Volkswagen ID.5 Review 2024

There was a time when a coupe-SUV was a niche model, usually the preserve of premium brands like Audi and BMW. But now everyone's at it (look no further than the Renault Arkana, for example) – and now you can buy a sloped roofline version of the ID.4 electric SUV, badged the Volkswagen ID.5.

A new flagship for Volkswagen's electric ID range, the VW ID.5 is only available with the bigger 77kWh battery and a hefty £50,000 plus price tag. You do get an impressive range (up to 313 miles, depending on spec), while its coupe-SUV looks are arguably more attractive than the more functional Volkswagen ID.4.

As well as class-leading electric vehicles like the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, that puts it in the same league as premium alternatives like the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback, Volvo C40 Recharge and Tesla Model Y.

The cabin isn't any posher than you'd get in an ID.4, unfortunately, which is bad news as there are more flimsy finishes than is really acceptable in an SUV costing between £50,000 and £60,000. It looks smart enough, though, although we have our usual concerns about the useability of things like the touch-sensitive climate control buttons.

It's well-equipped for the money, with all models getting a smart 12.0-inch infotainment display and a smaller digital driver's display behind the steering wheel. The Volkswagen ID.5 marks the introduction of the brand's 3.1 software, which includes a new intelligent electric vehicle route planner as well as a (slightly annoying) 'hello ID' voice control feature.

This software also allows the Volkswagen ID.5 to accept 135kW charging, which means you can add 200 miles of range in as little as half an hour. Combine that with the impressive range and the Volkswagen ID.5 is a desirable long-distance electric car.

You might expect the ID.5's coupe-SUV design to come at the expense of practicality, but it's actually pretty spacious inside. The seats are mounted pretty low, which means there's loads of headroom (for both front and rear passengers), while its 549-litre boot is actually marginally bigger than the ID.4's – on paper, at least.

The Volkswagen ID.5 is pretty anodyne to drive, even though the steering is artificially heavier than we're used to from VW. There are three key variants, with the majority of buyers expected to go for the ID.5 Pro. This is a rear-wheel-drive model, with a single electric motor providing 174PS and a pretty lacklustre 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds.

Unless you're spending all your time in the city, we'd recommend upgrading to the ID.5 Pro Performance, with its 204PS electric motor giving it the ability to hit 62mph in a slightly livelier 8.3 seconds.

Topping the range is the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX, which is kind of intended to be an electric GTI model. We're pleased that VW hasn't given it a GTI badge, though – even with its twin electric motors giving the all-wheel-drive ID.5 a 6.3 second 0-62mph time, it's nowhere near as fun to drive as a Ford Mustang Mach-E or Kia EV6.

Much like the Volkswagen ID.4 on which it's based, the ID.5 struggles to stand out in a rapidly expanding segment. It's a perfectly good all-rounder, but its premium price tag makes it harder to forgive certain quirks such as the frustrating infotainment and below-par interior quality.

Coupe-SUVs like the Volkswagen ID.5 usually represent a sacrifice in terms of practicality. Not so with the ID.5 – its boot is ever-so-slightly longer than the ID.4's, which means it can accommodate up to 549 litres of luggage (six litres more than the ID.4). That's up to the parcel shelf, though – the tapered roofline means, if you load it to the hilt, you'll be able to cram more into the regular ID.4.

The difference is minimal, though, and there's even plenty of room for passengers. There's loads of headroom for those in the back, and it's anything but claustrophobic. It'll feel a bit cramped with three adults sitting side by side (and you can't buy a seven-seat ID.5), but there's loads of legroom and a flat floor that doesn't eat into foot space.

Up front, the Volkswagen ID.5 feels positively spacious. You don't sit particularly high up (bad news if you want an elevated driving position), but that means you get an almost infinite amount of headroom. There are loads of useful cubbies, too, as well as usefully-large door bins.

Start prodding around the cabin and the Volkswagen ID.5 just doesn't feel as upmarket as you'd expect for an SUV of this price. Sure, some of the plastics should withstand day-to-day life, but you get a sense that the development budget has been spent elsewhere.

The good news is that all Volkswagen ID.5 models come with a 12.0-inch touchscreen display positioned neatly on top of the dashboard where it's easy to glance at while on the move. You also get Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard, so you can mirror apps from your smartphone.

The bad news is it's not the most intuitive system to use. Some of the menu layouts are odd, while the latest 'Hello ID' voice command system is pretty unusable, based on our experience in an ID.5 launch car.

There are other irritating quirks. There are touch-sensitive buttons on the steering wheel, which are all too easy to trigger accidentally while driving, and the touch-sensitive climate controls are equally annoying (especially if you wish to operate them at night – they're not backlit).

Volkswagen ID.5 prices start from a shade over £50,500 for the Tech Pro model, while the more powerful ID.5 Tech Pro Performance is a smidgen under £52,000.

