Polo-sized hatch gets familiar looks and goes big on interior space On sale 2025 Price from £22,000 (est)
George Hill george.hill@haymarket.com
Taking a step forwards sometimes requires you first to take a step backwards, and this is a theory that applies to Volkswagen’s all-new small electric car, the ID 2.
Previewed here by a concept car called the ID 2all, the ID 2 takes a more traditional approach than other ID-badged models such as the futuristic-looking ID 3 family car, with a relatively conventional hatchback design that’s more reminiscent of the familiar shapes of the combustion-engined Polo and Golf.
When it arrives in 2025, the ID 2 will slot in below the ID 3 in Volkswagen’s electric car line-up. It will compete with the likes of the Renault Zoe, Mini Electric and Peugeot e-208.
Using a new, shortened version of the ID 3’s underpinnings, the ID 2 is slightly shorter than today’s Polo, but a significantly longer wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear axles) promises to free up as much interior space as you’d find in a conventionally powered model from the class above.
The ID 2 will be available with two battery options.At the lower end of the spectrum is a 38kWh unit that promises a range of around 220 miles, while a larger, 56kWh battery is expected to allow the ID 2 to cover up to 280 miles between charges.That’s similar to the MG 4, which can officially cover 218 miles in SE form, with the Long Range extending that to 281 miles.
Unlike the ID 3 (which is rear-wheel drive), the ID 2’s electric motor drives the front wheels.Two power options will initially be available: around 180bhp in cars with the smaller battery, and 223bhp for the larger one.The latter model is said to be capable of a sub-7.0sec 0-62mph sprint time, while a hotter GTI model is also planned.
Volkswagen says a 10-80% top-up of the bigger battery will be possible in as little as 20 minutes at the car’s 125kW maximum charging speed.The ID 3 and MG 4 Long Range take a bit longer to go from 10-80%, charging at similar speeds, because they have larger batteries. As with any electric car, charging from a typical 7kW home wallbox will take significantly longer.
Inside, the interior of the concept is fairly minimalist, featuring a head-up display that projects key information onto the windscreen, plus a 10.9in digital instrument panel and a 12.9in infotainment screen.
The ID 2 differs significantly from the ID 3 in having physical controls on the dashboard for adjusting the air temperature and the sound system’s volume; these promise to be much more user-frien
