By Edward A. Sanchez — March 18, 2023
Volkswagen has been quite aggressive in its entry into the EV market, with the ID.3, ID.4 and now ID. Buzz. Many wondered when the ID.3 came out if it was the de facto EV replacement for the Golf. Volkswagen was vague on the answer, and now we see why. One look at the new ID. 2all concept, and it’s not hard to see the family resemblance with the Mk8 Golf. This is a much more conventional look than the retro-themed ID.Life concept showed at the IAA 2021 show.
If the objective is to entice mainstream buyers, the ID. 2all is probably a more rational approach than an unconventionally styled car. That said, public reception to the retro-futuristic ID. Buzz seems to be overwhelmingly positive. Regardless, it’s not the ID. 2all’s styling that’s the headline here. It’s the car’s ambitious price point of only €25,000, or a little over $26,000. That price point would put it in the realm of the Chevy Bolt, one of the lowest-priced long range EVs currently on the market.
Size-wise, the ID. 2all splits the difference between the C-segment Golf and the B-segment Polo with an overall length of just under 160 inches, and a wheelbase of 102.4 inches.
Name aside, the VW ID. 2all could be a popular hot hatch in the U.S., should Volkswagen choose to bring the very Golf-esque EV to these shores. [/caption]
But Volkswagen’s ambition doesn’t end at just a bargain-basement price. Wolfsburg is targeting a range of 280 miles (450 km). Granted, that’s probably using the generous WLTP measurement, meaning the EPA rated range would probably be more like 225-240 miles. Meanwhile, the ID. 2all doesn’t skimp in the power department, with a generous 223 hp (166 kW) front-wheel-drive motor.
Cargo capacity of 490-1,330 liters (17-47 cubic feet) gives it practicality on par with the Golf or other C-segment hatchback models. The interior of the concept follows current convention with a small horizontal display for the instrument cluster in front of the driver, and a larger touchscreen display in the middle for infotainment and HVAC functions. The shifter is a rotary knob above a “floating” console, and of course, the signature “pause” and “play” icons on the brake and accelerator pedals.
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The ID. 2all is part of the MEB Entry platform, presumably designed to be built at a lower price point than the higher-priced rear/all-wheel-drive variants like the ID.3, ID.4, ID. Buzz, and ID.7. In the press release, VW specifically mentions the “European market” for the ID. 2all, with the production version making its debut in 2025.
As a resident of the U.S., I hope that doesn’t mean the North American market will be passed over for this handsome compact hatch. Perhaps VW is saving the hot-rod GTI equivalent of the ID. 2all (or whatever it’s called) for the U.S. market, much like the only versions of the Golf currently sold in the U.S. are the high-potency GTI and Golf R variants. I wouldn’t be opposed to that.
If you’ve listened to The Watt Car Podcast, I’ve shared some of my love-hate tales with my Mk4 Golf GTI. There is no dispute that VWs are fun-to-drive. Reliability is another matter. I’ve had other friends with newer generations of the Golf that have had much better experiences, so I’m slowly warming up to the idea of considering a Volkswagen again.
(Images courtesy Volkswagen)
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