VW Promised a €25k ID. Polo, but You May Have to Wait Some Time to Experience It | Carscoops

      The electric hatchback is set to debut in 2026, but early models are likely to be priced closer to €30,000, according to one report.

      Volkswagen has transformed its Polo into the electric ID. Polo for 2026.

      While the company aimed for a starting price of €25,000, the initial vehicles will be significantly more expensive.

      The higher prices for the early versions are attributed to larger batteries and increased power.

      Volkswagen wants to convey that it is making electric vehicles more accessible. The ID.Polo, which is expected to hit the market in 2026, is meant to exemplify this with a stated starting price of €25,000 ($29,400/£21,800). However, the reality is that this price may not be attainable when ordering begins.

      Sources from dealerships who spoke to German media indicate that customers will be able to customize the ID.Polo starting in April 2026, which appears to be on track.

      However, initially, only the higher-powered 208 hp (155 kW / 211 PS) variant, equipped with a larger 52 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt battery, will be available. This version is projected to be priced significantly above €25,000, with estimates suggesting it could reach around €30,000 ($35,300/£26,100) or higher, based on options and regional taxes.

      The root of this pricing issue is battery availability. The more affordable 114 hp (85 kW / 116 PS) entry-level model, along with the 133 hp (99 kW / 135 PS) mid-tier option, utilizes a simpler and less expensive 37 kWh battery, which offers a shorter range but makes the pricing feasible. However, this battery will not be available for the launch, according to Germany’s Handelsblatt.

      Volkswagen has acknowledged that the base model will arrive later, attributing the delay to the late availability of the lower-cost batteries rather than any change in pricing strategy.

      As for the timing, Volkswagen officially states that the delay will be only a few weeks. However, dealers are more pessimistic, with some estimating it could take six months or even longer for the budget model to be available for order. "The longest timeframe we've heard is that it could take up to six or even nine months before the smaller battery is ready," one dealer shared with the news outlet.

      This lag is significant because a substantial part of the ID.Polo's marketing has centered around the €25,000 figure, excluding the soon-to-be-released GTI version, which will be the first electric VW model to carry that designation.

      This strategy is not uncommon; automakers frequently release higher-margin versions first to recover costs, manage supply, and entice dedicated fans eager to be the first to own a new model, even at a premium price.

      However, Handelsblatt notes that the difference here lies in expectations. Volkswagen has positioned the ID.Polo as a significant cultural and political achievement—an electric vehicle for the masses that finally makes owning an EV feel both normal and affordable.

      When this more affordable version is not immediately accessible, disappointment is bound to arise, despite the business rationale supporting the approach.