Popular hatch gets electric twist

A fresh all-electric hatchback is fast approaching.

The Volkswagen ID. Polo will launch in Europe in March 2026, joining the petrol variants of the hatch in the line-up.

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Later in the year, there will be a sporty GTI variant producing 166kW.

There is a 37kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery in the base 85kW and 99kW variants of the car. It offers DC charging of up to 90kW.

The 166kW variant of the ID. Polo features a 52kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery with a range of up to 450km and DC charging at 130kW.

All ID. Polo variants will get a revamped front-wheel-drive system, which has boosted storage capacity.

It will have significantly more storage in comparison to the standard Polo, with 435 litres of rear seats up boot space and 1243 litres with rear seats down.

It will be underpinned by Volkswagen’s MEB+ platform, found on other VW-specific EVs such as some Audi and Skoda models.

The ID. Polo is shorter than its internal combustion sibling, but it's wider and taller, with a longer wheelbase.

VW recently changed up its Polo internal combustion range by adding a new mid-tier variant in late September.

The Polo battles for sales in the competitive hatch segment, where it has had a tough 2025 with sales almost halving to 845 units compared to this time last year.

The new ID. Polo will be unveiled in March 2026, and it is expected to come to Australia after its global launch.

It will be a rival for the Peugeot e208 and Mini Cooper E, along with hybrid alternatives such as the likely to be cheaper Toyota Yaris.