Volkswagen Unveils ID. Cross, Affordable Electric SUV to Take On China in Compact Segment

Volkswagen has unveiled the ID. Cross, an all-electric compact SUV that the German manufacturer hopes will help it compete more effectively against cheaper Chinese electric vehicles. The car had its world premiere in Wolfsburg on 15 July, with advance bookings opening simultaneously in Germany.

The ID. Cross will be offered with three motor outputs — 85 kW, 99 kW and 155 kW — paired with batteries of 37 kWh or 52 kWh net capacity, giving a claimed WLTP range of up to 427 kilometres. Volkswagen says the smaller battery can be charged from 10 to 80 per cent in around 23 minutes on a fast charger, a figure that matters more to buyers than outright power, since it determines how easily the car fits into everyday routines rather than showroom brochures.

Pricing starts at €27,995 for the base Trend variant, though that version, along with the 99 kW motor, is yet to go on sale. Customers can currently order the Life and Style trims with the 155 kW motor and larger battery, priced from €36,525.

Built on the MEB+ platform — an evolution of Volkswagen's existing electric architecture — the ID. Cross measures 4,153 mm in length and offers 475 litres of boot space, plus a 25-litre front storage compartment. That is a modest but meaningful improvement over the petrol-powered T-Cross, underlining how electric underpinnings are freeing up cabin space even in compact cars.

The car also brings equipment more commonly seen in higher segments: a 12.9-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster with a Mk1 Golf-inspired retro display mode, matrix LED headlamps, and traffic-light recognition as part of its Connected Travel Assist system. Optional extras include a Harman Kardon sound system and massaging front seats — features rarely offered on cars in this price bracket.

Thomas Schäfer, chief executive of the Volkswagen brand, said the ID. Cross combined "technological expertise, clean design, impressive, intricate solutions and genuine all-rounder qualities" at what the company positions as strong value for money.

The launch follows the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI, part of Volkswagen's broader strategy to anchor affordable electric models at the entry point of its range rather than treating EVs as a premium proposition alone. That approach reflects the pressure European manufacturers face from Chinese brands offering electric SUVs at aggressive price points.

Volkswagen delivered more than 4.7 million vehicles globally in 2025, including around 382,000 fully electric models, as it continues to expand its ID. range under its BOOST 2030 strategy.