VW’s Push for Affordable EVs
Electric vehicles remain expensive in most markets, leaving many buyers priced out of the transition. Volkswagen is attempting to change that by introducing a new wave of entry-level models. The brand has already confirmed the ID. Polo, a small electric hatchback, and the more performance-focused ID. Polo GTI.
The latest addition is the ID. CROSS Concept, a compact SUV revealed at the 2025 IAA Mobility show in Munich. Although presented as a concept, the ID. CROSS is confirmed for production and points directly to a new SUV arriving in 2026. The goal is simple: provide a battery-powered option that looks and feels like a Volkswagen people already know, but with a price and positioning that make it more accessible.
Volkswagen
A New “Pure Positive” Design Language
Volkswagen has given the ID. CROSS a new design language it calls “Pure Positive.” The idea is to combine stability, likeability, and subtle heritage cues. At 163.8 inches long and 72.4 inches wide, the SUV sits in the same footprint as the T-Cross, but with a more modern and cleaner profile.
The floating roof, upright C-pillars, and horizontal louvres nod to icons like the VW Bus and Golf, while 21-inch “Balboa” wheels created with Goodyear add a concept-car touch. The front and rear feature three-dimensional LED light signatures, complete with illuminated VW logos.
Inside, the cabin is meant to feel like a lounge more than a traditional car interior. Upholstered in light “Vanilla Chai” tones with bouclé fabric called Daisy, it has a softer and more textured character than most compact SUVs. Preconfigured light, sound, and climate modes, as well as eucalyptus leaves set in the floating center console, emphasize a connection to nature.
VW didn’t relegate the ID. CROSS’s practicality, offering 450 liters of boot space, a 38-liter compartment under the rear seats, and a small frunk up front. The seats can fold flat to form a reclining area, a nod to the VW Bus’s reputation for versatility.
Volkswagen
Practical With Utility in Mind
The ID. CROSS sits on the MEB+ platform, an updated version of Volkswagen’s modular electric architecture. Power is generated by a single electric motor mounted on the front axle, producing 208 horsepower (155 kW). Range is expected to be up to 261 miles (420 kilometers) under WLTP testing, with a top speed limited to 109 mph (175 km/h).
The SUV is also designed with utility in mind. It can tow up to 2,646 pounds (1,200 kilograms) on a braked trailer at an eight percent gradient and offers a 165-lb (75-kilogram) tow ball load, enough to carry two electric bikes. Volkswagen says future MEB+ software will improve driver assistance features such as Travel Assist, borrowing capabilities previously reserved for more expensive models.
Volkswagen
When Can We Expect It to Arrive
Volkswagen plans to reveal the production-ready ID. CROSS in summer 2026. It will join the ID. Polo and Polo GTI as part of the brand’s four-vehicle affordable EV rollout, followed by the ID. EVERY1 in 2027. All of these models fall under the Volkswagen Group’s “Brand Group Core,” which includes Škoda, SEAT, Cupra, and VW Commercial Vehicles. The idea is to share technology and scale to lower costs across multiple brands.
While pricing has not yet been confirmed, Volkswagen has made clear that these vehicles are meant to bring electric mobility into reach for a larger number of buyers.
Volkswagen
