What’s in a name? A lot if you take the ‘People’s Car’ meaning of Volkswagen literally. In form, function, name and price VW has hit the nail on the head again with the announcement of their ‘ID. EVERY1’, a small hatchback EV that should appeal to a broad spectrum of potential buyers when it hits the showrooms in 2027 at the critical 20,000 Euro price point.
There is no denying that two of the biggest problems with recent EVs in general is that they are too large and too expensive. After all how many buyers actually want or need a 90,000 Euro, 2.6 tonne electric SUV? Meanwhile a sports saloon EV costing north of 150,000 Euro that only carries four people, not much luggage, and depreciates like a lead balloon is simply insane.
It is clear that the mad rush towards electrification has not been thought through on so many levels. Apart from the lack of infrastructure, all the dialogue between governments and car makers failed to consider what the buying public want and more importantly, need. Now the chickens have coming home to roost and the significant reversal in the steadily rising EV sales in recent months and the dire situation with car makers closing factories and laying off workers is the wakeup call that has finally forced a rethink of the whole game plan.
New Batteries included
One of the major weaknesses in the electric mobility push has been a failure to replace the small hatchback, a staple class of car not just in Europe but across the world. The billions spent has once again highlighted that as larger more expensive cars are more profitable they were pushed to the fore to enable manufacturers to recoup their massive investments faster.
VW has plans to address this missing EV segment with the ID. EVERY1 and it is clear that they intend to do so with style and panache. But in order to sell the car profitably at the 20,000 Euro target price VW will have to bring down battery costs significantly over the next two years.
That apart, component architecture savings will come from VW’s joint-venture with US-based EV maker Rivian, whose specialised software ecosystem requires fewer ECUs and significantly less wiring. The resultant weight saving and simplified manufacturing assure reduced costs.
EXTERIOR
Penned by chief designer Andreas Mindt and his team, the design language for VW’s entry-level ID. EVERY1 is clean, crisp and neatly detailed, and looks every inch a Volkswagen.
The basic form continues the DNA lineage that harks back to the Golf Mk 1 of 1974 and has been handed down to subsequent Golfs, Polos and the Up! While the detailing continues the evolution of current VW thinking, the big wheel arches confer a sense of muscle, giving the car a purposeful stance without appearing overtly aggressive. A GTI version would certainly benefit from the look of the concept car with its arch-filling wheels and tyres.
While the 19-inch alloys on the concept car were shod with 225/40R19 Bridgestone tyres, we would expect the production car to come on 17s as standard with 18s as an option. The fact is that wider rubber creates drag, which eats away at a cars fuel efficiency, more critical with an EV since charging takes so long.
SIZE MATTERS
With an overall length of 3,880 mm, height of 1,490 mm and a width of 1,816 mm, the ID. EVERY1 features very short overhangs, creating a taut and well-balanced design with distinct VW DNA that looks and is exactly as big as it needs to be to carry four adults in relative comfort and also be easy to park in cities.
Small cars in particular benefit from exuding a friendly or even cuddly demeanour. Here, the interaction of the LED headlights with the stylised radiator grille integrated between them give the ID. EVERY1 a slightly cheeky smiling ‘face’ underpinned by slightly raised ends at the sides of the long horizontal lines in the lower sections of the front and rear bumpers. The headlight and tail light clusters feature programmed animated welcome and goodbye scenarios that reinforce the friendly interaction between car and owner.
The design element created by the vertical daytime running lights is picked up again at the rear by the similar vertical reflectors in the bumper, while the VW badges at the front and rear are illuminated.
INTERIOR & INFOTAINMENT
If the exterior treatment of the ID. EVERY1 is modern conservative, the interior is a fine balance of space, light and tactile materials overlaid with a light sprinkling of tech that takes half a step back from the touchscreen excess seen in recent years.
It was gratifying to hear VW’s management tell us that they have listened to customer complaints and reviews like ours of the VW Golf 8 about touchscreens. “It’s not an iPhone, it’s a car” they admit.
And so mission critical physical buttons on both the steering wheel controls and dashboard are back in their next generation of cars including the ID. EVERY1.
While the exterior dimensions are slightly smaller than the Polo, thanks to the new modular electric drive (MEB) platform with front-wheel drive, the interior is just as roomy.
Finished in warm, friendly colours, the interior surfaces are eye-catching and pleasant to the touch, helping to create a feel-good atmosphere. Most of the fabrics are made from recycled materials such as PET bottles. The use of a new, terrazzo-like mottled surface helps to give the ID. EVERY1 cabin a light and airy feel.
BACK TO BUTTONS
On the dashboard, horizontal lines visually enhance the cabin width with the clearly arranged dash panel in front of the driver. The centre of the dashboard is dominated by the the infotainment system’s large touchscreen, with the ergonomically pleasing buttons for the interior temperature, seat heating and audio volume located below.
The front passenger side of the dash panel is designed to be variable. A tablet, for example, can be snapped onto a rail here. It is also possible to attach a shelf, which can be used as a table.
In front of the digital instruments integrated in the centre of the dash panel, a further design highlight is the two-spoke multifunction steering wheel with flattened upper and lower sections. The similar rounded-off square shape of the steering wheel buttons is a theme seen in other locations such as the exterior mirror adjustment button in the driver door.
BLUETOOTH BOX ON BOARD
The audio system in the ID.EVERY1 is very much aimed at the younger buyer who expects versatility and portability. With the audio speakers conventionally positioned in the forward part of the door bottoms and the dashboard top, a proposed option is a small, illuminated and removable Bluetooth speaker that sits on the floor between the driver and front passenger. This reminds me of the B&W MM1 speakers from a decade ago in its size and shape and is perfect for providing background music while you picnic near the car.
Right now 2027 seems a long way away, but the enthusiasm we felt from VW’s designers at the debut night left us with the feeling that we have surprise and delight in store when the ID. EVERY1 finally reaches the showrooms.
