2025 Volkswagen ID.Cross Concept - Innovative Package Five-Seater

The Volkswagen ID. Cross Concept, unveiled at the IAA Mobility 2025 in Munich, is not just another electric SUV. It is a profound declaration of intent from a brand that has listened, learned, and now appears to be correcting its course. More than a vision of an affordable, compact EV, the ID. Cross is a concept car that prioritizes user-friendliness, quality, and most crucially common sense. Slated for a production launch in the summer of 2026, this "near-production" preview hints at a Volkswagen that is ready to be a people's car again, albeit in an all-electric form.

Design: Pure Positive and Proudly Practical

Volkswagen’s Head of Design, Andreas Mindt, has distilled the brand's new aesthetic into three cornerstones: stability, likeability, and secret sauce. This philosophy, dubbed 'Pure Positive,' is immediately evident in the ID. Cross. While its overall silhouette is that of a chunky, city-friendly compact SUV similar in size to the existing combustion-powered T-Cross (measuring 4,161 mm long) its details are a significant departure from earlier ID. models.

The front fascia is characterized by a "smiling" light signature, giving the car a friendly, approachable personality. The three-dimensional LED elements look clean and modern, avoiding the overly futuristic, sometimes cold, aesthetic of its predecessors. The concept sits with a stable, confident stance on enormous 21-inch "Balboa" alloy wheels, though the production version is expected to feature a more pragmatic maximum of 20 inches.

A key element of the design is the deliberate nod to VW heritage. The powerful C-pillar shape is a tribute to the Golf, lending a sense of solidity. Furthermore, small louvre-like elements hint at the iconic VW Bus. Crucially, the concept embraces practicality over unnecessary novelty. It sports normal door handles and, praise be, windscreen wipers—details often jettisoned in radical concept cars but vital for everyday life. Even the black plastic wheel arch trim, which will likely be toned down for production, adds a purposeful, utilitarian look. This isn't a wacky car made of dry ice; it's a suspiciously normal, and therefore appealing, preview of a mass-market product.

Interior: An Oasis of Tactile Relief

Perhaps the most significant and welcome revolution lies within the cabin. The interiors of the first-generation ID. cars were widely criticized for their reliance on unlit, greasy, and frustrating haptic sliders. The ID. Cross Concept decisively signals the end of that misguided era.

Stepping inside, the ambiance is deliberately warm, with a "Vanilla Chai" color scheme and fabric-wrapped surfaces that create an "interior oasis" or "lounge-style ambience." The use of soft, recycled materials replaces the shiny black plastic (Piano Black) that has plagued modern VWs, giving the cabin a feeling of genuine quality and homeliness. There are even plant motifs on the screens and the option for real plants in the floating centre console—a clear effort to make the car feel less like a sterile piece of electronics and more like a space to relax.

The return to tactile controls is a huge win for usability. Key functions for climate control, fan speed, and air recirculation are managed by physical rocker switches and buttons, while the steering wheel is festooned with clear, functional physical buttons (milled from metal for the concept, but destined for production). Even the notorious two-switch window control system of the ID.3 has been abandoned, with four separate window switches returning to the door card—a direct response to "requests from customers worldwide."

Technology remains central, but it is better integrated. An 11-inch digital driver display and a 13-inch central infotainment screen sit on a clean visual axis, promising a clearer, crisper interface than current VW systems. The system also supports "Atmospheres," where ambient lighting, sound, and climate can be tuned to suit the driver’s mood.

Performance and Platform: Practical Power on MEB+

The ID. Cross Concept is built upon the upgraded MEB+ platform, a front-wheel-drive architecture designed specifically for the brand's new entry-level electric models. This switch to front-wheel drive is the "secret sauce" of the packaging. With the motor unit no longer dominating the rear, the platform maximizes cabin and cargo space.

The single electric motor delivers a healthy 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) to the front wheels, which should translate to punchy, competitive performance in the city SUV segment (likely a 0-100 km/h time in the eight-second range). This isn't a performance car, but it's certainly capable.

VW targets a WLTP range of up to 420 km (approximately 260 miles), which puts it well ahead of some key rivals in the segment. While the battery size isn't officially confirmed, this range suggests a pack in the region of 56 kWh. Charging capability is solid, with fast DC charging expected to manage a 10% to 80% top-up in around 20-25 minutes. The practicalities continue with a usable 1,200 kg towing capacity and a 75 kg drawbar load, meaning e-bikes and small trailers are genuinely feasible.

Space and Practicality: Small Car, Big Thinking

The ID. Cross excels in exploiting its compact footprint. Despite being small, it boasts an impressive 450 litres of boot space, which is a highly competitive figure for the class. Adding to this is a small but useful 25-litre 'frunk' (front trunk) under the bonnet, perfect for charging cables or small bags.

The interior is designed to be highly versatile. The seats can reportedly fold completely flat, creating a reclining lounge area—a brilliant, playful nod to the original VW Bus and a genuine feature for weekend trips. The airy design and the wheels pushed far into the corners ensure that, even in the rear, there is adequate head and knee room for adults.

The Verdict: A Sign of Hope for VW

The 2025 Volkswagen ID. Cross Concept is perhaps the most exciting concept the brand has revealed in years, precisely because of its apparent restraint. It’s not trying to reinvent the wheel with unproven technology; it’s correcting fundamental errors in user experience and restoring the brand’s core values of stability and practicality.

With an expected production version price target of €28,000 to €30,000 for the entry-level model (though a well-equipped model with the larger battery will likely creep toward €38,000), the ID. Cross is pitched directly at the heart of the affordable electric market. It has the style, the space, the range, and, most importantly, the intuitive controls that modern buyers demand.

The ID. Cross is the near-production vehicle that promises to deliver an affordable electric car that is truly a Volkswagen for the people. If the production car delivers on the promises of the concept’s interior quality and user-centric design, the ID. Cross will undoubtedly be a massive hit, and a turning point for the ID. family. It’s a return to form—a return to common sense—and a powerful statement in the electric era.