Electric, compact, up to 454 km of range and a (nearly) family-sized boot: the battery-powered ID. Polo doesn't so much revolutionise as reassure.
Let's start with one thing: the new ID. Polo doesn't try to wow at all costs. Not with its design. Not with a tidy, well-made cabin (where many physical controls have made a comeback), which is very spacious relative to the car's external dimensions. Let's say that after years of electric cars that were somewhat "philosophical" (and not always well received by the public…), with the ID. Polo, Volkswagen is positioning itself as one of the leading players in the European race for affordable, city-friendly electric mobility. True, the Wolfsburg manufacturer comes after another urban electric car, the Renault 5, but with the ID. Polo it seems to have (re)found the right direction on the electric car.
First, the facts. The ID. Polo is the seventh generation of Volkswagen's most popular model, but everything changes beneath the bodywork: no combustion engine, no revolutionary platforms. Instead, it features the latest evolution of the MEB+ platform, front-wheel drive, and the same technical underpinnings as its cousin, the Cupra Raval. Developed and built in Spain, the ID. Polo is 4 metres long (4,053 mm to be precise): one of the most generous in its segment. We're talking about a compact city car, a so-called B-segment vehicle, a category that grew in Italy in October by 16.9 per cent, with electric cars still holding just 6.1 per cent of the market (data from Unrae). The step forward is immediately apparent when you climb aboard, with a cabin that is more spacious than the petrol-powered Polo, which remains in the line-up.
As mentioned, the ID. Polo is an electric car that at first glance doesn't dazzle — it reassures: it's a five-door with a traditional design and no particular stylistic flourishes. There is, of course, a light bar between the headlights, an illuminated VW logo, and carefully considered aerodynamics in the interest of efficiency (Cx 0.264). The heart of the ID. Polo is a permanent-magnet synchronous electric motor: lightweight (weighing just 75 kg), available in three power outputs (85, 99 and 155 kW), with a top speed limited to 160 km/h.
There are two battery options, both integrated beneath the floor: an LFP unit of 37 kWh, cheaper and more robust, and an NMC unit of 52 kWh. Translated into "old-fashioned" horsepower, there are three versions: 116 hp (with a declared range of 323 km), 135 hp with 331 km of range, and, at the top of the range, the 211 hp version with up to 454 km of range (the model we put to the test in our test drive).
On paper, the 155 kW version is the one to go for (even if it won't be the best-seller according to sales projections): a weekend-proof electric range of 454 declared kilometres, front-wheel drive, and rapid charging from 10 to 80 per cent in around 24 minutes at up to 105 kW, while on alternating current it reaches 11 kW. Among the most useful extras are the heat pump and the 3.6 kW socket, which turns the car into a power bank capable of charging an e-bike.
Whichever version you choose, once inside — setting aside the silence — the ID. Polo feels surprisingly familiar; not a shortcoming, quite the opposite: anyone coming from a petrol Polo would feel right at home. If anything, comfort would be the real surprise. The ride is soft and very comfortable. The sound insulation is impressive for the category. Naturally, some vibration from rougher roads does make its way into the cabin, but nothing that undermines that sense of driving serenity typical of an electric car.
What pleasantly strikes you when climbing into the ID. Polo is opening the door and finding controls where you'd expect them. Gone are the impractical sliders that were heavily criticised on some recent VW models; here, in what amounts to a sort of "back to the future" moment, there is a convenient row of physical buttons for adjusting the climate control, a handy knob on the centre console for adjusting the radio volume, and four easy-to-use window switches on the driver's door. In short, a rethink of the ergonomics that certainly aids practicality.
To be clear, technology is very much present in the ID. Polo, but it remains intuitive: a 10-inch digital instrument cluster, a 13-inch infotainment screen, simple menus, legible graphics, and even an artificial intelligence-based assistant if you want one. And for those who want to rediscover the habits of the past even in an electric car, pressing the View button on the steering wheel transforms the digital instrument display into the dashboard of an old Volkswagen Golf, complete with a classic speedometer on the left and a "rev counter" on the right that is in fact a powermeter. A design that harks back to the Seventies and Eighties; for many it may be something of an affectation, but especially for those who are no longer in their youth, it puts you in a good mood.
Before moving on to the driving dynamics chapter, the ID. Polo surprises with its interior space: in the back there is room for knees, feet and head even for taller passengers; the flat floor with no central tunnel means you can travel with five people comfortably. But the real surprise is the boot: 441 litres represents 25 per cent more than the petrol Polo (and over 100 litres more than the rival Renault 5), with an almost perfectly flat loading sill and a generous double floor. For bulky loads, the rear seats can of course be folded down.
Grey and black are the dominant colours; the well-made seats are upholstered in fabric, with door panels, the upper section of the headliner and floor mats made from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a synthetic material derived mainly from PET bottles; for the seats, a fabric variant is available made from plastics collected from the sea and then recycled. Overall, a level of quality that convinces, despite a few too many hard plastics. Among the highlighted optional extras are seats with lumbar massage and memory function, a 425-watt Harman Kardon sound system and a panoramic roof that increases light in the interior.
Now let's come to the road test. To be clear, you shouldn't expect spine-tingling acceleration from the ID. Polo — but, to be honest, you don't really feel the need for it either. In the 155 kW version we drove, there's no shortage of punch for safe overtaking, especially in Sport mode. The steering is more enjoyable than that of many electric rivals, the brakes progressive and "natural," very similar to those of a combustion-engined car.
The "one pedal" effect on the ID. Polo is achieved with a flick of the selector lever into position B: in the city it's a small blessing and almost eliminates the use of the brakes (in favour of energy regeneration). Those who prefer can leave everything to Eco assistance, which adapts energy regeneration to traffic, speed limits and type of route. Steering wheel paddles for adjusting energy recovery are absent, but that's not so important on a city car like this.
The driver assistance systems work very well; they act on the steering and brakes, recognise traffic lights and road signs without ever being intrusive. The lane-keeping system and speed limit warning are equally discreet and never intervene in an invasive way with annoying alerts, as happens on many electric cars; for this reason there's no risk of switching them off (a serious mistake!).
Let's turn to the most relevant subject for an electric car: range. The declared figure for the version we tested (the most powerful in the range, with 52 kWh) looks promising — 454 kilometres for an electric city car is not bad at all. Yes, but in the real world? After a day on mixed routes combining urban and out-of-town stretches, the on-board computer showed a consumption of around 14.8 kWh/100 km: which translates to a real-world range of around 345 kilometres — enough even for weekend trips. An interesting result for an electric car designed primarily for the city and daily commuting, though one that drops noticeably when travelling exclusively on motorways, as we have explained on many occasions. The charging speed figure is also good: with a maximum output of 105 kW, the ID. Polo is among the best in its class.
