The Volkswagen ID. Polo is the German Car of the Year 2027. As a member of the jury that carried this year’s process through to the end, I can confirm that the fully electric small car from Volkswagen took the overall title after the final test drives of the five class winners, announced on 3 November 2026.
How the ID. Polo won
The ID. Polo first won the Budget class, which covers new model ranges with a starting price below EUR 25,000. It then beat the winners of the four other classes in the final round. The decision was taken by an independent jury of 47 German and international automotive journalists.
The other class winners
The Kia PV5 won the Compact class, for models priced between EUR 25,000 and 40,000. The electric Mercedes-Benz GLC took the Premium class, between EUR 40,000 and 70,000, while the Xpeng X9 led the Luxury class above EUR 70,000. The Hyundai Ioniq 6 N won the Performance class. All class winners were chosen from models launched over the preceding twelve months.
Special recognitions
The jury also singled out individual strengths across all classes. The Geely E2 (test drive here) was named best for Value, the Renault Twingo for Exterior Design, and the BMW iX3 for Interior Design and infotainment.
The Porsche 911 Turbo S won for Powertrain, and the Škoda Peaq was named Family Car of the Year. Klaus Zellmer was named Automotive Person of the Year 2027.
What Volkswagen and the VDA said
Volkswagen CEO Thomas Schäfer said the award shows that high quality and innovative technology are not a matter of vehicle class, and that the ID. Polo brings electric mobility into everyday life where it can have the greatest impact.
Chief Designer Andreas Mindt pointed out that it is the first car with the new Pure Positive design language to win an overall Car of the Year award. VDA President Hildegard Müller described nine years of German Car of the Year as a genuine success story, and credited its standing to its openness to different perspectives.
A small electric car that people were waiting for
Whatever I personally voted for, the result says something that goes beyond a single ballot. The ID. Polo being named German Car of the Year, and being among the finalists of both Danmarks Årets Bil and Car of the Year together with several other small cars, is a clear sign. These are cars the market had been waiting for: electric, compact and relatively affordable. After years dominated by larger and more expensive models, juries across Europe are now rewarding the cars that make electric mobility accessible to far more drivers.
