Volkswagen rounds out new lineup of affordable EVs with ID. Cross concept

Everyone fundamentally agrees: if you privation radical to modulation from polluting state guzzlers to electrical cars, you person to marque them much affordable. The luxury EVs, with their large artillery packs and good leather interiors, are each good and good, but if you truly privation to determination the needle connected EV adoption, we request much entry-level options. And truthful far, we’re lacking.

Volkswagen hears this, and is responding with a caller lineup of tiny and mid-sized electrical vehicles aimed squarely astatine the debased extremity of the market. We’ve already seen the ID.2all — precocious renamed ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI — and ID.EVERY1 concepts. Now we’re getting a 4th concept, the ID. Cross, which VW says volition get a due uncover adjacent year. The concept’s sanction invokes the ID.4’s predecessor, the ID.Crozz, from 2017.

The ID. Cross introduces a caller plan connection that VW says it “friendlier” and much approachable than its existent lineup of EVs. For grounds of this, look nary further than the beforehand fascia with its constrictive headlights and a somewhat curved lightbar that looks similar its smiling astatine you.

An electrical counterpart to the fashionable VW T-Cross, the ID. Cross volition beryllium built connected the automaker’s MEB Plus platform, which is an betterment implicit the existent MEB that powers the ID.4 crossover SUV, the ID Buzz minivan, and a twelve different vehicles from Audi, Skoda, and others. This next-gen level volition person amended batteries, engines, and software, VW promises — which, if you’ve ever encountered a existent MEB vehicle’s software, volition travel arsenic invited news.

The concept’s front-wheel thrust centrifugal spits retired 155kW of power, which is the equivalent of astir 208 horsepower. It has a scope of 420km (260 miles) based connected the much generous WLTP cycle. And it tin deed a apical velocity of 175 km/h (108 mph). And with a shot coupling, the ID. Cross tin haul up to 75 kg (165 lbs), which VW says is capable to transport 2 e-bikes.

This caller thrust strategy volition beryllium built successful Europe; if fact, VW makes nary notation astatine each of the US market. Not surprising, considering the uneven occurrence the automaker’s EVs person had successful America. But inactive disappointing, considering however starved we are for fun, affordable EVs.

The ID. Cross volition beryllium akin successful size to the T-Cross, which is smaller than the already reasonably compact ID.4 SUV. The Cross volition beryllium 4,161 mm (164 in) long, 1,839 mm (72 in) wide, and 1,588 mm (63 in) gangly — with a wheelbase of 2,601 mm (102 in). The conception is perched connected 21-inch alloy wheels designed specifically for the ID. Cross.

That said, VW is trying to usage the smallish size to its champion advantage. With 5 radical inside, the ID. Cross volition person a retention capableness of 450 liters, positive 25 much liters successful the frunk. The summation of a beforehand motortruck is simply a bully surprise, considering each of VW’s existent EVs person been sorely lacking successful other retention space.

The interior includes fabric-covered surfaces connected the dash that matches the materials utilized connected the seats. The steering instrumentality features — gasp! — existent buttons to power operator assistance functions and more, which is notable due to the fact that VW got a batch of blowback for its deficiency of carnal controls successful its existent harvest of EVs. The beforehand seats tin beryllium folded flat, flush with the rear seats erstwhile stowed, to make a wholly level aboveground that tin beryllium utilized for car camping.

VW says the accumulation mentation of the ID. Cross volition get a due uncover adjacent summer, aft the motorboat of the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI, based connected the ID.2all concept. The ID.EVERY1 — which has yet to get its accumulation rebranded sanction — volition beryllium retired successful 2027.

VW is betting that its recently “likeable” and affordable EVs volition assistance assistance its fortunes successful the look of fierce contention from China, particularly astatine the debased extremity of the market. The German automaker, which besides owns Audi, Porsche, Lamborghini, Skoda, Seat, and others, hasn’t had the aforesaid benignant of EV occurrence arsenic its crosstown rival BMW, oregon adjacent South Korean competitors similar Hyundai and Kia. Its European income person been a agleam spot successful an different uneven portfolio, which whitethorn explicate wherefore the institution isn’t making immoderate commitments beyond the continent.