New Volkswagen ID.2all previews £22k electric hatchback

Volkswagen is yet to produce a true all-electric ‘people’s car’; the Volkswagen ID.3 now starts from almost £40,000 and is out of reach for many households. Something newer and cheaper is on the horizon, however, as the German marque has just unveiled a new concept car that will soon evolve into a production model costing “less than €25,000” (around £22k): the Volkswagen ID.2all.

The concept gives us our first glimpse of what we can expect from an upcoming small Volkswagen EV, set to arrive before 2025. This will be the first to sit on VW’s all-new MEB-Entry platform, which is designed to underpin future smaller models in the brand’s range, while also keeping manufacturing costs comparatively low.

As you can see, the ID.2all previews a design that’s a departure from the rounded and minimalist looks of other models in VW’s electric car range such as the ID.4 family SUV. The design is more akin to the current petrol-powered Volkswagen Polo, with a full-width light bar illuminating an angular front end.

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Measuring just over four metres long, the ID.2all concept is about the same length as a Polo, too. However, unlike the Polo, the production version of the ID.2all won’t have an engine or gearbox to contend with, meaning the wheels can be pushed further out into the corners of the car, subsequently improving interior space. 

Volkswagen says the ID.2all’s boot measures in at 440 litres – 100 litres more than its larger sibling, the ID.3 – growing to a compact van-like 1,330 litres with the second row of seats folded. It’s undetermined whether this large boot will come at the expense of rear-seat legroom, although there will be a small 50-litre storage compartment under the second row of seats.

Speaking of the interior, the ID.2all previews a cabin with a whiff of MG4 about it, with an overall minimalist design featuring a 10.9-inch digital instrument display and a 12.9-inch rectangular centre touchscreen. These appear to be a departure from the troublesome units currently fitted to ID-badged Volkswagen models and also look to feature some physical knobs and switches for easier operation when on the move.

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Volkswagen has confirmed the ID.2all concept utilises a front-mounted 223bhp electric motor, mated to a battery pack large enough (the exact capacity has not been revealed yet) to provide a range of up to 280 miles on a charge. The German manufacturer also stated a 10-80% charge will take as little as 20 minutes when connected to a rapid enough public DC charger. 

The sprint from 0-62mph will take just seven seconds, though it’s unknown at this stage whether this exact powertrain setup will make its way to the production car. If it does, it’s likely this version will be pitched as the flagship GTX model – given the impressive figures stated.  

The arrival of the aforementioned sub-£27,000 MG4 has caused quite a stir in the car industry, with many manufacturers unable to match that car in terms of price. A key example of this is how the Volkswagen MEB Entry project originally aimed to produce an EV for under €20,000 (£17,500), but has now increased the target price to €25,000 (£22k). 

Regardless, the Volkswagen ID.2all represents a step in the right direction for the Wolfsburg-based automotive giant, with the production model set to debut alongside other more affordable EVs from rival manufacturers, such as the Renault 5 EV and the soon-to-be facelifted Vauxhall Corsa Electric.

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Volkswagen has also confirmed the production version of the ID.2all will be followed by an similarly-affordable small electric SUV. Spotted recently by DrivingElectric while undergoing winter testing in heavy camouflage, this “sporty crossover” will be a rival for the likes of the Smart #1, Jeep Avenger and the new Hyundai Kona Electric. 

Further to this, we expect to see an even smaller, even more affordable model appear towards the end of the decade – a true entry-level VW Group model costing under that initially-promised figure of €20k. This car is likely to be developed by Skoda and, alongside those previously mentioned, is one of 10 new Volkswagen EVs set to arrive by 2026.