Fifty-one years after the original Polo first hit the road, Volkswagen has pulled the wraps off its all-electric successor. The ID. Polo was officially unveiled on 29 April 2026, and on paper at least, it looks like the affordable electric car the UK market has been waiting for.
This isn’t a refresh or a rebadge. The ID. Polo is an entirely new car built on Volkswagen’s latest MEB+ platform, with front-wheel drive, a completely redesigned interior and a starting price in Europe of €24,995 — which translates to approximately £22,000 in the UK. That puts it squarely up against the Renault 5 E-Tech and positions it as one of the most affordable new electric cars coming to British showrooms.
The Specs
Two battery sizes are available. The entry-level 37kWh version offers a claimed range of around 204 miles and charges at up to 90kW DC. The larger 52kWh model pushes the range up to 280 miles and charges at up to 130kW DC, with a 10-80% top-up taking around 24 minutes. Three power outputs are available at launch — 116PS, 135PS and 211PS — with a hot GTI variant producing 226PS expected to follow in 2027.
Boot space is 441 litres, a significant improvement over the standard petrol Polo’s 351 litres, and the car can tow up to 1,200kg. Vehicle-to-Load is standard across the range, meaning you can use the car’s battery to power external devices — handy for anyone using the car for work as well as commuting.
Buttons Are Back
Perhaps the most talked-about detail in the wider automotive press is the interior. After years of criticism over fiddly touch sliders and haptic controls, VW has listened. The ID. Polo brings back proper physical buttons for climate control, audio and window switches, along with a rotary dial between the front seats and proper steering wheel buttons. There’s a 13-inch central touchscreen and a 10.25-inch digital driver display, but the day-to-day controls you actually reach for most are physical again. It sounds like a small thing until you’ve been frustrated by the alternative.
A fun extra for those who appreciate heritage is a retro display mode on the digital driver cluster, inspired by the dashboards of 1980s VW Golfs. Optional extras include a Harman Kardon sound system, panoramic roof and massaging seats — on a Polo, no less.
What About the UK?
UK pricing hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but figures of around £22,000 for entry-level models are widely expected, with the 52kWh Long Range version sitting higher. UK showroom arrivals are anticipated in the second half of 2026, with pre-orders likely opening soon. The petrol-powered Polo will continue to be sold alongside the ID. Polo for the foreseeable future.
For private hire and Uber drivers keeping an eye on their next vehicle, this one is worth watching closely. At that price point, with that range, a proper boot and physical controls, the ID. Polo could make a very compelling case indeed.
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Sources
World Premiere of the VW ID. Polo — Volkswagen Official Newsroom
VW ID. Polo Revealed: Photos, Details, Specs — Motor1
Volkswagen ID. Polo Price, Specs and Release Date — CarGurus UK
New VW ID. Polo Coming Soon — AutoTrader UK
Volkswagen ID. Polo 2026 — Honest John
Volkswagen ID. Polo Price, Specs and Release Date — Motorpoint
