Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept preview

​Styling and Dimensions

Although this is called a concept car, it is pretty close to what you will see in your local VW showroom in the late summer of 2026. Maybe take the wheels down an inch or two and you’ll be pretty much there.

I think it looks great. We know VW designers got their fingers burned a little by the radical looks of the ID.3 which were too much for some of the more conservative buyers. And then they went too far the other way and made the ID.2 concept a bit, well dull.

This seems to be a happy medium, don’t you think? Volkswagen says it’s a new design language which is called 'Pure Positive', and it’s made up of a 3D light signature, which is supposed to be smiling. 

You can see that in the light bar stretching across the front which has an enigmatic grin. The vertical LED strips will be kept for performance versions and the odd little illuminated goatee beard won’t make production. 

The shape of the bonnet which looks a bit Range Rovery to me, with tall corners which make the car look bigger and more imposing.

Because it’s an SUV there are the big bits of black plastic on the wheel arches which have a texture which adds a quality feel. And the concept is wearing 21-inch alloy wheels – which are called Balboa apparently. That might give them a Rocky start.

I have to mention the colour too – it’s called Urban Jungle Green. Reminds me of that lovely colour they made Mk2 Golf GTIs in, but it has a hint of gold in some lights. 

At the side, there are three illuminated slots on the c-pillar, a bit like stripes on your trainers, which is a feature borrowed from the ID. Buzz. The production car’s won’t light up, but there will be clip in parts you can change if you get bored of the style. 

At the back, there’s the light strip we’ve seen on the ID.7 and the illuminated VW badge, and clever 3D tail lamps, which are called whiskey glasses as they look like solid lumps of glass. I like their spirit. 

Interior and technology

It might not look too revolutionary in here but there is BIG news, and more proof that VW has been listening. It has proper buttons! There are some below the screen and even four electric window switches. These are so much nicer than the haptics in the ID.3.

VW describes this as an interior oasis, which doesn’t have anything to do with the Gallagher brothers. Unless the upholstery material is wonder wool maybe? 

It means there are plant motifs on the screens and real plants in the centre console. Oh yes. Not even the Nissan Leaf has a real leaf. Say Aloe to the in car plant. Don’t be palmed off with anything less. 

It also means the colours have been made to exude calm. Even the seat belts are made in a hue which seems to make the world seem a little bit less hectic, and the infotainment screen is free from bright colours or “visual Smarties” which the designers say are normal or these.

If you want to change them tapping the leaves on the screen swaps between pre-configured ambient light, sound and climate modes called Atmospheres.  

In the back seats there is a decent amount of head and knee room, but the floor will feel unnaturally high for adults. The quality of the materials in the rear is a real step change for VW electric cars though – it’s lovely back here. Hopefully that will make it to the production cars.

Volkswagen also says the seats can be folded down completely to create a reclining area in the style of a VW Bus, but we weren’t able to see this working on the concept.

Open the boot and there’s an impressive 450 litres of space – that’s more than the MINI Aceman and Renault 4 but can’t match the mighty Puma. You do get a couple of additional bits of space though, under the rear bench seat (38 litres) and a frunk (25 litres) under the bonnet. The ID.Cross is quite wide for this size of car, so that means it’s quite a usable space. It can tow too.

Battery, Charging and Performance

There is no motor under the boot floor, like you’d find in an ID.3. That’s because the ID.Cross will be front wheel drive, using a new platform which will also be used in the ID.Polo, Skoda Epiq and Cupra Raval. 

In this car it has an output of 211 horsepower. There is no official word on the battery size, but the forecast range is 420 kilometres, or 261 miles, which I would say makes it about 56kWh – a smudge bigger than the obvious rivals. Charging speeds should be around 125kW

Expect a smaller battery option to be offered too, giving a cheaper entry price. 

Verdict

What do you think? Does the ID.Cross make you happy? Are you pleased that switches and proper names are making a comeback? Will you be putting plants in your centre console? Or do you think Volkswagen should take a different root? 

If you want a little more visual excitement, then Volkswagen has the Cupra Raval in the group's portfolio, while the Skoda Epic will offer another choice. The ID.Cross isn’t a revolution but it would seem to offer exactly what VW buyers want and has fixed many of the criticisms buyers had of the brand’s earlier electric efforts. It’s sure to be a hit. 

​