Production-ready images of the Volkswagen ID Polo EV have been leaked online.
The ID Polo rides on Volkswagen's new MEB+ platform with two battery options, 37 kWh LFP and 52 kWh NMC, the latter delivering a claimed range of up to 450 km, alongside a 166 kW GTI variant arriving later in the year.
Volkswagen is bringing back one of its most recognisable nameplates, and this time it arrives without a combustion engine. The ID Polo is headed for the European market in spring 2026, with pre-sales scheduled to begin in April. Ahead of the official debut, production-ready images surfaced online, offering the clearest look yet at the finished car.
What is immediately apparent is how familiar the ID Polo feels. Volkswagen has described the ID Polo as the first model to feature the new Pure Positive design language developed by Head of Design Andreas Mindt, with the brand focusing on familiar strengths including intuitive operation, functionality, quality, and affordability. The result is a car that looks and feels like a natural continuation of the Polo lineage rather than a departure from it.
A Design That Honours the Original Without Playing It Safe
The production body is faithful to what Volkswagen previewed with its ID. 2all concept. Up front, the car features wraparound headlamps with top-mounted LED daytime running lights, a sealed grille, and a slatted bumper. The side profile carries circular wheel arches, conventional front door handles, C-pillar-mounted rear door handles, blacked-out B-pillars, and a gently sloping roofline, all of which were present on the leaked production car. The charging port sits on the right-hand side, just above the front fender.
In terms of dimensions, the ID Polo measures 4,053 mm in length, 1,816 mm in width, and 1,530 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,600 mm. Despite being similar in exterior size to the previous generation Polo, the electric model offers an additional 19 mm of interior length and a luggage compartment that has grown by 24 per cent, from 351 to 435 litres.
The GTI Badge Goes Electric for the First Time
The leaked images also confirm a GTI variant, and it carries considerable visual distinction. It gets an illuminated Volkswagen logo, vertically stacked LED daytime running lights in addition to the top-mounted units, a honeycomb-style bumper with red accents, and exclusive GTI badging.
The ID Polo GTI will produce 166 kW and 226 hp, though this model is expected to follow later in the year rather than at the initial spring launch. It will be the first electric GTI in Volkswagen's history.
Four Power Outputs, Two Batteries, and a Range Worth Talking About
At its spring 2026 debut, the ID Polo will be available in three power outputs: 85 kW, 99 kW, and 155 kW.
The 85 kW and 99 kW versions will come paired with a 37 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery, which supports DC rapid charging at up to 90 kW.
The 155 kW and GTI versions will use a 52 kWh nickel manganese cobalt battery, enabling a claimed range of up to 450 km and DC charging at up to 130 kW.
The LFP battery charges from 10 to 80 per cent in approximately 27 minutes on a fast charger. All variants are front-wheel drive.
An Interior That Mixes Modern Technology with Tactile Controls
Inside, Volkswagen has taken a measured approach to the cabin. The digital cockpit consists of a 10.25-inch driver display and a 13-inch central touchscreen for infotainment, with Volkswagen noting that every detail of the interior has been completely revamped around an ergonomic interplay of digital and physical controls.
Physical rotary dials handle volume and radio control, while the steering wheel carries buttons for media and driver assistance functions. A retro display theme inspired by the original Golf Mk1 is available, bringing analogue-style dials and a tape deck-style interface to the cockpit.
Volkswagen has not yet confirmed whether all four drivetrain variants will be available at the start of pre-sales in April 2026, with it being likely that only select versions will be offered initially.
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