Volkswagen debuts ID. CROSS Concept EV SUV with 420 km range and front-wheel drive.
MEB+ platform designed for affordable, high-tech electric vehicles for Europe’s compact car segment.
ID. CROSS part of Volkswagen’s four-model EV rollout starting in 2026 across Europe.
Volkswagen has presented the ID. CROSS Concept, a very handsome compact all-electric SUV, at the IAA MOBILITY show in Munich. The concept previews a production model due next year and is part of VW’s initiative to expand the brand’s EV lineup in the small and compact segments.
Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept | Photo: VolkswagenThe ID. CROSS Concept is the fourth in a series of affordable EVs Volkswagen plans to launch in Europe. These include the ID.2 all (ID. Polo), the ID. GTI Concept (ID. Polo GTI), the ID. EVERY1, and the ID. CROSS. The company confirmed that production models based on these concepts will begin arriving from 2026, with the ID. CROSS’s production version scheduled for a summer 2026 premiere.
For the time being, none are expected to land on our shores.
All four models are part of the Brand Group Core strategy, which includes Volkswagen, SEAT & CUPRA, ŠKODA, and Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles. The platform-sharing campaign optimizes development and production costs while enabling the introduction of lower-priced electric vehicles in the European market.
Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept | Photo: VolkswagenBuilt on the MEB+ electric architecture, the ID. CROSS Concept uses a front-wheel drive system powered by a 155 kW (208 hp) motor. The concept SUV offers a projected WLTP range of up to 420 kilometres (approx. 294 km EPA) and a top speed of 175 km/h. A new software generation is planned for MEB+ vehicles starting in 2026, which will include features typically reserved for higher vehicle classes, such as an advanced Travel Assist function.
Design-wise, the ID. CROSS Concept follows Volkswagen’s new “Pure Positive” design philosophy. Also, it looks really good – better that the still attractive Volvo EX30. Its exterior dimensions break down as follows: 4,161 mm in length, 1,839 mm in width, and 1,588 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2,601 mm. The vehicle debuts 21-inch “Balboa” alloy wheels and custom-designed 235/40 R21 Goodyear tyres.
Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept | Photo: VolkswagenThe concept’s interior is about comfort and sustainability, incorporating fabric-covered surfaces, plant elements, and configurable ambient settings – most of which won’t make it to production. It offers a cargo volume of 450 litres in the rear and an additional 25 litres in the front storage compartment. The interior is designed to provide a lounge-like atmosphere, with seats that can be fully folded to create a reclining area.
The ID. CROSS Concept includes a redesigned cockpit with two digital displays positioned along a single visual axis. A multifunction steering wheel with tactile controls complements the infotainment system, which features a 13-inch central touchscreen and 11-inch digital instrument display.
Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept | Photo: VolkswagenThe vehicle also includes practical utility features, such as a 75 kg drawbar load for transporting two e-bikes and a braked trailer towing capacity of up to 1,200 kg. Volkswagen positions the concept as suitable for both urban environments and long-distance travel.
