2025 Volkswagen ID. CROSS Concept

• Compact SUV built on VW’s MEB+ platform with 420 km WLTP range.

• 155 kW (211 PS) motor, 1,200 kg towing capacity, and top speed of 175 km/h.

• Lounge-inspired interior with 450-liter boot and unique design details.

Compact, but with purpose

Volkswagen chose the stage of IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich to show the ID. CROSS Concept, an EV designed to be approachable, practical, and still carry a bit of charm. It sits roughly where the T-Cross does in the lineup, only now with electric underpinnings. Power comes from a single 211 PS motor driving the front wheels, and range is quoted at up to 420 kilometers under WLTP.

The brand is positioning the ID. CROSS as part of its broader entry-level EV push. Four compact electric models are on the way by 2026, with this car the preview of what to expect. Thomas Schäfer, Volkswagen’s CEO, called it a near-production look at a new chapter for the brand — one that’s about everyday affordability as much as design or technology.

A design that smiles back

Volkswagen’s design team calls the look “Pure Positive,” and it’s not hard to see why. The face wears a light signature that reads a little like a grin, softened by 3D graphics. The stance is tidy — 4,161 mm long, 1,839 mm wide, and 1,588 mm tall — small enough for city life but upright enough to still read as SUV.

The show car was finished in Urban Jungle green, riding on chunky 21-inch Balboa alloys wrapped in custom Goodyear tires. From the side, the straight window line and chunky C-pillars feel familiar, a nod to past Volkswagens from the Golf to the Bus. It’s evolutionary rather than radical, which is often VW’s way.

Inside: part lounge, part living room

Open the doors and the surprise is how much space they’ve carved out of the footprint. It’s a five-seater, with a 450-liter boot plus a 25-liter compartment under the bonnet. Fold the seats flat and it almost mimics the reclining trick of a VW Bus.

The cabin itself has a playful edge. It’s finished in soft Vanilla Chai tones, the trim panels wrapped in fabric, and even the center console has space for plants — literally, greenery. Volkswagen talks about creating “Atmospheres,” where ambient lighting, sound, and climate can be tuned to suit the mood.

Digital dominates too: an 11-inch driver display paired with a 13-inch infotainment screen, controlled partly through a redesigned steering wheel with simplified buttons. It’s clearly designed with tech-savvy buyers in mind but avoids the overly sterile feel some rivals fall into.

Under the skin

The ID. CROSS Concept runs on Volkswagen’s updated MEB+ platform. Power goes to the front wheels through a 155 kW (211 PS) electric motor and a battery integrated into the floorpan. Maximum range is quoted at 420 km WLTP, with top speed limited to 175 km/h.

It’s not meant to be a performance car, but it’s capable. There’s a towing capacity of 1,200 kg and a 75 kg drawbar load, meaning trailers or e-bikes are fair game. It’s the sort of everyday flexibility that matters more to buyers than lap times.

Volkswagen plans to put the production version of the ID. CROSS on sale in 2026. It’ll land in a hotly contested segment, up against the likes of the Peugeot e-2008, Hyundai Kona Electric, and Renault Mégane E-Tech.

Technical Specification

Performance (hp and kW)

• Single front-mounted electric motor: 155 kW (~211 hp)

Body Measurements (mm and in)

• Length: 4,161 mm (164 in)
• Width: 1,839 mm (72 in)
• Height: 1,588 mm (63 in)
• Wheelbase: 2,601 mm (102 in)

Powertrain

• Configuration: Front-wheel drive electric motor
• Platform: Upgraded MEB+ (Modular Electric Drive Kit Plus) architecture

Capacities

• Estimated WLTP range: 420 km (~260 miles)
• Top speed: 175 km/h (108 mph)
• Towing: Drawbar load up to 75 kg (~165 lb) (suitable for e-bikes)
• Cargo space: 450 L in the rear trunk + 25 L in the front trunk (frunk)

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