Volkswagen ID.5 review – the brand’s electric coupe-SUV

Verdict – is the Volkswagen ID.5 a good car?

The Volkswagen ID.5 is more compelling than when it first launched, having received a power increase across its lineup and simpler trim levels. It’s one of the most comfortable cars in its class and boasts a more impressive range than before, but there’s no denying its lacklustre interior quality, which feels cheap even beside its Skoda Enyaq Coupe sibling. The hot GTX version also somehow fails to feel special – an important factor for such an expensive car

Volkswagen ID.5 models, specs and alternatives

It started with the BMW X6, and now it’s almost expected that a new SUV will launch as standard and coupe versions. In this case, the Volkswagen ID.5 is a sleeker variation of the ID.4, trading a little bit of practicality for a sleeker look.

That curvier shape actually makes the electric ID.5 slightly more efficient than the ID.4, increasing its quoted range by a couple of miles. All versions of the ID.5 get a 77kWh battery, so standard models manage up to 345 miles and even the range-topping GTX performance model officially achieves 328 miles.

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The Volkswagen ID.4 not only gets a smaller 52kWh battery option and a less powerful electric motor, but it’s cheaper, too. That explains why the ID.5 looks so much more expensive on paper than the ID.4; spec-for-spec, the price difference isn’t that great – although it has come down since launch, now starting from around £46,000.

Unfortunately, some of the ID.5’s features don’t really sit well in a car costing this much. Volkswagen’s needlessly complicated touchscreen and controls remain, and the material quality just isn’t as good as those used in the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, Tesla Model Y or even the Kia EV6. It’s roughly on a par with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, but we’d even say the Skoda Enyaq Coupe – the ID.5’s cheaper cousin – feels plusher.

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Volkswagen heavily simplified the ID.5 lineup since launch, so it’s now offered in just two versions – the standard car is currently only available in Match trim, but there’s a faster standalone car badged the GTX – the nameplate used for the brand’s hot electric variants.

The Match models get a reversing camera, keyless entry and start, automatic matrix LED headlights, 19-inch alloy wheels, an electrically-operated tailgate and 12.9-inch infotainment screen with sat nav and wireless smartphone charging. There’s lots of safety kit too, so the ID.5 is well equipped. GTX models get a sportier look to reflect the uprated power figure including larger 20-inch wheels. There’s even more sophisticated adaptive suspension to make it better to drive, and high-end additions like a panoramic glass roof, but at just under £10,000 more than the standard car it might not be enough to convince most buyers.

The regular ID.5 might not set pulses racing, but it offers a comfortable ride even on the biggest available wheels. It changes direction sharply at lower speeds, but go into a corner fast and it’ll just push towards the outside of the bend. Sport mode offers heavier steering and a more responsive throttle pedal, but a Ford Mustang Mach-E will still provide greater driving thrills if that’s what you’re after.

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ID.5 models were originally offered with a choice between 172bhp and 201bhp motors, but Volkswagen revised the system, so now the standard car just gets one 282bhp option. With the standard car’s performance figure now not far from the original GTX’s power output, Volkswagen upped the latest GTX’s output to 335bhp. Our original thoughts on the previous 295bhp GTX were that it failed to feel special, but the power increase to 335bhp may go some way to providing a little more thrill, though we’re yet to try this updated version.

It’d be reasonable to expect a much smaller boot in the ID.5, because of its roof chop. The good news here is that the drop in practicality isn’t very big, partly because of the way the bodywork rises up towards the rear end. With the rear seats in place, Volkswagen actually quotes a slightly higher boot capacity than for the ID.4, although the total capacity with the seats down is bigger in the ID.4. Even tall adults will be happy enough in the back seats of the ID.5, so it’s still a really usable family SUV.