Volkswagen ID.2 electric car due in 2026 for less than £22,000

The new Volkswagen ID.2 will be an affordable electric car when it goes on sale in 2026. 

Set to rival the MG4 and Peugeot e-208, Volkswagen says its new electric car will have a range of up to 280 miles and a price tag of around £22,000.

Sitting below the existing Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 in the brand's electric line-up, the new Volkswagen ID.2 – previewed here in concept form as the Volkswagen ID.2all – is based on a new entry-level architecture designed to boost efficiency and keep costs low. 

New 2026 Volkswagen ID.2: price and release date

The ID.2 was initially expected to launch in 2025, but Volkswagen has now confirmed that the production model will debut in 2026. Prices haven't been announced, but VW has previously said it hopes to keep entry costs under £22,000, which would mean it undercuts the current crop of affordable EVs, such as MG4 and the BYD Dolphin, while competing with petrol-powered options like the Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Yaris.

Volkswagen has also revealed plans for an even more affordable entry-level EV at around £17,000, set to launch in 2027. This model, yet to be named but likely badged the ID.1, will be part of the brand's broader push to make electric mobility accessible to a wider audience.

New 2026 Volkswagen ID.2: exterior and interior

The Volkswagen ID.2all concept has a conventional design reminiscent of the Volkswagen Polo, rather than the bold styling seen on other ID models. The design pays homage to Volkswagen classics like the Beetle, Golf, and Polo, with a "friendly face" and "timeless elegance."

Inside, the ID.2all features a 10.9-inch digital instrument panel alongside a 12.9-inch central infotainment system. In contrast to the touch-sensitive controls in the ID.3, the ID.2all includes physical buttons for volume and climate control, addressing previous customer feedback.

Measuring 4050mm in length, 1812mm in width, and 1530mm in height, the Volkswagen ID.2all is smaller than the current Polo but remains practical. A fold-down front passenger seat backrest provides a 2.20-metre load area, and the boot offers 440 litres of space, expanding to 1330 litres with the rear seats folded.

New 2025 Volkswagen ID.2: range and performance

Unlike Volkswagen's bigger electric cars, the new ID.2 uses an electric motor to drive the front axle. While efficiency has clearly been a priority over performance, it should still feel pretty sprightly for anyone trading up from a petrol Polo. With 226PS, the ID.2all will accelerate to 62mph from a standstill in less than 7.0 seconds.

Perhaps more significantly, Volkswagen says it's aiming for a range of around 280 miles, while a DC rapid charger will top up the battery from 10 to 80% in just 20 minutes.

Find a used Volkswagen ID.3 for sale

Can't wait until 2025 for the new Volkswagen ID.2? Fortunately, there are already a number of electric Volkswagens on the market: including the e-Up, ID.3 and ID.4.

The Volkswagen ID.3 is a relatively affordable electric car. It's similar in size to the Volkswagen Golf hatchback (indeed, it indirectly replaced the old Volkswagen e-Golf), competing with the Citroen e-C4, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the ageing Nissan Leaf. You can read our full Volkswagen ID.3 review to find out more.

A search of heycar's Volkswagen ID.3 used car listings reveals that you can pick up a lightly-used example from around £25,000. That means you can already buy a good, used alternative to the new Volkswagen ID.2 without the long wait.

Looking for more new car news?

As well as the newly announced VW ID.2all concept, there's also the all-electric Hyundai Ioniq 6 to look forward to, while the new Kia EV9 is an all-electric seven-seater SUV. For all the latest news, check out our guide to all the best new cars of 2023.