Volkswagen ID.5 review

Pros: Sporty looks, refinement, spacious interior.

 

Cons: Lacks dynamic appeal, expensive.

 

Spotting a gap in the market for a sporty SUV coupé, Volkswagen introduces the glamourous ID.5 to Ireland in 2022. Crowning the new range is the Volkswagen ID.5GTX with dual motors and 299hp, offering the best performance of the ID.5 range and some sportier styling.

 

 

The ID.5 shares a lot with the ID.4, already one of Ireland’s favourite electric SUVs. But the ID.5 stands out for its gorgeous, coupé-inspired sloping roofline towards the rear of the car. A sporty bootlid spoiler completes the look, while GTX models get their own distinctive LED lighting sequence that adds a sense of occasion every time you approach the car.

 

Standard versions of the ID.5 come with 19-inch alloy wheels, while the top of the range ID.5 GTX rolls on stunning 20-inch alloys. GTX models also get sportier bumpers and trim elements front and rear. Other features include a black contrast roof, some GTX-specific badging and LED matrix headlights connected by a stunning illuminated light bar.

 

 

Volkswagen has revolutionised the cabins of their latest electric ID models with a clean and minimalist design that gives a great feeling of space and packs in lots of clever storage compartments. All versions come as standard with a large 12-inch touchscreen display that also responds to voice commands and is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s also a small digital display for the driver and some versions get a very impressive, augmented reality head-up display that projects driver information onto the windscreen. Ventilation controls are accessed through the screen and there are some touch sensitive scroll type buttons to adjust the temperature, but they are not the most satisfying to use.

 

Material quality in the cabin of the ID.5 is good with GTX models getting some blue leatherette trim in the door and dash panels with sporty red stitching, and some gorgeous sports seats with integrated headrests. However, it doesn’t feel quiet as premium as the cabin of the new Nissan Ariya for example.

 

The ID.5 is one of the most spacious electric SUVs of its kind. The rear bench will seat three while the footwells are large and the ID.5’s clever design means that there is a flat floor, so everyone gets ample legroom. And despite the ID.5’s sloping roofline, it only loses about 12mm in headroom for rear seat passengers. Adults will be able to sit comfortably. The ID.5 also has one of the biggest boots in the segment at 549 litres – in fact that’s a few litres more than the ID.4!  

 

 

The ID.5 uses the same 77kWh battery as the ID.4 and is available as single motor or dual motor versions. Single motor versions are available with 174hp or 204hp, and are the most efficient, offering a driving range of up to about 532 kilometres (WLTP). Fast charging is available at speeds of up to 135kW.

 

The 299hp, dual motor ID.5 GTX offers up to 516 kilometres of range (WLTP) and the best performance, accelerating to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds. But being a large electric SUV means there is a limit to its dynamism. GTX models get sports suspension, progressive steering, and adaptive chassis control, which works with the driving modes to adjust the firmness of the suspension. And here is where the ID.5 GTX excels. It’s wonderfully smooth and refined to drive, particularly at high speeds on the motorway. It’s a car that seems to major more on comfort than sportiness, despite the sporty GTX billing. And there’s power when you want it, but it never feels as fun to drive as a Ford Mustang Mach-e or as fast as a Tesla Model Y.

 

 

Single motor versions of the ID.5 go on sale from €59,995 for the ID.5 Business, rising to €71,905 for a top of the range ID.5 Max. The ID.5 GTX with dual motors goes on sale from €66,500 for the ID.5 GTX Business and from €77,110 for the top of the range ID.5 GTX Max.

 

 

The Volkswagen ID.5 shares much of the same formula that’s made the ID.4 such a success in Ireland – but with sleeker and sportier coupé-inspired looks. The cabin experience is not the most stylish or user-friendly now of the segment, but the ID.5offers great range and fast charging. The ID.5 GTX is gorgeous to look at and powerful too, but it’s expensive and fails to deliver the dynamism you might expect from the GTX badge. Bag yourself one of the more standard versions and you’ll have a stylish and spacious electric SUV offering some of the best comfort and refinement of the segment.