- The Volkswagen ID. Polo brings back proper buttons.
- That’s a welcome change compared to the outgoing ID-branded EVs.
- There’s a row of buttons under the central touchscreen, physical controls for all of the windows, and dedicated buttons for volume and track adjustment.
Buttons are back in fashion at Volkswagen, and it all starts with the new ID. Polo subcompact electric car, which will go on sale in Europe in April and is expected to start from less than $30,000 (€25,000).
It’s probably Volkswagen’s most important car due out in the near future, and the company has put a lot of effort into creating an affordable electric vehicle that can stand up to the growing threat of Chinese-made newcomers while also wearing a “Made in Europe” badge of honor.
Now, the German automaker has taken the wraps off the interior of the new ID. Polo, and there’s quite a bit to unpack here. Let’s talk screens first. There’s a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, as well as a 13-inch touchscreen in the middle of the dashboard. On certain trim levels, these two screens can be set up to look like the retro gauges of the first-generation Golf hatchback, which adds a bit of retro to the mix.
Under the touchscreen, there’s a row of buttons for the climate control system, including for the fan speed, temperature control and hazard lights. The 13-inch screen also has a fixed button bar to access functions like the heated seats and fine-tune climate settings.
Moving to the steering wheel, the Volkswagen ID. Polo has a wealth of physical controls for cruise control, volume, track selection and various vehicle settings. There’s also a set of buttons on the center console for volume and track selection.
Best of all, the infuriating two-step window control panel on the driver’s door, which has been a staple of Volkswagen’s EV interiors, is out of the picture. In its place, a traditional, four-button setup has been integrated, which means drivers no longer need to press the “Rear” button to control the rear windows.
For what it’s worth, the German car maker admitted it made a mistake when it embarked on a button-removing spree for its EVs, and said that it would bring physical controls back. Now, Volkswagen is following through, and I’m all for it.
Based on the new MEB+ platform, the front-wheel drive ID. Polo is roughly the same size as the gas-powered Polo, but Volkswagen says it’s significantly roomier inside, thanks to the packaging advantages of an electric powertrain. The city EV offers more headroom and more cargo space than its gas-powered counterpart, making it a reliable one-car solution for those living in urban areas.
The new ID. Polo is also big on sustainability, with all the textiles in the seats, doors and the upper side of the headliner and carpets being made entirely from recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic that’s usually sourced from PET bottles. What’s more, the seats in the top-spec model are covered in a fabric made from Seaqual yarn, a raw material that’s made from recycled ocean plastic.
Gallery: Volkswagen ID. Polo Interior
Volkswagen claims its entry-level EV has an inviting and friendly atmosphere inside. The dash panel and door cards are covered in fabric, there’s an electric sunshade for the huge panoramic glass roof, and the controls and surfaces are high quality, according to the automaker.
We still don’t know exactly what the new Volkswagen ID. Polo will look like in its final form, as the company hasn’t taken the camouflage off yet, but it’s safe to assume that the finished product will be very similar to the ID. 2all concept from 2023. The car will be built in Spain at Seat and Cupra’s Martorell plant, while the cell-to-pack batteries will be supplied by Volkswagen Group’s PowerCo subsidiary.
The ID. Polo will start from less than $30,000 (€25,000) in many markets, but it’s worth noting that the base-spec model will not go on sale when the car hits the market in April. Instead, it will reach dealerships later in 2026, after the more expensive variants have had a chance to prove themselves in the spotlight.
