New Volkswagen ID Cross first impressions: we look around this small electric SUV to see how it stacks up against alternatives

The Volkswagen ID Cross has just been revealed. You can think of it as an ID Polo on stilts, or an electric alternative to Volkswagen’s own T-Cross small SUV.

Under the skin, the ID Cross shares battery and motor options with the ID Polo, and it’ll cost less than £25,000 when it goes on sale later this year.

I’ve been to see the car in person, and I was given the opportunity to see how practical it is, test out some of the technology and check out the build quality. Here are my first impressions of the Volkswagen ID Cross, as well as some alternatives to consider.

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New Volkswagen ID Cross key facts: range, charging and performance

Here are the important stats you need to know about the new Volkswagen ID Cross.

Battery size	37/52kWh
Range	196/271 miles
Power	116/135/211hp
Max charging speed (DC)	90/105kW
DC charging time (10-80%)	23/24 minutes

You get up to 271 miles of range in the new ID Cross when you get the larger battery, which is 12 miles less than you get in the ID Polo. This is to be expected in a heavier, taller car, but more importantly it’s 21 miles more than you get from a Renault 4.

New Volkswagen ID Cross first impressions: exterior design

Starting outside, you can see the influence from the Volkswagen ID Polo in the front and rear light design, but it looks a lot more rugged and chunky than that car. The black plastic cladding around the lower half gives it the appearance of a mini off-roader, but in reality it’s more for fending off shopping trolleys than boulders on a green lane.

Alloy wheels start at 17 inches, rising to 20-inch rims on top-spec cars. You also get three little stripes on the C-pillar, which you also find on the ID Buzz and hark back to the classic VW bus from the 1960s.

I reckon it’s a handsome small SUV, but it’s not as cool as the retro Renault 4 or as striking as a Peugeot E-2008.

New Volkswagen ID Cross first impressions: interior and technology

There were no nasty surprises when I stepped inside the ID Cross. It’s basically the same interior as the ID Polo – I liked it in that car, and I like it in this one.

It’s a real improvement over VW’s current EV range. All the fiddly touch-sensitive controls and sliders are gone, and in their place you find solid, tactile buttons which are logically laid out and feel expensive.

The fabric on the dashboard and centre console does a good job of lifting the feeling of quality, without having to use expensive soft-touch plastics. An LED ambient lighting strip livens things up as well, but it’s still not quite as characterful inside as a Renault 4.

You get the same 12.9-inch central touchscreen as the ID Polo, and it’s pretty easy to use. The graphics are bright and crisp, it’s responsive and the menus are easy to navigate. You also get wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

Another fun touch is the retro view you can select, which makes the dashboard look like a classic VW Polo.

New Volkswagen ID Polo: space and practicality

This is where the ID Cross stands out against the ID Polo, because it’s a lot more spacious inside. Getting comfortable up front is easy, with loads of adjustment in the seats and steering wheel.

You also have plenty of clever cubby spaces. There’s a tray for your phone with an optional wireless charging pad, and you get an additional area under the centre console to hide any charging cables.

Moving to the rear seats, legroom is marginally better than it is in the ID Polo, and it’s much better than a Renault 4. You also get loads of headroom, as you might expect in a tall car like this.

The boot is an impressive 475 litres in capacity – over 30 litres more than you get in the ID Polo, but almost 50 litres down on the Ford Puma Gen-E. Like that car, the ID Cross has a massive storage area under the boot floor for keeping things out of sight. Unlike the Ford, you also get a 25-litre front boot for your charging cables.

The new Volkswagen ID Cross is a really practical small electric car, and I reckon it’s one of the best in its class for families.

New Volkswagen ID Cross alternatives

If you don’t want to wait for the new Volkswagen ID Cross to hit the showrooms, or it just doesn’t tickle your fancy, here are five great alternatives to consider for between £25,000 and £30,000.

1. Renault 4

I reckon the Renault 4 is the car to beat here, because it’s one of our favourite small electric SUVs on sale. It looks really cool, has a funky interior and it’s brilliant to drive, but the boot is smaller than the VW’s and it won’t go as far on a charge.

2. Ford Puma Gen-E

If you’re after something a bit more familiar, you could check out the Ford Puma Gen-E. It’s based on the petrol Puma, which is the most popular new car on sale in the UK right now, but it has a 47kWh battery delivering 259 miles of range. That may be short of the ID Cross, but the Puma has a bigger boot and it’s really efficient around town. It’s just a shame that it saps up electricity much faster on the motorway.

3. MG S5 EV

The MG S5 EV is a bit bigger than the ID Cross, meaning it has a bit more room in the rear seats. It does have a slightly smaller boot than the Volkswagen though, and it’s not as smart-looking either. That said, with Carwow savings bringing the cost of this car down to £22,500, it’s an awful lot of car for the money.

4. Peugeot E-2008

It may have been around for a while, but the Peugeot E-2008 is still a really eye-catching car. The bold exterior styling is backed up with a handsome interior, but it’s not as spacious as the ID Cross and the driving position could be awkward for some.

5. Jaecoo E5

Finally, you could also check out the Jaecoo E5. It has a big, 480-litre boot, loads of rear seat space and it’s packed with standard equipment, and all this is available for as little as £22,000 when you buy through Carwow at the time of writing. It’s not the most comfortable EV to drive though, and it’s pretty dull to look at as well.

Final verdict: is the Volkswagen ID Cross worth waiting for?

After spending a day poking around the Volkswagen ID Cross, I reckon it’ll be a great electric SUV if you’re looking for something small, affordable and practical. The range is also close to class-leading, and being a Volkswagen you can expect it to be comfortable and easy to drive.

That said, we’ve not gotten behind the wheel of the new Volkswagen ID Cross yet. That’ll follow in the coming months, so keep an eye on Carwow for our full verdict. For now though, if you’re thinking about buying a small electric SUV, I think this one is worth waiting for.

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