The Volkswagen ID Polo will be revealed tomorrow as a sub-£22,000 electric hatchback, kicking off a new age for the German brand.
Following the facelifted ID 3 Neo, it's the first all-new model to encompass Volkswagen's fresh design language under the leadership of Andreas Mindt.
The ID Polo was previewed in 2023 by the ID 2all concept and the production model will closely resemble that car, as shown in new sketches posted by Mindt to social media platform LinkedIn.
The interior – revealed last month – closely resembles that concept's, with what Volkswagen designers refer to as a "premium haptic" concept using touchscreens and physical controls.
The dashboard features a 10.25 in digital information display and a 13in landscape-mounted infotainment touchscreen. The latter no longer has the controversial 'slider' controls for the volume and heating. Instead, below the screen is a row of physical controls for the heating, air conditioning and hazard warning lights. There's also a rotary dial that controls the infotainment volume and can be used to switch tracks or radio stations.
A new-shape steering wheel houses two clusters of physical buttons on each of its two spokes, with controls for driver assistance features such as cruise control on the left and infotainment and other display systems on the right.
There has also been an effort to increase the perceived quality of materials in the cabin, with a fabric-covered dashboard panel, top-stitching in the door panels and on the seats and interior and exterior colours inspired by "shades of the sea". All of the textiles on the seat and doors are made from a type of thermoplastic that can be obtained from recycled plastic bottles.
Customisable screens feature a retro mode modelled on a Mk1 Golf, including an analogue-style driver's display and simulated spooling tape deck for the audio player.
Meanwhile, the revamped infotainment system – which is designed to look cleaner and be easier to use – includes a new navigation platform that can operate on either Volkswagen's own system or Google Maps.
The ID Polo is roughly the same size as its combustion-engined namesake, but the flat-floored EV design offers significantly greater interior room, especially with the motor and all the key mechanicals located at the front, under the bonnet.
Volkswagen claims that the ID Polo offers the same amount of interior space as the Golf, including a deep, 435-litre boot.
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A shame that it won't be built in Germany, or even Europe for that matter. If I ever bought a Volkswagen then I would at the very least expect it to have been assembled in a German factory even if the parts are supplied from further afield. Same reason why I didn't purchase a Land Rover a few years ago, because it was built in Slovakia. If the manufacturer can't even employ its own countrymen and women then why should I fund their business?
The ID.Polo will be built in Spain, which last time I checked was still in Europe. The existing combustion-engined Polo that's sold in Europe is built in Spain and South Africa
This isn't unusual for any multinational company to take advantage of global supply chains, and any automotive manufacturer of a reasonable scale build vehicles in multiple countries. Do you also boycott BMW for its South African-built X3, or Toyota for its British-built Corolla, or Mercedes for its US-built GLE etc.?
A good news story to start 2026. Manufacturer has less reliance on touchscreen technology. Hope other manufacturers follow because I've never read anyone whos welcomed touchscreens in our cars.
Shame about the trim alignment under the driver display.