Volkswagen unveils its most affordable EV yet - ID.Every1

Volkswagen has pulled the curtain back on the ID.Every1 concept, a preview of its upcoming entry-level EV. It's about time the automaker recognized the need for more affordable electric cars to boost widespread adoption and fix its ailing business. Aiming to fill the gap in the lower price range, Volkswagen plans to introduce the ID.2 and ID.1, with the ID.Every1 apparently being the preview of the latter. Set to launch around 2027, the ID.1 is projected to have a starting price of approximately $22,000.

Volkswagen has been designing the ID.Every1 for nearly three years. Back in 2022, we saw first what was supposed to be the future ID.1 but then things went quiet. Cupra picked up the pace with the bonkers, 222-horsepower Raval, which is coming to the market later this year. A lot has changed in the EV market in the last three years, but we finally get a look at the future affordable electric VW.

The ID.Every1 concept signals a new era for Volkswagen's small electric vehicles, effectively replacing the discontinued e-up!. The new model is significantly larger, measuring 152.8 inches in length, which is 11 inches longer than its predecessor. Compact in its nature, the ID.Every1 gets design elements reminiscent of the classic first-generation Golf, featuring a flat beltline and a black rear gloss surround inspired by the original GTI. The concept sports 19-inch wheels, but it's highly unlikely they will make it to the production model.

Inside, the ID.Every1 promises a spacious cabin comparable to the gasoline-powered Polo, with enough room for four passengers plus a luggage capacity of {{305 }}l. A notable feature is the sliding center console, similar to the ID.Buzz minivan, and a rail system on the passenger side for attaching various accessories.

The vehicle will use Volkswagen's new software architecture, raising concerns about potential early-adopter issues given the company's less-than-stellar record. There's a dedicated instrument cluster and physical buttons for key functions, but the concept also hints at possible subscription-based features. A removable Bluetooth speaker and charging ports on both front fenders add to the car's unique features.

Powered by a single front-mounted motor with a 94 horsepower output, the ID.Every1 has a top speed of 81 mph. Volkswagen estimates a minimum driving range of 155 miles, though specific battery details remain undisclosed. The car shares the MEB platform with the larger ID.2, which is set to launch next year. Future plans include a GTI performance version and a crossover variant, the ID.2X, further expanding the lineup.

Volkswagen's ID.Every1 is a big step toward more accessible electric cars, combining classic design cues with modern technology. The vehicle's blend of practicality, affordability, and innovative features will surely attract a broad audience, but is it too little, too late?

Volkswagen needs to turn its business around, and bringing its most affordable EV to the market in two years doesn't sound like a good decision. Two years in the EV world is a lot - we only need to look back at electric cars from 2023 to see the generational gap in vehicle development.

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