The ID. Cross Shows VW Is Serious About Bringing Back Buttons

It’s shaping up to be a busy IAA Mobility Show for Volkswagen next week. In Munich, attendees will see the first electric GTI, albeit still camouflaged. A disguised Polo without a combustion engine will also be on display, joined by an even smaller electric hatchback: the ID. Every1 concept. But surely VW isn’t ignoring the SUV-hungry crowd. It isn’t. Meet the ID. Cross concept.

Essentially a crossover version of the upcoming electric ID. Polo, the new concept previews next year’s production model. It’s set to become VW’s most affordable electric SUV, unless that ID. Every1 eventually gets the high-riding treatment. The ID. Cross is nearly as boxy as the T-Cross, Wolfsburg’s similarly sized gasoline SUV.

VW says the design incorporates subtle nods to iconic nameplates. For instance, the slightly forward-leaning C-pillars are inspired by the Golf. The three horizontal louvers echo the Bus and were later added to the ID. Buzz. “Floating” roofs remain in fashion in 2025, evidenced here by the blacked-out pillars contrasting with the green “Urban Jungle” paint.

As with any modern concept car, oversized wheels are a must. The ID. Cross rides on 21-inch alloys despite measuring only 163.8 inches (4161 millimeters) in length. VW says its entry-level electric SUV is 72.4 inches (1839 millimeters) wide, about the same as the gas-powered Taos despite being much shorter. At 62.5 inches (1588 millimeters) tall, it sits slightly lower to the ground than the smallest crossover VW sells in the U.S.

Light bars and illuminated badges are becoming VW staples, and even the louvers appear backlit. It remains to be seen how many of these features will survive into production. That said, the concept feels closer to a near-production prototype than a pure design study. Regular door handles, black plastic cladding, and traditional mirrors rather than dinky cameras suggest the ID. Cross is not far from its final form.

VW has promised to bring back physical buttons, and it’s good to see that commitment honored here. The upcoming hatchbacks we mentioned earlier will all feature separate controls, just like this crossover. In addition to climate buttons on the center console, the steering wheel is packed with keys. Perhaps too many?

Unusually, textile-covered buttons are integrated into the seats, while the driver’s door houses the familiar window and mirror controls. The center console appears to feature a rotary knob located before a wireless charging pad large enough for two smartphones. Below that, cupholders sit ahead of real eucalyptus leaves displayed behind semi-transparent panels.

The ID. Cross pairs an 11-inch digital instrument cluster with a 13-inch central touchscreen, and as you can see, VW is moving away from seamlessly integrating displays into dashboards. But with ever-larger screens, that’s perhaps inevitable. Elsewhere, the seats fold completely flat to create what VW describes as a “reclining area in the style of a Bus.”

Despite its small footprint, the dedicated EV platform maximizes practicality. The cargo compartment holds nearly 16 cubic feet (450 liters), with an additional 1.3 cubic feet (38 liters) of storage under the rear bench. Up front, a tiny trunk adds nearly one cubic foot (25 liters). No, I’m not calling it a frunk.

Like the upcoming electric hatchbacks, the ID. Cross uses the MEB+ platform designed for front-wheel-drive cars. Yes, FWD. A single motor sends 208 horsepower to the front axle, enabling a top speed of 109 mph (175 km/h). An unspecified battery pack delivers up to 261 miles (420 kilometers) of range on the WLTP cycle.

The production ID. Cross will debut next summer under a new name, possibly ID. Polo Cross. It will join the ID. Polo and ID. Polo GTI hatchbacks, which are also coming in 2026. Then, in 2027, the entry-level ID. Every1 will arrive, also wearing a familiar name under VW’s new strategy of reusing familiar labels for EVs.

To achieve economies of scale, some of these models will also spawn Skoda and SEAT counterparts.