New Volkswagen IDEvery1 previews the sub-£20k EV of the future

• IDEvery1 concept previews upcoming ID One electric car
• Boxy, practical design with minimal detailing
• Targeted price in Europe of less than €20,000 (£16,670)
• Concept has 95hp motor and a range of ‘at least’ 155 miles
• Will sit underneath ID2 hatchback and ID2all SUV
• Production model to arrive in showrooms in 2027

This cute little customer is the Volkswagen IDEvery1. Forget the odd bit in the middle and concentrate on the ‘ID’ and ‘1’ parts of the car’s name – the former signifies it’s one of Volkswagen’s electric cars, while the latter denotes its position as the smallest and most affordable model.

The IDEvery1 therefore previews a new entry-level electric car from the German manufacturer. Expected to be called ID One or ID1 when it hits showrooms in 2027, VW is targeting a sub-€20,000 price tag to make it a compelling alternative to other bargain-priced EVs such as the Renault 5 EV, Leapmotor T03 or Citroen e-C3.

Volkswagen IDEvery1: styling and design

In size, the IDEvery1 is a little shorter than the current Polo hatchback and a bit longer than the old Up city car. It’s wider than either, though, giving it a strong stance aided by big 19-inch wheels pushed right out to each corner. As a result, it has a square, boxy appearance, akin to an original Mini or the aforementioned Renault 5 EV.

Detailing is minimal. Blacked-out windscreen pillars give the roofline a floating effect, while the headlights are integrated into a full-width black panel that also incorporates a light-up Volkswagen badge. This element – with the headlights positioned at the ends of something akin to a grille – may remind VW fans of the 1980s Jetta.

At the rear, the taillights and badge meld into the rear window – with the badge doubling as a third brake light in addition to a high-set one within the rear spoiler. The sides are smooth and almost featureless – if you look carefully, you can see the outline of pop-out door handles, while there are also subtle lines hinting at the wheel arches.

It’s a very clean and simple look, described by Volkswagen as ‘likable’ and ‘human-oriented’. You can be the judge of that, though…

Volkswagen IDEvery1: interior design and practicality

At first glance the IDEvery1’s interior is as minimalist as its exterior – but looking closer, there are some key design features that prove Volkswagen’s been listening to its customers.

The dashboard is, unsurprisingly, dominated by a big touchscreen – it looks similar in size to the 15.0-inch options on the latest ID models, albeit with much smaller bezels. It also appears to be running the same software, with permanent rows of shortcut keys at the top and bottom of the screen giving quick access to useful functions.

However, underneath the screen, where cars such as the ID3, ID4 and ID7 all have annoying touch-sensitive slider controls for things like the volume and the cabin temperature, the IDEvery1 has a set of five physical controls – temperature and seat heating on either side plus a wide volume roller in the centre. It’s similar to the arrangement on the Kia EV3, and is much better than having to do all of that through the touchscreen.

Looking over to the IDEvery1’s steering wheel, it seems as though this has physical switchgear also, as opposed to the touch-sensitive buttons on some VWs.

There seems to be a central glovebox, with the passenger side getting an open compartment with two luggage straps instead. The front passenger can attach various accessories to the dash in front of them, such as a tablet mount or a shelf-cum-table.

The centre console, meanwhile, is like the modular one you get in an ID Buzz in that it can be slid backwards and forwards to service front-seat or rear-seat passengers, with adjustable shelves inside. The seats also promise multi-adjustment – expect to see a flat-folding front passenger seat for greater flexibility. A neat addition is that of a removable Bluetooth speaker in the centre console.

This concept model gets light, white seats with gold trim to match the exterior colour – expect some more muted shades to be available on the eventual production car, but it’s likely that recycled materials will still be used.

Volkswagen IDEvery1: batteries, range and charging

The IDEvery1 is based on a shortened version of the same underpinnings as Volkswagen’s other electric cars. That means plenty of flexibility in terms of battery size and potential range.

Volkswagen says this concept has a range of ‘at least’ 155 miles – that’s around the same as the old VW e-Up managed before it was discontinued, suggesting a battery pack of around 35kWh in capacity.

VW has promised up to 60kWh of capacity in the larger ID2, which if installed in the lightweight IDEvery1 could result in around 300 miles of official range. Power output for this concept model, meanwhile, is a relatively lowly 95hp, but expect to see beefier electric motors offered for the production model.

It’s likely that VW will keep a low-range, low-power model as a way to hit the headline entry-level price of less than €20,000, with bigger batteries and more powerful motors available for those who want a more usable everyday car.

Volkswagen IDEvery1: how much will it cost and when can I buy one?

This IDEvery1 is still a concept, and we’re expecting the eventual production model to be named ID One or ID1. You can expect it to be slightly toned-down from this concept model, perhaps with more basic materials inside and some more low-rent design details – think of the transformation the Honda Urban EV concept underwent to become the Honda e production car.

The basic price of the production model will be under €20,000 in Europe, equivalent to just under £17,000. However, the true cost is likely to be a little higher in right-hand drive, reflecting VW’s pricing across its existing cars – so a realistic price would be around £20,000 in the UK.

The new car will arrive in showrooms in 2027.

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