A Volkswagen ID.5 Max Pro will cost you around £54,000, while the ID.5 Max Pro Performance is an extra £1500.

The range-topping Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max has a list price of nearly £59,000 from launch.

In terms of value for money, the Volkswagen ID.4 does more for less. Indeed, these prices put the ID.5 in the realm of some pretty desirable electric SUVs – cars like the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback and Volvo C40 Recharge are a similar price.

All Volkswagen ID.5 models come with a 77kWh battery pack, providing a range of up to 313 miles (depending on model). The ID.5 GTX Max is the least efficient, with an official range of 296 miles.

That certainly puts the ID.5 up there with the longest-range electric vehicles, with the ability to make light work out of long journeys. It can be charged at a rate of up to 135kW, too, which means a rapid charge will add 200 miles of range in just half an hour or so. Relying on the most convenient public chargers could cost you a pretty penny, though – expect to pay as much as 70p per kWh, which means a charge from 10 to 80 per cent could cost more than £30.

As with all electric cars, we'd recommend charging the Volkswagen ID.5 at home if possible. A 7hW charger can fully charge the ID.5 overnight (in around 12 hours) at a cost of £20 or so (depending on your home electricity tariff).

Charging costs aside, the Volkswagen ID.5 should be very cheap to run. Servicing costs will be low (there's no oil to change, for example), while you won't pay anything for the annual VED (vehicle excise duty – road tax).

Much like the ID.4, the Volkswagen ID.5 excels in feeling 'normal' to drive. It's not the kind of weird experience you might expect from an electric car – it just goes about its business with minimal fuss.

You can fiddle with the drive modes if you wish, while the ID.5 GTX Max comes with Volkswagen's Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) adaptable suspension which can firm up the ride quality depending on your preference. This feature's available as an option on lesser models but we wouldn't necessarily bother – it's pretty comfortable on the standard suspension, without being too wallowy.

The ID.5's steering is pretty non-descript (even on the sporty GTX model), while even the rear-wheel-drive models don't feel as fun to drive as a Tesla Model Y or Kia EV6.

Despite the ID.5's fairly big dimensions, it's easy enough to drive while there's tech available to make things hassle-free. One cool new feature is the Park Assist Plus system which can learn your regular parking manoeuvres and perform them at the touch of a button – without you even inside the vehicle. You can jump out of the ID.5 as soon as you get home and let it park itself on your driveway, essentially.

A rocker switch behind the ID.5's steering wheel allows you to select 'B' mode, which ramps up the level of brake recuperation. This basically uses the electric motor to slow the car down, pumping energy back into the battery in the process. It's not as severe as many electric vehicles, though, and you'd struggle to resort to one-pedal driving around town. Again, another way in which the Volkswagen ID.5 feels surprisingly normal (for better or worse).

There are three different versions of the VW ID.5 to choose from. The most affordable Volkswagen ID.5 Pro uses a single motor driving the rear axle (that means it's rear-wheel drive) to produce 174PS. This is fairly relaxed as electric cars go, with 0-62mph acceleration of 10.4 seconds. It feels pretty punchy around town, though, with the electric motor providing instant get-up-and-go when you press the accelerator. Sure, performance tails off as the speed picks up, but it suits town driving.

The Volkswagen ID.5 Pro Performance uses a more powerful motor to provide 204PS and 0-62mph acceleration of 8.4 seconds. If you want electric thrills, though, you'll need the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max. This uses a second electric motor on the front axle (so the GTX is all-wheel drive as standard) to produce a combined 299PS. It'll cover 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds, which is eager enough for a heavyweight SUV, but it still won't scamper away with quite as much urgency as a Tesla Model Y.

The Volkswagen ID.5 was awarded a five-star safety rating by Euro NCAP in 2022. Although exact UK specifications are yet to be confirmed, an autonomous emergency braking system is expected to be standard, as well as a lane-assist function.

The Volkswagen ID.5 is available in three trim levels: Tech, Max, and the GTX Max.

Standard equipment across the ID.5 range includes a panoramic sunroof, ID.Light LED matrix headlights, LED tail lights, the Travel Assist semi-autonomous assistance system, an electric tailgate three-zone climate control, an augmented-reality head-up display and 12-way electrically adjustable ArtVelour microfleece seats with massage function.

Additional features on the Volkswagen ID.5 Max include 20-inch alloy wheels, sportier seats and the Sports Package Plus (with Dynamic Chassis Control with Driving Profile Selection and progressive steering). The ID.5 Max also features an energy-efficient heat pump.

With its dual-motor setup providing a boost in performance, the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max is the sporty range-topper of the line-up. Externally, it's marked out by specific, sportily-styled bumpers with integrated lights, 20-inch ‘Ystad’ alloy wheels, while the roof frame and C-pillar are finished in glossy anthracite. The interior features exclusive seat upholstery with contrasting red stitching, dark blue leatherette door panels, GTX-branded door sill protectors, and GTX logos on the steering wheel and digital screens.