Volkswagen ID.2 will be a VW Polo for the electric age and we’re buzzing

Volkswagen is yet to produce a true all-electric ‘people’s car’; the Volkswagen ID.3 now starts from almost £40,000 and is out of reach for many households. Something newer and cheaper is on the horizon, however, as the German marque has unveiled a new concept car that will soon evolve into a production model costing “less than €25,000” (around £22k): the Volkswagen ID.2all.

When it hits production in 2025, this new electric supermini will simply be called the ‘Volkswagen ID.2’. It’ll be the first model to sit on VW’s all-new MEB-Entry platform, which is designed to underpin future smaller models in the brand’s range, while also keeping manufacturing costs comparatively low.

As you can see, the ID.2all concept previews a design that’s a small departure from the rounded and minimalist looks of other models in VW’s electric car range such as the ID.4 family SUV. The overall look is more akin to the current petrol-powered Volkswagen Polo, with a full-width light bar illuminating an angular front end.

17

More similarities to the Polo can be found elsewhere as, measuring around four metres long, the ID.2all is roughly the same length as the petrol-powered supermini, too. However, unlike the Polo, the production version of the ID.2all won’t have an engine or gearbox to contend with, meaning the wheels can be pushed further out into the corners of the car, subsequently improving interior space. 

Volkswagen says the ID.2all’s boot measures in at 440 litres – 100 litres more than its larger sibling, the ID.3 – growing to a compact van-like 1,330 litres with the second row of seats folded down. Speaking of folding the rear seats, you can also fold them upwards to reveal a small storage compartment – ideal for hiding away valuables.

Elsewhere, the ID.2all’s cabin has more than a whiff of MG4 about it, with an overall minimalist design featuring a 10.9-inch digital instrument display and a 12.9-inch rectangular centre touchscreen. These appear to be running entirely new software – a good thing, given how troublesome and glitchy the infotainment system in current VW models is – and can also be configured to display the old-school dials from the old Golf GTI, as well as those from the original VW Beetle. 

17

While most of the controls seem to be buried within the centre touchscreen, there is at least a row of physical toggle switches mounted below. Whereas the larger ID.3 has its gear selector tagged onto the side of the instrument cluster, Volkswagen has decided to relocate this to the steering column for the ID.2all, with it now coming in the form of a Tesla Model Y-style stalk.

Volkswagen has confirmed the ID.2all concept utilises a front-mounted 223bhp electric motor, mated to a battery pack large enough (the exact capacity has not been revealed yet) to provide a range of up to 280 miles on a charge. The German manufacturer also stated a 10-80% charge will take as little as 20 minutes when connected to a rapid enough public DC charger. 

The sprint from 0-62mph will take just seven seconds, though it’s unknown at this stage whether this exact powertrain setup will make its way to the production car. Those looking for more power are in luck as the German giant has also showcased its Volkswagen ID.GTI Concept; this previews a high-performance model that’s set to ditch the GTX moniker in favour of at least 220bhp and the classic GTI badge.

17

The arrival of the aforementioned sub-£27,000 MG4 previously caused quite a stir in the car industry, with currently only the BYD Dolphin and Citroen e-C3 able to match it in terms of price. Even the Volkswagen MEB Entry project, which originally aimed to produce an EV for under €20,000 (£17,500), has now increased the target price to €25,000 (£22k). 

Regardless, the Volkswagen ID.2all represents a step in the right direction for the Wolfsburg-based automotive giant, with the production model set to debut alongside other more affordable EVs from rival manufacturers, such as the Renault 5 E-Tech and the newly facelifted Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

Volkswagen has also confirmed the production ID.2 will be followed by an similarly-affordable small electric SUV, for now known as the Volkswagen ID.2all SUV. Spotted recently by DrivingElectric while undergoing winter testing in heavy camouflage, this “sporty crossover” will be a rival for the likes of the Smart #1, Jeep Avenger and the new Hyundai Kona Electric. 

Further to this, we expect to see an even smaller, even more affordable model appear towards the end of the decade – a true entry-level VW Group model costing under that initially-promised figure of €20k. This car is likely to be developed by Skoda and, alongside those previously mentioned, is one of 10 new Volkswagen EVs set to arrive by 2026.