Volkswagen has officially staged the world premiere of its all-new ID. Cross electric compact SUV, which blends high-end features with practicality and affordable pricing. Launching as the SUV
Volkswagen has officially staged the world premiere of its all-new ID. Cross electric compact SUV, which blends high-end features with practicality and affordable pricing.
Launching as the SUV sibling to the new ID. Polo hatchback, the ID. Cross directly targets rivals such as the Renault 4 and Ford Puma Gen-E, while offering up to 271 miles of range.
It’s one of four new low-cost small EVs debuted by the Volkswagen Group this year that also include the ID. Polo, the Cupra Raval hot hatch and the Škoda Epiq crossover. All are built on the VW Group’s new MEB+ platform, delivering a compact but spacious footprint with high levels of tech, and focused on affordable electric mobility.
Prices for the UK have yet to be announced but VW’s new compact SUV is already on sale in Germany where it’s priced from €27,995 (around £23,800).
The electric equivalent to the T-Cross, the ID. Cross offers 475 litres of stowage space – 20 litres more than its petrol sibling – rising to 1,345 litres with the seats down and accompanied by a frunk that can hold a further 25 litres. Fitted with the larger battery option, it’s also able to tow at up to 1,200kg.
As with the other arrivals in Volkswagen Group’s new low-cost EV family, the ID. Cross offers a choice of three front-mounted motors with output levels of 116hp, 135hp and 211hp. There will be two battery sizes of 37kWh and 52kWh, giving ranges of 196 and 271 miles respectively. It’s able to charge at up to 90kW DC for the smaller battery and 105kW DC for the larger, giving 10 to 80% charges in around 23 and 24 minutes respectively. The maximum AC charging capacity at a domestic wallbox or public charging stations is 11kW. The ID. Cross also comes with vehicle-to-load (V2L) functionality as standard, delivering a power output of up to 3.6kW.
The ID. Cross aims to redefine quality benchmarks for small and compact vehicles.
Exterior design uses the brand’s latest Pure Positive design language and adds in details such as the elongated ‘flying roof’, black cladding and full-width lightbars.
Volkswagen has outfitted the five-seater interior with a “feel-good atmosphere”, featuring premium fabric-covered surfaces, high seating comfort, and an intuitive new Innovision infotainment system. It also comes with physical buttons on the steering wheel, a dedicated row of traditional switches for the climate controls, and standard, tactile window switch to ensure intuitive, distraction-free operation.
Options include a premium sound system and massage seats, while add-on technology features deliver Connected Travel Assist with automatic traffic light detection, new parking functions and adaptive DCC suspension.
The Digital Cockpit Pro delivers a 10.25-inch driver screen that can be switched to a retro display that replicates the speedo and tachometer from a Mk1 Golf.
Centre stage in the dash is a 12.9-inch infotainment system touch display, located in the centre of the dash panel, measures 32.8 cm (12.9 inches) across the diagonal and is as large as a premium tablet. The display is also easy to reach for the front passenger.
The ID. Cross also delivers technologies from higher classes – including Connected Travel Assist with traffic light recognition and a raft of other driver-assistance safety features. As an option, the next generation of Travel Assist – now rebadged as Connected Travel Assist – supports assisted longitudinal and lateral guidance and reacts to traffic lights, within the system limits. Another new feature is One Pedal Driving, which rapidly decelerates the SUV through regulation of the accelerator pedal alone.
Smart parking aids available include a 360-degree Area View that provides a comprehensive bird’s-eye view of the vehicle’s surroundings, while Park Assist Pro can, if desired, handle parking manoeuvres fully automatically – including the option to park the vehicle remotely via a smartphone.
Suspension has been set up for “precise and safe handling with high long-distance comfort” and the ID. Cross gets a direct steering response and a finely tuned brake system with a natural pedal feel.
The new adaptive DCC suspension will be available as an option for the more powerful variant and continuously adjusts the damping to the road surface and driving situation.
Thomas Schäfer, CEO of the Volkswagen brand, said: “The ID. Cross brings together technological expertise, clean design, impressive, intricate solutions and genuine all-rounder qualities – all for excellent value for money. These are ideal conditions for a new success story from Volkswagen.”
