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Press Release

ID. Polo named 2027 German Car of the Year – in the Budget category

Words by Volkswagen UK

All data is correct at time of publishing

  • The German Car of the Year (GCOTY) jury has named the ID. Polo the best new Budget car of the year.
  • The ID. Polo secured first place in the highly competitive Budget category by impressing the panel with its design, driving pleasure, comfort, safety and innovation.
  • The ID. Polo achieved top scores in four out of five categories, as well as ranking top for both its interior and exterior design.
4 min read

What did the ID. Polo win at the German Car of the Year 2027 awards?

The all-new electric ID. Polo has finished first in the Budget category at the German Car of the Year (GCOTY) awards. The ID. Polo impressed the international jury and earned top marks in four out of five key evaluation categories. This win sends out a powerful signal: Volkswagen is bringing electric mobility into the heart of the small car segment, making it attractive, affordable and practical for everyday use.

What are the German Car of the Year (GCOTY) awards?

The German Car of the Year (GCOTY) awards are presented at an annual award show that brings together automotive journalists and expert creators to independently test and judge vehicles. Each year, the judges test drive and review new cars entering the European market for real progress in design, technology, and everyday usability. All eligible vehicles are tested, and the winners are determined based on voting and ratings within their categories, and overall.

Which cars did the ID. Polo beat?

The new small car triumphed over seven competitors and secured first place ahead of the Renault Twingo and Renault Clio.

How did the ID. Polo score in each category?

The ID. Polo impressed with top marks as a true all-rounder, achieving particularly high scores in Design and Driving Pleasure, reaching 85.8% of the maximum rating. It also scored 84.2% in Safety and Environment, and 83.8% in Significance and Innovation. In the Comfort and Practicality category, the new compact Volkswagen received 82.0%.

 

Two smiling men hold an award at an auto show, with a Volkswagen ID. display and classic cars behind them; the scene feels celebratory.
Jens Meiners (left) and Kai Grünitz at the GCOTY awards ceremony at The Nationales Automuseum – The Loh collection.

What did the judges say about the ID. Polo?

“The VW ID. Polo outperformed the runner-up in four out of five criteria, securing an undisputed class victory. The jury’s clear vote reflects the significance this car holds for the Volkswagen brand,” said Jens Meiners, co-founder of GCOTY.

How did the ID. Polo rank for interior and exterior design?

The ID. Polo was among the top-ranked vehicles in the cross-category design awards, finishing in second place across the entire field for the “Special Award Best Interior Design” and third place for “Best Exterior Design” in the evaluation by the 47 GCOTY jurors.

What Volkswagen said about the award

Kai Grünitz, Member of the Board of Management responsible for Development at Volkswagen Passenger Cars and Brand Group Core: “The ID. Polo is seamlessly leading one of our absolute bestsellers into the electric era. The success at the German Car of the Year awards proves that its overall package is highly convincing: clear design, plenty of space, intuitive operation, high safety standards and technologies usually found in higher segments. This is a fantastic recognition for the entire team and a strong signal for our goal to make electric mobility accessible and desirable for significantly more people.”

 

A bespectacled man in a dark suit holds a display plaque in a classic car museum, surrounded by vintage vehicles; the scene feels polished and informative.
Kai Grünitz at the GCOTY awards ceremony at The Nationales Automuseum – The Loh collection.

Why the ID. Polo matters: the Polo goes electric

More than 20 million Polos sold

The GCOTY award underscores the special significance of the all-new ID. Polo for the brand. With more than 20 million units sold to date, the Polo is one of the most successful models in Volkswagen’s history. The ID. Polo serves as an all-electric reinterpretation, carrying a familiar name into a new era.

Developed in Wolfsburg, with technology from larger Volkswagens

The ID. Polo combines a clear and timeless design with efficient front-wheel drive, a generous amount of space, a high standard of quality and numerous innovations. The ID. Polo is available with features from larger Volkswagens like the new Connected Travel Assist with traffic light recognition, Park Assist Pro with memory function, electronically adjustable seats with memory and pneumatic massage functions for front passengers and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

ID. Polo price, range and availability in the UK

How much does the ID. Polo cost in the UK?

The new ID. Polo is available at prices starting from £23,945.

How far can the ID. Polo go on a charge?

The ID. Polo with a 52-kWh battery has a maximum WLTP range of up to 281 miles, and it can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 24 minutes with up to 105 kW DC. The ID. Polo with a 37-kWh battery has a maximum WLTP range of up to 205 miles and it can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 23 minutes with up to 88 kW DC.

When does the ID. Polo arrive in the UK?

The ID. Polo is available to order now, with the first vehicles arriving in November 2026.

Frequently asked questions

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© Volkswagen 2026

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