Volkswagen ID. Polo review

Clean, crisp and not overly complicated, that’s the ID. Polo’s interior. The seats are comfortable and well-upholstered, provide a good range of adjustment for various human heights and shapes behind a squared-off multifunction wheel. There are quite a few buttons on that wheel, but well, we did ask for them.

The rest is a familiar digital cockpit, so 10-inch driver’s display which can be configured with the ’retro display’ (which is actually really useful, as well as good-looking – just hit the ‘View’ button on the dash). So that’s speedo on the left with a power output gauge on the right, in lieu of a rev counter.

All the usual ADAS are available, as well as dynamic road sign displays and traffic light sensing, though committing to ADAS helpers in an urban environment does not come particularly naturally. And there’s the usual ‘ID Light’ on the entirety of the top of the dash in some models that indicates charging and offers visual cues for the sat-nav (standard equipment from Style trim and above). Although that’s only for the native ‘nav (not standard across the range), and not for CarPlay or Android Auto stuff.

How’s the touchscreen?

The 13-inch screen in the middle handles most of the now-and-again functions and is useful and clear – though the static touchscreen ‘buttons’ on the top of the display are small. Want to change drive modes? It’s screen-only, and big fingers on bumpy roads will struggle. Luckily, there are normal switches on the bar underneath for the most used functions.

The gear selector is the familiar rotary VW item on the right of the wheel, the left stalk being the indicator and wiper functions and there are four buttons on the driver’s side to operate the windows – gone are the front/back switcheroo versions. Generally it’s a very easy car to get into and get going – even the tiles to turn off intrusive ADAS are easily accessed – though a one-button solution would be even better.

As for kit, it really depends on options or trim level. There are heated, massaging seats available, a Harman Kardon stereo, Connected Travel Assistant, voice activation, LED head and taillights, various levels of air-con, wireless charging… that sort of thing. The basics are all covered even in the lower grades mind, so plenty of places to store stuff and general quality throughout.

As per fashion, the fabrics in the door cards, seats and headliner, as well as carpets are all made from rPET, or to give it the proper name, recycled polyethylene terephthalate; a thermoplastic that is mostly distilled from plastic bottles. Though there are levels even in eco-conscience, because top-line ID. Polos use SeaQual yarn made from plastics recovered from the ocean. Which probably gives you extra Smug Points. Somehow.