Volkswagen ID.Polo wins 2027 GCOTY Title, Mercedes-Benz GLC is First Runner-Up

The electric ID.Polo offers up to 454 km of range and practical space, with 25,000 orders placed within weeks of launch.

By Siddharth Vinayak Patankar

Last updated: November 3, 2026 | 3 min read

The Volkswagen ID.Polo has won the 2027 German Car of the Year award, narrowly beating the Mercedes-Benz GLC.

After a detailed and intensive evaluation of the 5 category or class winners in September, the Volkswagen ID.Polo has won the 2027 German Car of the Year or GCOTY. It is the ninth car to win this prestigious award, and third VW (ID.7 in 2024, ID.Buzz in 2023). The competition – though tough each year – was a bit tougher this time around. The Mercedes-Benz GLC – in particular was a fierce rival and ended up as a close first runner-up. The VW ID.Polo – the small entry electric hatchback – had previously won the ‘Budget’ class at the 2027 awards. The GLC had won the Premium class, while the other category winners were the Kia PV5 (Compact class), Hyundai IONIQ 6 N (Performance class), and Xpeng X9 (Luxury class). Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said, "The ID. Polo brings electric mobility to where it can make the greatest impact: right into people’s everyday lives. Winning the German Car of the Year Award demonstrates that high quality and innovative technology are not a question of vehicle class. My thanks go to the jury and our outstanding team. With the ID. Polo, we are redefining the benchmark for electric small cars."

Being a part of the GCOTY jury I have had the chance to test the ID.Polo (as also the GT version) quite comprehensively. The car is priced from €24,995 in Germany and is VW’s all-electric successor to the conventional Polo, built on the new MEB+ platform with front-wheel drive (which it shares with the Cupra Raval, Volkswagen ID. Cross and Skoda Epiq). It offers two battery options: The entry level has a 37 kWh LFP battery with up to 334 kms WLTP range, available with 114/ 133 bhp outputs. There is also a larger 52 kWh NMC battery with up to 454 kms range, paired with a 208 bhp motor. A 223 bhp ID. Polo GTI is due to follow soon. DC fast charging is standard, at up to 90 kW with the smaller battery and 105 kW with the larger one.

The cabin combines a 10-inch digital instrument display, 13-inch infotainment screen, physical controls and a practical 441-litre boot. Its key USP is offering more interior space and everyday usability than its compact dimensions suggest, along with a familiar, user-friendly experience at a relatively accessible EV price. Early reception for the car has been strong, while initial demand has been encouraging. Volkswagen reported 25,000 ID. Polo orders within the first few weeks of its new electric urban-car family’s launch, although German registrations were still modest by the end of September as production ramped up.

The GCOTY jury also recognised outstanding individual attributes across all classes with some new categories this year. The Geely E2 won for best Value, the Renault Twingo for best Exterior Design, the BMW iX3 for best Interior Design and infotainment, the Porsche 911 Turbo S for best Powertrain, and the Škoda Peaq as Family Car of the Year. These category winners however do not qualify as finalists for overall GCOTY. Klaus Zellmer was named Automotive Person of the Year 2027 in recognition of his achievements. The independent jury consists of 47 German and international automotive journalists. Hildegard Müller, President of the German Auto Industry Association (VDA) said. “The award has become one of the most important independent honours in the automotive world, and it owes this standing above all to one thing: its openness to different perspectives." The GCOTY Awards are supported by Aitastic, AvD, AutoCom Associates, Bridgestone, Gentex, KST Motorenversuch, Ronal and ZF.

About the author

Siddharth Vinayak Patankar

Siddharth is one of the best-known faces of Indian journalism. He has set up a new media entity at Acko Tech, with the Acko Drive channel as its first platform. It focuses on bringing consumers content relevant to them from the automobile industry. Siddharth began his career as a news journalist and features producer at the prolific NDTV network. He spent many years reporting from the field from around the world, and also was one of the country's top primetime news anchors for several years. As the anchor and editor of the country's most-watched and longest-running automobile based programme - The Car and Bike Show, on the NDTV network, Siddharth helped evolve a new niche of auto-based viewing and programming for Indian television and on the Internet. He is a well-respected name, not just as an automobile journalist, but also as a former financial correspondent who specialises in the automobile industry. He also conceived and began the annual carandbike Awards, and now subsequently the Acko Drive Awards, which hold the reputation of being the most non-controversial and sought-after awards for the Indian auto industry. In 2014 Siddharth helped create the digital automobile entity carandbike which now commands a massive traffic of 22 million visitors per month, and leads all digital automobile media in India on content. He routinely travels to all parts of the world to test new cars and cover the latest in automobile design and technology. When he gets the time, he loves to cook and try new food! Siddharth holds a Master of Science degree in Communication Studies from the prestigious Pune University. He has also studied in Australia and the United States. He has represented India on the World Car jury since 2011 and has served as Director - the first Asian to hold the post - since 2014. He also became the first Asian to be Vice Chair (2021-23), and now Chair (2024-present).