2025 Volkswagen ID.2: Australia interested in Polo-sized city BEV

September: ID.GTI concept revealed

The new ID.2all-based ID.GTI concept has made its debut in Munich at the IAA Mobility 2023 motor show.

The concept arrives as a move the German brand describes as “marking the next chapter in the iconic GTI legacy”. Details at the link below!

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March 16: ID.2all concept unveiled

Volkswagen has pulled the covers from its new ID.2all concept, previewing the anticipated ID.2 hatch. It'll be sold in Europe for around AU$40,000 – so it'll be interesting to see how VW prices it in Oz, if it comes here. Get the full story at the link below.

Volkswagen Australia has announced a lofty goal to sell 150,000 electric vehicles in Australia between 2025-30, and also pointed to a future city-sized EV – likely called ID.2 – joining the lineup.

A global release of the ID.2 is expected in 2025, and there will likely be two variants: a Polo-like light hatch, and T-Cross-esque light SUV spin-off, potentially called ID.2 X. An Australian release is far from confirmed, but VW's local arm showed a clear interest in the future vehicle.

“The recently announced smaller sibling to the ID.3 – a Polo-sized BEV – will be coming from the newly-established EV hub in Spain. And whilst we can't disclose any more than this teaser sketch today unfortunately, we have no doubt that this will be a very exciting addition to the family”, said Ralph Beckmann, general manager of marketing and product and VW Australia.

The ID.2 has only been shown in one sketch revealed in May. The concept was penned by VW's design team under chief designer Jozef Kaban with clear reference to the shape and proportions of the ID.3 small car.

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There are definite similarities between this ID.3 concept and the ID.2 sketch

Volkswagen ID.2 range and power

Previously described to Georg Kacher as a “funky, fun-to-drive and versatile metro-cruiser for younger IT-minded audiences”, the ID.2 will sit below the ID.3 in both size and price. Expect a vehicle around 4.0 metres in length, and about 1.8 metres wide to help it fit through European-sized city streets.

The ID.2 will be built in Volkswagen’s new small electric vehicle hub in Spain alongside the production version of Cupra’s Urban Rebel concept.

Like the difference between Polo and Golf, the ID.2 will utilise a more budget-friendly version of the brand’s MEB architecture – MEB Entry is its expected name. This will accommodate smaller batteries, shorter wheelbases and feature different technology as the MQB-A0 platform does in the Polo.

What that means, is it’s hard to make precise calls about battery sizes and driving range. Though, with its urban pitch, the ID.2 would do well to offer between 350-400 kilometres of driving range from the base model ID.3's 45kWh battery. A smaller battery – 36kWh for example – could help nail a cheaper price point, but it’s likely Australia would opt for the larger pack only.

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An ID.2 X could look a little bit like the 2021 ID.Life concept

With a lighter weight body than ID.4 or ID.3 and single low-output electric motor – say 100-130kW – the required 13.5kWh/100km to hit a 380km driving range should be achievable. Volkswagen is also likely to add an ‘ID.2 X’ to the range as a crossover/light SUV not unlike the T-Cross.

ID.2 pricing and availability

With an expected market launch of 2024 or 2025, any pricing or availability talk is purely speculative. However, Volkswagen’s recent cost-awareness for ID.4 – which it claims will go on sale close to Tiguan 162 TSI R-Line pricing – suggests electric vehicles will become more affordable in the next five years.

Don’t expect the ID.2 to go as low as pre-facelift Polo Trendline manual pricing ($19,290 before on-road costs), but instead a starting price of between $28-32,000 – or that equivalent in 2025 – could very well be achieved.