VW ID. Cross gets a cheaper 37kWh battery from €27,995: what it means for UK buyers

Volkswagen has made its smallest electric SUV cheaper. The ID. Cross, the electric equivalent of the best-selling T-Cross, is now available in Germany with a smaller 37kWh battery, starting at €27,995 including VAT, as Electrek reported. The entry-level ID. Cross Trend has up to 201 miles of WLTP range, against 265 miles for the existing 52kWh version.

VW says the cheaper car “is primarily aimed at customers who mainly drive in urban traffic and on typical commuting routes and at the same time value an attractive entry-level price”. UK prices for the 37kWh version have not been confirmed. Here is what the smaller battery means in practice and how it fits VW’s push into cheap EVs. Our VW Group small electric cars comparison puts it alongside its sister models.

What has changed?

The ID. Cross now comes with two batteries:

	37kWh (new)	52kWh
Battery chemistry	Lithium iron phosphate (LFP)	Nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC)
Motors	85kW (116PS) or 99kW (135PS)	155kW (211PS)
WLTP range	Up to 324km (201 miles)	Up to 427km (265 miles)
Peak DC charging	90kW	105kW
10% to 80%	About 23 minutes	About 24 minutes
Braked towing	750kg	Up to 1,200kg
Top speed	160km/h	Not stated in our sources

German prices with the 37kWh battery are €27,995 for Trend, €31,925 for Life and €34,510 for Style, while 52kWh versions start at €36,525, according to heise.

How far will it really go?

VW quotes up to 324km on the WLTP test, but heise points out that this does not apply to every version. Austrian price lists show 222km to 324km for the 85kW Trend and 213km to 312km for the 99kW Life and Style, depending on wheels and equipment.

Independent tests are not yet available. heise’s rough calculation, assuming 20 to 25kWh per 100km in everyday use, suggests about 148km to 185km, roughly 90 to 115 miles. That is a conservative estimate for mixed driving, and gentle town driving will do better. Either way, this is a car for local driving and commuting, not long motorway trips.

Why LFP?

The 37kWh battery uses lithium iron phosphate cells, while the 52kWh battery uses NMC. Both are versions of the unified cell used across the Volkswagen Group and its battery company PowerCo, mounted directly in the pack without module housings.

LFP has clear advantages for a cheap car:

• Cost. It uses no nickel or cobalt, so it is cheaper to make.
• Durability. It generally lasts longer and copes well with regular charging to 100%.
• Safety. It is considered more stable.

The trade-off is lower energy density, which is why the smaller pack gives less range for its size.

How practical is the ID. Cross?

Very, for its size. It is 4,153mm long, with a 2,601mm wheelbase that gives much more legroom than the T-Cross, according to Fakti. The boot holds 475 litres, plus a 25-litre front compartment. Inside, it has VW’s new cockpit design, with a 10.25-inch digital instrument display and a 12.9-inch central screen.

The ID. Cross is built in Pamplona, Spain, and VW chief executive Thomas Schäfer described it as “modern, reliable, and above all, affordable” when production started.

What about the UK?

Volkswagen has not announced UK pricing for the 37kWh ID. Cross. Because it is built in Spain, it meets the factory location side of the UK Electric Car Grant rules, and at its price level it should fall under the grant’s price cap, but eligibility depends on the government’s assessment of each model. Our latest Electric Car Grant models list shows which cars qualify.

If it arrives in the UK at a price close to the German one, after conversion and grant, it would be one of the cheapest small electric SUVs from a mainstream European brand. Compare it with the Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq, which share its platform, and with Chinese rivals such as the Leapmotor B03 and Omoda 4.

What else is VW doing on price?

The ID. Cross is part of VW Group’s “Electric Urban Car Family”, built on the MEB+ platform: the VW ID. Polo, ID. Cross, Cupra Raval and Skoda Epiq. The ID. Polo starts at €24,995 with the 37kWh battery, and its WLTP range is up to 334km (207 miles).

Next comes an even cheaper car. VW plans to launch the production version of the ID. EVERY1 concept in 2027, expected to be called the ID. Up!, from around €20,000, as Electrek reported. It will be 3,880mm long, seat four, have a 305-litre boot, use a 70kW motor with a top speed of 130km/h and offer at least 250km of range. Schäfer called it “the last piece of the puzzle”.

Who should buy the 37kWh version?

It makes sense if:

• You drive mostly locally, with a daily commute well within its range.
• You can charge at home, ideally on an off-peak tariff, which keeps running costs very low.
• You do not tow anything heavier than a light trailer.

If you regularly drive long distances, the 52kWh version’s extra range, and the higher towing limit, are worth paying for. Our small electric cars for city drivers guide covers alternatives.

How does the ID. Cross compare with its sister cars?

The ID. Cross is one of four Volkswagen Group cars built on the MEB+ platform, part of what the group calls its “Electric Urban Car Family”. They share batteries, motors and much of their engineering, but each has its own character:

Model	Body	Notes
VW ID. Polo	Small hatchback	From €24,995 with the 37kWh battery; up to 207 miles WLTP
VW ID. Cross	Small SUV	From €27,995 with the 37kWh battery; up to 201 miles WLTP
Cupra Raval	Sporty small hatchback	Cupra’s take, with a more dynamic focus
Skoda Epiq	Small SUV	Skoda’s practical, value-focused version

Electrek notes that VW Group offers attractive lease deals and substantial discounts on these models, which are being built in large volumes. For UK buyers, comparing all four is worth doing, because prices, equipment and warranties differ even when the hardware is shared. Our report on the Cupra Raval’s UK price and Euro NCAP rating covers one of them.

Why is LFP becoming common in small EVs?

Lithium iron phosphate batteries have become the default choice for affordable EVs across the industry, from BYD to Tesla’s cheaper models and now Volkswagen. The reasons are cost and durability. LFP cells avoid expensive nickel and cobalt, last for many charging cycles and are generally more tolerant of being charged to 100%.

Their weakness is energy density: an LFP pack stores less energy for its weight and size than an NMC pack. In a small car aimed at town driving, that matters less than price. In a car designed for long trips, NMC still has the edge. That is exactly the split VW has chosen, with LFP for the 37kWh entry model and NMC for the 52kWh version.

For owners, LFP’s tolerance of full charges is useful. Many manufacturers recommend regularly charging LFP batteries to 100%, which gives you the full range every day, whereas NMC batteries are usually best kept between about 20% and 80% for daily use. Check the advice in the handbook for your specific car.

What does the smaller battery mean for charging costs?

A smaller battery is cheaper to fill. Charging the 37kWh battery from empty at home on an off-peak tariff of about 7p per kWh would cost under £3, against under £4 for the 52kWh version. On a standard 25p per kWh tariff, the figures are about £9.25 and £13 respectively. These are illustrative; check your own tariff.

Because the ID. Cross is light and efficient for an SUV, it should be cheap to run whichever battery you choose. Our home EV charging cost calculator can work out your figures.

What about the even cheaper ID. Up!?

If price matters more than size, the expected ID. Up!, due in 2027 from around €20,000, could be worth waiting for. At 3,880mm long it is much smaller than the ID. Cross, with a 305-litre boot and at least 250km of range, but it should be one of the cheapest EVs from a mainstream European brand. VW says it is “the last piece of the puzzle” in its affordable range.

Our view

A 37kWh ID. Cross is a sensible addition. Most UK drivers cover far less than 100 miles a day, and a cheaper, longer-lasting LFP battery is a good match for town and commuter use. The key questions for UK buyers are price after the Electric Car Grant and real-world winter range. If VW gets the UK price close to the German one, this could be one of the best-value small family EVs from a European brand.