More space, more possibilities. The new ID. Polo benefits from the particularly compact MEB+ drive technology and thus offers clear space advantages: as a result, passengers have 19 mm more interior room, which is particularly noticeable in the rear. Passengers also benefit from greater interior width and headroom. In addition, the luggage compartment volume has grown by a good 25 per cent – from 351 to 441 litres. When the rear seat backrests are folded down, the load capacity increases to 1,240 litres (MQB-based Polo: 1,125 litres). This extra space makes the five-seater ID. Polo more of an all-rounder than any of its predecessors, not only specialising in urban life but also being ideal for everyday use with friends and family well beyond the city limits. Every detail of the interior has also been completely revamped and redesigned. Among other things, the ergonomic blend of digital and physical controls as well as the horizontal architecture of the dash panel are decisive here. The digital instruments (Digital Cockpit) and infotainment display integrated in the centre of the dash panel are ideally arranged on a visual axis for the driver. These two displays alone show the outstanding quality, precision and functionality of the details on board the ID. Polo.
Digital Cockpit with retro display. The ID. Polo’s new cockpit landscape has a consistently horizontal structure. The Digital Cockpit and the infotainment display are arranged on one visual axis. The Digital Cockpit measures 26.0 cm (10 inches) across the diagonal and features brilliant graphics. If the driver activates the ‘Retro’ display using the View button on the steering wheel, the classic instrument display of a late Golf I appears in the Digital Cockpit. In this case, there is a conventional speedometer with odometer and trip recorder display on the left. However, since time has also not stood still in the retro display, the speedometer also shows the current driving speed and speed limit in digital form. The design of the right display has a similar layout to a rev counter of times gone by. However, in the all-electric ID. Polo this naturally does not display engine speeds, but rather the energy output or energy recovery of the drive as a power display. The battery charge in per cent and the range in kilometres are also displayed digitally here. In the centre, a digital clock, the date and ambient temperature are displayed. Additionally, important information from the assist systems or warning messages and other information are also shown in the retro display, so that the driver of the ID. Polo always has an overview of all relevant information.
Large infotainment display. The touch display of the infotainment system, which is integrated into the centre of the dashboard, has a screen diagonal of 32.77 cm (13 inches) and thus corresponds to the format of a modern tablet. Its high-resolution display ensures a clear and detailed image. The display is also easy to reach for the front passenger. The menu structure is based on the operating concept of current Volkswagen models. The interface of the infotainment touchscreen is divided into three levels: the top bar, home screen (middle) and the bottom bar. Favourite functions can be added as direct access elements in the top bar and home screen. While the driver accesses all functions on a variable basis in the form of apps on the home screen, the individually configured top bar and static bottom bar are permanently displayed. This means that the system is very easy to use. The top bar is equipped with a direct access button on the left that enables the driver to access the main menu with an overview of all apps with just one click. Next to this is a button for the Car Control Centre, which offers direct access to the most important vehicle functions and can be configured individually by the driver. This also includes the legally required speed warning, for example, which can be adjusted here with a single click. The home screen in the middle combines the content of the most important apps on differently sized graphic tiles. For example, navigation, media, telephone or the IDA voice assistant can be stored on the tiles. The bottom bar contains access to the air conditioning and seat functions and has a home button that lets the driver return to the home screen at any time. These functions are therefore always directly available.
Retro display in the infotainment display. The modern standard view of the touchscreen can be switched to the ‘retro’ display with a swipe gesture. The top bar and bottom bar remain identical; only the home screen changes to the graphics of the 70s and 80s. The navigation map appears in the style of a television set from that time. In addition, the radio is displayed as a frequency band and the media player as a cassette. Even the charge level display takes on the design of a classic fuel gauge. All of these – as well as the Easter eggs (small graphic symbols) placed around the vehicle – are elements that are simply intended to increase enjoyment of the ID. Polo. No more, no less.
New multifunction steering wheel. The multifunction steering wheel with its clearly arranged button panels is a new design. The cruise control system or, depending on the equipment, Adaptive Cruise Control and Connected Travel Assist are combined in the button group to the left of the airbag and horn. This group also contains the volume control. To the right of the airbag is the group of buttons for controlling the Digital Cockpit, activating voice control and the button for the steering wheel heating, which can also be activated later on demand. The steering wheel itself is flattened at the top and bottom (12 and 6 o’clock). The steering column switches for shifting gear and the parking brake (right) as well as the turn signal, lighting and wiper functions (left) are located behind the steering wheel. The central functions for the headlights and tail light clusters are also located to the left of the dashboard.
Digital and analogue technologies in harmony. The central climate control functions – temperature control, blower, air conditioning, automatic mode, air recirculation, windscreen defroster and rear window heating -– are grouped together in a separate button panel, with the hazard warning light switch positioned centrally in the middle. On the level below, there is the smartphone storage area with an equipment-dependent inductive charging option, two drink holders and the centre armrest with an integrated stowage compartment underneath. Located between the smartphone tray and drink holders is the rotary control for audio functions, which is equally easy to reach for the driver and front passenger. This can be used to adjust the volume and to change songs and stations using the track function. The ID. Light (standard equipment from Style and above) has undergone a major upgrade: for the first time, the interactive light strip extends not just across the width of the dash panel in the lower area of the windscreen, but now also into the front doors. The door openers also have a new design. The four buttons for the electric windows and exterior mirror adjustment are realised as a touch panel in the driver door. Attention to detail is not only reflected in the intuitive design of all elements and the quality of the materials, but also by equipment-dependent refinements such as the elegant decorative seams in the door trim and the integration of small Volkswagen badges to finish off these elegant seams. The badges can be customised using the Volkswagen Accessories range.
Recycling materials. The materials used in the ID. Polo are of high quality and form part of an innovative and friendly design. Wherever possible, recycled materials are used. For example, all textile fabrics in the seats and doors as well as the upper side of the headliner and carpets are made completely of rPET materials – recycled polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic that is mostly obtained from PET bottles. The Style seats also use a fabric made from SEAQUAL® yarn – its base material is ocean plastic that is collected and then recycled. The horizontal trim (Milky Way design in the top-of-the-range version) also consists of a new recycled material below the ventilation openings.