VW ID.Cross: High Expectations

Volkswagen is introducing the ID.Cross, an electric vehicle designed to complement its small gasoline SUV, the T-Cross, aiming to bolster its electric offerings against a competitive market, particularly from Chinese brands. The ID.Cross is based on the same new MEB platform technology used in the Skoda Epiq, Cupra Raval, and the upcoming ID.Polo.

The exterior of the ID.Cross presents a friendly, understated yet confident appearance. Inside, the cockpit is characterized by clean horizontal lines and soft-touch surfaces. Volkswagen has revised the user interface, a frequent point of criticism in previous models, eliminating unlit sliders for climate control and capacitive buttons on the steering wheel. Instead, the ID.Cross features analog buttons on the steering wheel and dashboard for climate control, alongside a 10.25-inch instrument display and a 12.9-inch touchscreen with a new user interface.

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The VW ID.Cross comes with an unpretentious, yet confident look and balanced proportions, but also with reduced prices.

Practicality is a key focus, with the 4.15-meter-long ID.Cross offering 475 liters of cargo space in the trunk, plus an additional 22 liters of storage under the hood. The vehicle is available with two battery options: a 37 kWh battery for models with 116 or 135 horsepower, and a larger 52 kWh battery for the 211-horsepower variant. VW estimates a WLTP range of 316 kilometers for the smaller battery and up to 436 kilometers for the larger one. The vehicle's weight has been reduced to approximately 1.6 tons, contributing to its efficiency.

Charging capabilities include a 24 to 27-minute fast-charge time from 10% to 80% and an 11 kW AC charging rate. The ID.Cross also supports Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) functionality, allowing it to power external devices. The 135 and 211 horsepower versions will be offered in higher trim levels, "Life" and "Style," with pre-orders currently open only for the more powerful variant.

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The operating concept has been adapted to customer wishes, previously one of the most fiercely criticized solutions from the unhappy era of VW CEO Herbert Diess.