The use of many more physical buttons inside than you’ll find on other VWs lately is reason enough to welcome the arrival of the ID Polo.
Gone are the sliding heater and volume controls that have frustrated VW drivers since they were introduced via the Mk8 Golf; In their place are more conventional climate control buttons. The truth is that they are not that different from what we find in the Renault 5, and that is not bad at all.
And yes, once again there are four window switches in the driver’s door. The ID Polo’s dashboard features a 10-inch driver display and a 13-inch infotainment touchscreen, and even offers ChatGPT AI. This is more of an evolution than a revolution, but the large digital widgets and simple menus make using technology on the go pretty easy.
More fun is the addition of ‘retro’ screens for both screens, turning the clean, modern front look into one that emulates that of the Golf Mk1. That means it not only dials speed and power, but also an illustrated recorder. It’s a nice touch that offers something different from the competition.
That said, while a mix of sustainably sourced fabrics and plastics adds to the ID Polo’s eco-credentials, it’s a shame there’s only the option of a gray or black cabin theme, while the seats can only be wrapped in fabric, with no leather or faux leather options. There’s also some cheap, scratchy plastic close at hand at the top of the door trims, revealing where costs have been kept down.
However, the space in the rear does not leave you feeling shortchanged. In fact, with enough knee, foot and even head room for a six-foot man to feel comfortable, the ID Polo is one of the most spacious cars in the 4m-long hatchback class. The center rear seat naturally offers less space than the outer pair but, thanks to a flat floor, it will still be suitable for smaller passengers on shorter journeys, which is not something that can be said for the Renault 5.
Better yet, this decent space for rear passengers doesn’t impede the trunk. Far from it: with 441 liters of space including a nearly flat loading sill and plenty of underfloor storage, the ID Polo has 115 liters more than the 5 and 90 liters more than the Hyundai Inster even when the Korean car’s rear bench is slid forward.
The ID Polo puts all other cars in its class to shame to a similar degree. It even has 60 liters more space than the current Golf and 90 liters more than the petrol Polo.
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