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The new Volkswagen ID. Cross – the electric T-Cross that brings back real buttons

Small SUV, big ideas – buttons are making a comeback.

Volkswagen ID. Cross
Photo: Volkswagen

The Volkswagen ID. Cross is a near-series “electric T-Cross” on the new MEB+ platform. It promises 155 kW (211 PS/208 hp), up to 420 km WLTP (261 mi), 175 km/h (109 mph) and surprisingly plenty of space (450 l of boot space + 25 l in the front). Real buttons, simple ergonomics and materials that are more living room than laboratory are back in the spotlight.

Volkswagen has found it again Volkswagen ID. Cross It's like that friend who finally stopped wearing jeans that are too tight - less poser, more functional, and with buttons that click. Compact exterior, spacious interior, and just the right amount of German seriousness, seasoned with good taste.

Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Volkswagen ID. Cross
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen

Design: Pure Positive – less screaming, more Volkswagen

Volkswagen ID. Cross showcases new design philosophy “Pure Positive”: clean lines, stable surfaces, a friendly face with a 3D light signature and an upright window line that nods to the Golf and the “bus.” It’s a deliberate break from “too much of everything,” with much more visual stability. Volkswagen with it, it announces the direction of all its new models.

The show car sits on 21-inch rims with 235/40 R21 tires, where the rim design continues into the sidewall (a symbolic “why not, because you can” moment). Expect more down-to-earth dimensions in the series. Dimensions? 4,161 mm long (164 in), 1,839 mm wide (72.4 in), 1,588 mm high (62.5 in) and 2,601 mm wheelbase (102.4 in) – in short, size T-Cross, with a longer wheelbase and more interior usability.

Space: small outside, large inside

The trunk of the Volkswagen ID. Cross is burning in the back 450 liters (≈ 15.9 ft³), there is still under the nose 25 liters (≈ 0.9 ft³). Folding the seats? The concept folds them down to create a lounger – a trick that this mini-SUV aims to lounge feeling, not on laboratory sterility. The load hook carries 75 kg (≈ 165 lb) vertical load – enough to carry two e-bikes – and towing up to 1,200 kg (≈ 2,646 lb, braked, 8 percent grade).

Interior: real buttons, goodbye “piano polish”

The cabin is a small revolution of common sense: soft fabrics, a “Vanilla Chai” ambiance, and details that make the car feel alive – yes, even with real plants in the floating center console. The return of ergonomics? 13-inch central screen and 11-inch digital meters, and in addition to them physical buttons and rotary controls for key functions (air conditioning, volume). Auto journalists patted the switches with relief and said: “That's it.”

Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen

“Clear operability with buttons and more intuitive menus is returning in the ID. Cross and in upcoming VWs” – this is not nostalgia, but a response to real customer feedback. Volkswagen ID. Cross is a near-series “electric T‑Cross” on a new platform MEB+. Promises 155 kW (211 PS/208 hp), up to 420 km WLTP (261 mi), 175 km/h (109 mph) and surprisingly large space (450 l of boot space + 25 l in the front). They are returning to the forefront real buttons, simple ergonomics and materials that are more living room than laboratory.

Drive and charging: MEB+ and opinion on reality

Technically it is ID. Cross front-wheel drive (FWD) and uses a new evolution MEB+. He develops an electric motor 155 kW (211 PS/208 hp), the factory predicted range is up to 420 km WLTP (261 mi), final speed 175 km/h (109 mph)This is not a super-GT, but it is a realistic urban-suburban multi-tasker.

Charging? Concept shows 11 kW AC and there is talk about DC 10–80 % in ~20–25 min (depending on the battery and charger). The game is two batteries (smaller for urban use, larger for weekend getaways); these are also pre-production information from the prototype, but consistent with the direction VW is indicating for small IDs.

Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen

Strategy: from ID.2all to ID. Polo, from concept to Cross

Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen

The Volkswagen ID. Cross is part of the “entry-level” electric four-wheel drive: ID. Polo, ID. Polo GTI, ID. Every1 and ID. Cross. Serial ID. Cross has a world premiere scheduled for summer 2026, ID. Polo is coming in the first half of 2026. With this, VW is addressing Europe more clearly: more synergies within the group, more technologies from higher classes and – crucially – better accessibility.

At the same time, Volkswagen is abandoning “bare” numbering and returning to legendary names (Polo, GTI) that associate them with the ID world. This is not just nostalgia, but a recognition strategy for the next generation of EVs.

Technical data (summary): Volkswagen ID. Cross

  • Drive: front-wheel drive MEB+; 155 kW (211 PS/208 hp)
  • Battery/Charging: pre-production: 11 kW AC, DC 10–80 % ~20–25 min (source: test/prototype)
  • Reach: to 420 km WLTP (261 mi); Vmax 175 km/h (109 mph)
  • Dimensions: 4,161 mm (164 in) × 1,839 mm (72.4 in) × 1,588 mm (62.5 inches); wheelbase 2,601 mm (102.4 in)
  • Trunk: 450 liters + 25 l frunk; towing capacity 1,200 kg, Ball load capacity 75 kg (2 e-bikes)
    (according to the technical table; see page 3 VW press material).

Price and positioning

VW is (for now) diplomatically reticent about the official prices of the production model, but the framework of industry signals is clear: entry at ~28,000–30,000 €, and higher spec models offer significantly more. This puts the ID. Cross in the “sweet spot” of urban and suburban EV‑SUVs – with a strong focus on usability, not pyrotechnics.

Evaluators evaluate estimates that richer versions with a larger battery and equipment will reach against 38–40 thousand euros – a typical market reality where leasing and subsidies strongly determine the monthly installment.


Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen
Photo: Volkswagen

Conclusion: Volkswagen ID. Cross

Volkswagen ID. Cross is exactly like that Volkswagen, which the brand has long wanted – and so have its customers. Its design is calm and confident, like the T-Cross, which has ditched the shiny “piano lacquer” and adopted fabrics and warmth. In the cabin, real buttons return as heroes of usability, and infotainment (finally) does not force you into digital asceticism. Technically you get 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) and up to 420 km WLTP, with enough liveliness for everyday life and enough reserve for the highway at up to 175 km/h – without illusions that this is a marathon runner for 1,000 km without stopping. The trunk is 450 liters, frunk adds 25 liters, towing capacity 1,200 kg proves that a “small” SUV can also works. The timeline is clear (series premiere in summer 2026), the naming strategy again speaks in a language that Europeans understand, and the price promises sober accessibility – especially with leasing. If this ID. Cross is a model for new VWs, then the answer is simple: yes, this is again a Volkswagen that you can understand and use, not just admire.

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