Rugged ID. Cross Concept previews 2026 EV

Volkswagen's Renault 4 competitor will be the electric alternative to German brand's T-Cross

- Ellis Hyde [e-mail]

THIS is the Volkswagen ID. Cross Concept: our first look at the brand's £25k small electric SUV that will arrive towards the end of 2026 as a rival to the likes of the Renault 4 and Ford Puma Gen-E.

The ID. Cross, unveiled at this week's IAA Mobility show in Munich, will be the all-electric alternative to the T-Cross that arrived in 2018. It's the same arrangement as with the petrol VW Polo supermini and its zero-emissions ID. Polo counterpart that's arriving next year.

The naming strategy for VW's EVs keeps the ID. moniker that the firm has used for several years now, with the first model to wear it being the ID.3 hatchback. But the brand now wants to capitalise on the status and familiarity of badges such as Polo and Golf, plus the iconic GTI name.