Volkswagen has a new inexpensive hatchback in its lineup; the latest version of one of the best-selling cars of all time – the Polo. The German automaker has sold more than 20 million copies over the years, but it has never sold one quite like this. It's the ID. Polo, the first electric version of the popular hatch.At a glance, it's impressive. We're talking 300 miles of range with handsome styling, nice features, and a thrifty price tag. How thrifty? This would rival the Nissan Leaf if Volkswagen sold it in America, which, sadly, it won't be. But it's still worth a close look, if only to see what we're missing out on. Polo Goes Electric, And Volkswagen Is Not Playing Volkswagen It feels like Volkswagen has been showing this electric forever, and that's because it has been. The Polo name was first attached a year ago, but the concept ID. 2all on which this is based was first revealed in 2023. The car you see now looks incredibly similar to that concept, which means we've seen a lot of it.Now it's all official, starting with two battery pack sizes and three different motors. There will be choices of 114 horsepower, 133 hp, and 208 hp, connected with a 37-kilowatt-hour lithium iron phosphate battery in the lower-powered cars and a 52 kWh pack in the quick one. The smaller battery offers up to 204 miles of range and a 23-minute 10-80% charge time. The larger pack delivers 281 miles and takes just a minute longer for that 10-80% charge.The ID. Polo is 160 inches long, or about the same as a Hyundai Venue. Its 102-inch wheelbase is around four inches longer, though, and the ID. Polo has some excellent use of interior space as a result. It will hold 44 cubic feet of cargo with the rear seats folded, five more than the gas Polo. With the seats up, it holds 15.5, three more than the gas car.But the real surprise isn't the specs – it's how VW completely reimagined the cabin for the electric age. Retro Digital Dash And High-Tech Features Volkswagen On the inside, the new electric Polo features two big screens and an awesome retro layout for the digital dash. It also features buttons, with every button on the steering wheel real, and buttons on the dash for most of the frequently-used features. Even many of the controls that are on the 13-inch center screen are real, or at least close to it. Volkswagen has dedicated sections of the screen to those functions, so you won't have to hunt through menus. Clearly, the automaker has been listening to complaints about its haptic controls.Volkswagen's latest software architecture means the little Polo has advanced driver assists. The suite includes Travel Assist, which can steer the car to stay centered in its lane and accelerate and brake. Now it can respond to traffic lights, which VW calls a segment first.The Polo will come with a 230-volt wall plug inside the car, and owners will be able to power devices from the car's battery through the charge plug as well. It can supply up to 3.6 kW, though with a 37 kWh battery, it won't do it for long.At the high end, VW's ID. Polo will show that going small doesn't mean sacrificing luxury. It will offer a Harman Kardon 10-speaker audio system, a large panoramic glass roof, and another feature new to the segment: pneumatic massage seats.Customers in Germany can order their ID. Polo starting now. The first cars will get the more powerful motor and large battery, with the top-spec Life trim the first to hit dealers. That one will start from 33,795 euros, or just under $40,000 in the US.The basic model starts from 24,995 euros, or $29,000 in US currency. That one will go on sale starting this summer. If this car were to reach US shores, it would barely undercut the Leaf on price and be the second-cheapest EV next to the short-lived Chevrolet Bolt, which starts at $27,600 before destination charges.Volkswagen ID. Polo (4)
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