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New Volkswagen ID. Cross Concept Coming Soon: Specs, price and release info

VW’s growing family of small electric cars gets its electric T-Cross equivalent, the ID. Cross Concept

Dan Trent

Words by: Dan Trent

Published on 8 September 2025 | 0 min read

It’s taken a while but mainstream manufacturers are finally catering to demand for smaller, more affordable electric cars. Prime space for a brand like Volkswagen, and it’s finally getting there with confirmation the pending ID.2all will sell as the ID. Polo. This ID. Cross Concept is based on the same foundations and due to sell alongside the existing T-Cross, which it more or less matches in size and purpose.
• Having invested in the electric tech used by the ID.3, ID.4 and equivalent models from the wider VW family this new generation of smaller, more affordable cars is based on a spin-off of the same shared foundations ID. • ID. Cross Concept joins what is effectively a Polo-sized family, starting with the ID.Every1 and progressing through the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI already confirmed • Upright, crossover stance scores fashion points and VW backs it up with claims of lifestyle themed features like a tow hook for a rack for carrying your e-bike around • While it looks like an alternative to the Skoda Elroq the ID. Cross is quite a bit smaller, and potentially cheaper still • ID. Cross Concept puts its 211 horsepower to the road through the front wheels, range provisionally pitched at 260 miles between charges • Pricing to be confirmed but the ID. Cross Concept should be on sale by summer next year

Design and models available

It’s all a bit nudge-nudge, wink-wink but VW maintains this is still a concept for now, while admitting it is “near production” and will be on sale not far behind the others in this budget electric car family. For now we’ll just have to read between the lines of corporate jargon like ‘Pure Positive’ design and the possibly lost-in-translation boast of VW’s ‘secret sauce’ being one of the three conceptual pillars inspiring it. Whether this is related to the currywurst sauce smothering the sausage and chips served in VW’s factory canteens (and now available as a ready meal) is currently unclear.

Interior and tech

Beyond concept car LoLs like the mini greenhouse between the seats containing actual (unspecified) plants the ID. Cross Concept’s near-production reality is reflected in our genuine excitement over how many buttons it has to operate the windows. Bear with us on this, but anyone who’s driven a current ID model will know how annoying the cost-saving multi-purposed window switches are, the two on the driver’s door panel doubling up to operate all four windows. Just seemingly at random, and never the one you actually wanted. No accident, then, VW has included a picture of the controls to show there are now four individual switches for the windows. A five-star review beckons for this feature alone. Likewise the back-tracking from touch (in)sensitive steering wheel controls to actual physical buttons. Seems someone at VW has been listening.

Batteries/range

The platform in existing MEB cars from VW, Cupra, Skoda and Audi is rear-wheel drive by default, with the option for twin-motor all-wheel drive. This MEB+ evolution powering the new junior ID family is front-wheel drive instead, though much of the hardware is related. Numbers include 211 horsepower for starters, and around 260 miles between charges. Enough to be going on with for a car of this size.

Price and release

It’s too early to say how much the ID. Cross Concept will cost yet, and VW will likely be watching how the sector evolves before committing to any numbers. But affordability is critical. Sales are due to start after the ID. Polo, VW saying summer 2026 at the earliest.

What other cars from Volkswagen are due this year?

2026 looks to be a busy year for VW, the ID. Cross Concept joining the ID. Polo, ID. Polo GTI and whatever production ID.Every1 is called. Given VW has committed to reintroducing badges from previous combustion-engined models we’ll place a bet it’ll revive the Up! name for the electric era but check back to see if we called that right!

What other cars that are upcoming will this compete with?

Expect lots more rivals to join this growing affordable electric car class, the ID. Cross Concept going up against existing contenders like the Jeep Avenger and others in the wider Stellantis family to name just a few. We’d also include the Volvo EX30 and related Smart #1 among them, but there are plenty of others coming too.