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Used electric cars are selling faster than petrol and hybrid models
Volkswagen ID Polo arrives with £22,445 price and 282-mile range
Volkswagen has launched the production version of its ID Polo electric supermini, priced from £22,445 and offering a class-leading 282-mile range as it takes on the Renault 5.
By George Kensington · 4 min read
Volkswagen has unveiled the finished production version of its ID Polo electric supermini, positioning it as a practical, affordable and fun-to-drive rival to the Renault 5. The car starts at £22,445 including the Electric Car Grant, undercutting several competitors while delivering what the company describes as a class-leading 282-mile range on a single charge.
The ID Polo is the first Volkswagen electric model to adopt the new MEB+ platform, which it shares with the Cupra Raval. Despite the shared underpinnings, engineers in Wolfsburg have given the Polo its own suspension tuning, aiming for a distinct driving character that separates it from its Spanish-built sibling. The interior also marks a departure from recent Volkswagen electric models, featuring a more analogue layout that prioritises physical controls over touchscreen dependence.
This shift represents a strategic change for Volkswagen's electric vehicle line-up. The company has faced criticism in recent years over the usability of its fully digital cockpits, and the ID Polo's revised cabin suggests a response to that feedback. The new interior approach is intended to make the car more intuitive for everyday drivers while retaining the modern technology buyers expect from an electric vehicle.
The ID Polo enters a rapidly expanding segment of the European market, where the Renault 5 has become a sales phenomenon. Volkswagen's pricing strategy places the ID Polo directly against the French model, with the 282-mile range giving it a technical advantage on paper. The company is betting that a combination of range, price and driving dynamics will convince buyers who have so far hesitated to switch to electric power.
Early assessments of pre-production prototypes were positive, with testers noting the car's balanced ride and responsive steering. The production version is expected to build on those foundations, with the Wolfsburg-specific suspension set-up refined further during the final development phase. Volkswagen has not yet confirmed full specifications for all trim levels, but the entry price includes the grant, making the ID Polo one of the more accessible electric cars in its class.
The launch comes at a critical time for Volkswagen, which is working to defend its position as Europe's largest carmaker amid intensifying competition from Chinese manufacturers and legacy rivals alike. The ID Polo is seen as a volume model that could help the company meet tightening emissions regulations while maintaining profitability in the small car segment, where margins are traditionally thin.
Deliveries are expected to begin in the coming months, with the first customer cars reaching UK showrooms before the end of the year. Volkswagen has not yet published the full option list or performance figures for every variant, but the standard model's combination of price and range is likely to make it a strong contender in the electric supermini category.
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