- VW unveiled the ID. Cross Concept in Munich, a compact electric SUV scheduled for production in 2026.
- The FWD concept delivers 155kW, a WLTP range of up to 420km and 175km/h top speed.
- Interior highlights include 450L of boot space, a 25Lfrunk and dual displays aligned for driver focus.
Volkswagen has pulled the covers off the ID. Cross Concept at this year’s IAA Mobility show in Munich: a near-production compact SUV that aims to make electric motoring more accessible, without scrimping on personality.
A smile on four wheels
Dressed in “Urban Jungle” green and sitting on 21-inch Balboa alloys wrapped in bespoke Goodyear tyres, the ID. CROSS Concept wears Volkswagen’s new “Pure Positive” design language.
Head of Design Andreas Mindt says it’s about “stability, likeability and secret sauce,” with styling cues nodding to icons like the Golf and VW Bus. Up front, the LED graphics are designed to look as though the car is smiling - a deliberate play at giving the SUV a likeable character.
Size-wise, it’s on par with today’s T-Cross: 4161 mm long, 1839mm wide, and 1588mm tall, riding on a 2601 mm wheelbase. Inside, though, it punches above its weight with 450L of boot space plus a 25L “frunk.”
The cabin embraces a lounge-like ambience with Vanilla Chai beige trim, plant motifs on the screens and even a floating centre console with real greenery.
Tech with a playful twist
Underneath sits the latest iteration of VW’s MEB platform, updated to MEB+. Power comes from a 155 kW motor driving the front wheels, giving a WLTP range of up to 420km and a top speed of 175km/h.
The concept also boasts a tow rating of 1200 kg (braked) and a 75kg drawbar load - enough for two e-bikes.
The interior tech isn’t short on quirks either. Two large screens (11- and 13-inch) line up on the same axis for easy viewing, while a redesigned multifunction steering wheel keeps things tactile.
There’s even a “calm status” mode: flip your smartphone face-down in the charging cradle and the displays dim to soothing graphics.
What’s next for VW’s baby EV-SUV?
The ID. Cross is the fourth of Volkswagen’s new small electric concepts, following the ID.2all, ID. GTI Concept, and ID. Every1. Production is due in 2026, with the final version of the ID. Cross making its own world premiere sometime that year.
Thomas Schafer, Volkswagen brand CEO, summed it up neatly: “With this new Volkswagen generation, we are now delivering on our promises - with a new design, technologies only seen in higher classes previously, improved operability and quality - and, at last, again the ‘right’ name”.
