Volkswagen’s new ID. Polo has been crowned German Car of the Year 2027, giving one of the company’s most important electric models a significant early endorsement.
The electric hatchback first secured victory in the Budget category, reserved for cars with a German starting price below €25,000, before going on to beat the winners of the four other classes for the overall title. The decision was made by an independent jury of 47 German and international automotive journalists following final test drives of the five category winners.
Those rivals included the Kia PV5, winner of the Compact category, the electric Mercedes-Benz GLC in Premium, XPeng X9 in Luxury and Hyundai Ioniq 6 N in Performance.
Perhaps more important than the trophy itself is what the ID. Polo represents. Volkswagen has spent years working towards a genuinely affordable electric car, and the entry-level ID. Polo starts at €24,995 in Germany. Unlike Volkswagen’s earlier ID. models, it also adopts an established name rather than an entirely new identity.
Based on the MEB+ platform and using front-wheel drive, the range currently spans 116 hp, 135 hp and 211 hp versions. Two battery capacities are offered, with the larger 52 kWh pack providing up to 454 km of WLTP range. A 226 hp ID. Polo GTI will follow in 2027. Despite its compact dimensions, Volkswagen quotes 441 litres of luggage capacity.
The award also arrives during an interesting moment for small electric cars. Renault’s new Twingo was among the ID. Polo’s rivals in the Budget category, while affordable EVs are increasingly becoming one of the industry’s most competitive battlegrounds.
The ID. Polo is also one of seven finalists for the separate European Car of the Year 2027 award. Remarkably, every car on that shortlist is electric for the first time in the award’s 63-year history.
For Volkswagen, however, the German title is already an important result. The Polo name has sold more than 20 million units during its lifetime. Its electric successor now has the considerably harder task of proving that mass-market EVs can become just as ordinary, accessible and desirable.
