Karmactive Team
Volkswagen has taken the wraps off its new ID.CROSS concept at the IAA Mobility 2025 show in Munich, revealing a compact electric SUV aimed at making battery-powered vehicles more affordable for European consumers. Set for production in summer 2026, the ID.CROSS will be priced between €28,000 and €30,000 ($32,780 and $35,121), positioning it as VW’s answer to rising competition from Chinese manufacturers.
The ID.CROSS represents Volkswagen’s growing push into affordable electric vehicles, joining a planned lineup that includes the ID.Polo, ID.Polo GTI, and ID.EVERY1 city car. All four models will be launched from 2026 onward, with the ID.Polo scheduled for the first half of 2026, followed by the ID.CROSS in summer 2026.
“From the very beginning, my goal was to shape the best version of the Volkswagen brand of all time,” said Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand. “The near-production concept car of the future ID.CROSS demonstrates that we are now truly delivering – with a new design, many technologies only seen in higher classes previously, improved operability and quality – and, at last, again the ‘right’ name.”
The ID.CROSS is comparable in size to VW’s current T-Cross, measuring 4,161 mm long, 1,839 mm wide, and 1,588 mm tall, with a 2,601 mm wheelbase. Despite these compact dimensions, Volkswagen claims the five-seater offers generous interior space with a 450-liter boot and an additional 25-liter storage compartment under the hood.
Technically, the ID.CROSS is built on VW’s MEB+ platform – an evolution of their existing electric vehicle architecture. Kai Grünitz, Board Member for Development, explained: “The MEB is getting a new software generation from next year, which brings a noticeable functional enhancement of many systems for our customers. This further development brings functions to vehicles from higher vehicle segments, such as the further developed Travel Assist.”
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The concept features a front-wheel-drive setup with a 155 kW (211 PS) electric motor and targets a WLTP range of up to 420 kilometers on a single charge. It can reach a top speed of 175 km/h and is capable of towing up to 1,200 kg (braked, on an 8% gradient) with a 75 kg drawbar load – enough to transport two e-bikes.
Volkswagen’s Head of Design Andreas Mindt describes the styling approach as “Pure Positive,” explaining that it “is based on our three design cornerstones of stability, likeability and secret sauce.” The ID.CROSS features deliberate nods to Volkswagen icons like the Golf and VW Bus, particularly in the C-pillars and straight window line. The concept is shown in “Urban Jungle” green with specially designed 21-inch “Balboa” wheels wearing Goodyear 235/40 R21 tires.
Inside, the ID.CROSS offers what VW calls a “lounge-style ambience” with fabric-covered surfaces and seats that can be completely folded down to create a reclining area reminiscent of a VW Bus. The cockpit features an 11-inch digital instrument cluster and a 13-inch central touchscreen, with Volkswagen promising improved ergonomics and intuitive operation through a combination of displays, voice control, and physical buttons.
The ID.CROSS will directly compete with upcoming electric models like the Renault 4 E-Tech and Ford Puma Gen-E. Volkswagen states it is the largest supplier of electric cars in Germany and Europe in 2025, and the near-production ID.CROSS concept is part of a broader strategy across the Brand Group Core (which includes SEAT, CUPRA, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles) to leverage economies of scale for creating attractive, affordable sedan vehicles.
For practical-minded consumers, the ID.CROSS aims to be as comfortable in city traffic as on longer journeys, with Volkswagen positioning it as an all-rounder suitable for families while maintaining ease of parking and maneuverability thanks to its compact footprint.
