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2026 Volkswagen ID Cross revealed: small electric SUV offers up to 271 miles of range
New small electric SUV offers plenty of technology and space for a tempting price
On sale Autumn 2026 Price from £26,000 (est)
Popularity is a fickle beast, but if you wanted as much certainty as was possible that your new car was going to be a hit, you'd launch a small SUV. So, in terms of raw ingredients, the new Volkswagen ID Cross is bang on trend.
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It shares most of its out-of-sight components with the smaller Volkswagen ID Polo – a car which has already impressed us in prototype form. However, it wraps those parts in a far more fashionable SUV-shaped body and should deliver the sort of elevated seating so beloved of those with growing families.
The ID Cross needs to be good, though, because it’s launching into a market that has never been more crowded. As well as another of its siblings, the Skoda Epiq, key rivals will include the Kia EV3 and Smart #1. Plus, it will have to tempt people away from cheaper alternatives, such as the Ford Puma Gen-E, Mini Aceman and Renault 4 (R4).
Darren Moss & Eleanor Cooper
Updated: 15 July 2026
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Design-wise, the ID Cross has been toned down only slightly compared with the concept version revealed last year. It keeps that car’s upright stance and joins the ID Polo in receiving a full-width LED light bar across its nose, complete with an illuminated Volkswagen emblem on upper trim levels. A similar light bar features at the rear, while the lower bodysides are clad with black plastic to emphasise the car’s rufty-tufty nature. Drivers can choose from a range of alloy wheels up to 20in in diameter.
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The ID Cross is available with a choice of two batteries, with total capacities of 37kWh and 52kWh. The smaller option offers an official range of up to 196 miles on a full charge, while the larger battery boosts the official range to a far more usable 271 miles. That’s about on par with the Kia EV3 Standard Range and means it should take you farther than any version of the Puma Gen-E and Mini Aceman.
The smaller battery can charge at rates of up to 90kW, while the larger option increases this to 105kW. That means a 10-80% charge could take as little as 24 minutes if you use a suitably powerful public charger. The ID Cross also offers vehicle-to-load charging, so you can use the car’s power to charge other devices.
In terms of power, ID Cross buyers can choose from 114bhp, 133bhp and 208bhp motors, all of which send their power to the front wheels. Unlike the ID Polo, it won’t be offered in sporty GTI form, and despite the SUV styling, there’s currently no prospect of a four-wheel-drive version.
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Inside, the design is similar to that of the ID Polo. The ID Cross gets a 10.25in digital driver’s display behind the steering wheel, a short distance away from a 12.9in central infotainment touchscreen.
We haven’t yet driven the ID Cross, but we did seize the opportunity to sit inside it and were able to put the infotainment system through its paces. We were impressed with the immediacy of its responses and its swish graphics, and we enjoyed playing with some of its more off-the-wall features. These include a ‘retro’ mode that changes the appearance of both displays to resemble something you might have seen in a 1980s VW Golf.
We also took the chance to prod and probe the ID Cross inside, and were impressed by the quality of its materials. In terms of plushness, they feel at least on par with those you’ll find in the EV3 and a cut above those used by the Puma Gen-E.
When it comes to practicality, the ID Cross has a bigger boot than today’s conventionally powered T-Cross. In fact, at 475 litres, it’s bigger than those of the EV3 and Smart #1, in part thanks to a large underfloor storage well. What’s more, like some small electric SUV rivals, the ID Cross augments its main boot with a small (22-litre) storage area under the bonnet; this should be an ideal spot for stashing charging cables.
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As befits its outdoorsy image, the roof of the ID Cross can carry a roof-top tent (thanks to its 75kg maximum roof rack load), effectively turning your car into a miniature campervan. The maximum towing limit, meanwhile, is 1200kg – enough for a small caravan or trailer.
The ID Cross is offered in three trim levels: Trend, Life and Style. Mid-range Life trim brings 18in alloy wheels, two-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control and a reversing camera. Range-topping Style models, meanwhile, bolster the list of standard kit with LED matrix headlights that can shape their beams around oncoming cars, as well as keyless entry and start. If the ID Cross isn’t comprehensively enough equipped off the peg, the long options list includes a premium Harman Kardon sound system, massaging front seats and a panoramic glass roof.
Prices for the ID Cross are expected to start at around £26,000. That’s a sizeable premium over the ID Polo, which is likely to be available for as little as £21,000. So, while styling is objective, it turns out you can put a price on it.
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