a 52 kWh battery that also comes with more power and range. It’s reserved for the Life and Style models, though, and power rises to 133 hp. There’s also the option to upgrade to 208 hp if you’re willing to blow past €30,000. As for range, the 133 hp models can do about 280 miles in mixed conditions and up to 370 miles in urban driving.
A Promising Start
Volkswagen is already calling the ID. Polo a success in Germany. According to the company, the car has already seen over 25,000 orders just weeks after reservations opened. It may sound like a small number, but considering VW’s past struggles with selling EVs, this counts as a win. By the looks of things, Volkswagen’s overhaul of its EV strategy is doing the hatchback a favor, and it might just be the turning point Europe’s biggest automaker needs in its home base.
The ID. Polo is just the start of the company’s new wave of EVs. More recently, the ID. Cross made its world premiere, and as crossovers are more popular than ever, it has all the potential to succeed in Europe. That one starts at €27,995, or just a shade under $32,000.
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