Volkswagen ID.5 Review: Is it worth upgrading from the ID.4?

Does VW’s spacious family-friendly EV, the ID.5, have enough to rival the slightly smaller ID.4? 

Is it worth upgrading?

Spacious, electric and sporty good looks. The VW ID.5 is Volkswagen’s all-electric family SUV, born to rival the likes of the Tesla Model Y, Kia EV6 and fellow German competitor Audi Q4 E-Tron.

Inspired by the (slightly) smaller sibling, the ID.4, the ID.5 shares many components, including its 77kWh battery pack, but offers more defined coupe styling and additional interior space.

We’ve been out reviewing the 77kWh Tech Pro Performance variant to see just how good it is.

What did we drive?

• Model: Coupe 150kW Tech Pro Performance 77kWh 5dr Auto
• Transmission: Automatic
• Power: Electric (204 PS)
• Colour: Grenadilla black
• OTR from: £50,850
• Price of model driven: £57,450

*Prices correct at the time of publication

Price

The ID.5 starts from just over £41,000 on-the-road for the entry-level Match specification. It can go all the way up to £56,685 for the range-topping GTX 4MOTION spec. The price you pay will depend on the battery variant you choose.

Rivals like the Tesla Model Y start from a similar £44,990.

There’s a big spike in price when you move into the Long Range and Performance variants, which start from £52,990 and £59,990 respectively.

However, if you would like to spread the cost into a more cost-effective driving experience, you can explore a VW lease deal, which offers fixed monthly payments over a set period, with lease terms designed around you.

Batteries, range & charging

There are three different battery variants to choose from within the Volkswagen range.

There’s only one size available (77kWh) this time, but there‘s the Pro (174PS), Pro Performance (204PS) and GTX (299PS) variants, each offering varying degrees of power and a claimed range of up to 327 miles.

Our Pro Performance variant had a claimed range of 324 miles.

The Tesla Model Y on the other hand only offers a claimed range of 283 miles, while the ID.4 has a range of 206 miles, with the range increasing up to 291 miles depending on battery size and variant.

The ID.5 can be charged at up to 135kW, which will recoup 62 miles in just seven minutes – how’s that for convenience?

If you’re charging at home using a standard 7kW wall box charger, the ID.5 will take around 12 hours to charge from zero to full.

For those longer journeys, the ID.5 comes out on top with its impressive range.

Drive

The ID.5 was a very enjoyable drive. While it can be hard to distinguish between different electric cars, it was noticeable how smooth the ID.5 was on the move.

Our test drive route included some less-than-ideal UK road surfaces and it took it all in its stride. It tackled the bumpier surfaces with no fuss whatsoever and was unfazed as we ventured off the beaten track.

You have all the smooth, instant acceleration that we know and love from EVs, and - with over 200PS - you’ve got plenty of power for motorway overtakes where required.

It’s a car of decent length, but it handled nicely and didn’t feel overwhelming to drive either, especially as we travelled through the tighter urban roads.

Similar to the ID.4, smooth driving, great comfort and support. For its size, the ID.4 is easily manoeuvrable, with responsive steering. Bar a bit of noise at high speeds within the cabin, this is a great drive.

Overall, the ID.5 and ID.4 are a very similar story when it comes to cruising along the roads.

Design & interior

The ID.5 offers a refined and contemporary design. It’s hard not to notice the similarities in design between the ID.4 and the ID.5.

They both have an unmistakable ‘VW’ feel to them. The ID.5 blends nicely into the wider VW and ID range, without looking too outlandish or overly electric in its appearance.

Compared to the ID.4, the proportions of the ID.5 seem to fit the car much better. It’s a longer and wider vehicle, and the flowing design brings out the best of this crossover’s looks.

The interior quality was also what you’d expect from VW. It felt well-built and put together, but not quite class-leading when it comes to materials.

Our cabin was filled with Piano Black finishes throughout and with the Indian summer weather we’ve been enjoying lately, the glaring sunshine brought up the worst of the fingerprints and everyday scuffs.

Space & practicality

When you step inside the ID.5, you can instantly sense the sheer space on offer inside.

It’s one of few electric SUVs that can rival the Model Y for interior space. The large sunroof spans the length and width of the car to let in huge amounts of natural light.

The result is a large and airy cabin space, so you don’t feel like you’re sitting on top of passengers. Both the driver and passengers are afforded a reasonable amount of headroom and comfort levels throughout are great.

Just like we experienced during our Volkswagen ID.4 review, we encountered VW’s, let’s say, ‘old-fashioned’ approach to armrests.

Now, don’t get us wrong, an armrest is an armrest, right?

They’re more than comfortable enough, but it caught us by surprise in a modern 2023 EV. At least it gives you the option to push it upright if you’re not a fan.

The ID.5 has a generous boot space at 549 litres, which is just six litres more than what is available in the ID.4. It’s someway off the class-leading 854L available in the Model Y but does gazump the 490L available in the Kia EV6.

It’s a large opening, so you won’t ever struggle getting your larger shopping items in and out of the ID.5, and there’s a minimal load lip to contend with. The adjustable false floor also gives you room underneath to store cables out of sight.

Technology

VW’s technology is its current biggest downfall when compared to some of its competitors.

It’s not a bad system to use, but it’s not as natural or intuitive to use as something like what you’ll find in a new Hyundai or Kia, for example.

The driver is left overly reliant on haptic touch sensitive buttons and an awkward menu layout. The touchscreen is responsive, but it’s lacking physical buttons throughout the cabin.

Shortcut steering wheel thumb controls are helpful and well positioned, but it feels like VW have leant too heavily on the wrong side of the button divide here.

Although this is becoming more and more frequent, it’s still a bit of a pain. For example, the Jaecoo 7 and Volvo EX90 relies mainly on the big centre-stage touch screen infotainment screen for the majority of their controls.

The menus have a raise to wake feature for when there is motion close to the screen.

It’s a system that you’ll learn to use over time, finding the shortcuts and layout that works for your everyday needs, but initially, it took us longer than we’d care to admit finding the climate control or accessing Apple CarPlay.

It’s a shame that the technology does hold the ID.5 back, because the space, practicality and drive is so assured, it would really compete with the Model Y if its technology were just a notch more intuitive.

Safety

During its Euro NCAP safety tests, the VW ID.5 scored top marks, with a five-star score. It followed that up with a 93% score for Adult Occupants and an 89% Child Occupant score.

It also features plenty of driver assistance safety systems as standard, including Adaptive Cruise Control, dynamic lighting with LED matrix headlights, lane assist, front and rear parking sensors, as well as a high-quality reversing camera on all models.

The Euro NCAP safety rating for the ID.4 and the Tesla Model Y are both on par here, with both being awarded a five-star score.

Model lines & equipment

You’ve got the choice of three trim levels within the ID.5 line-up; the Style, Tech and GTX style.

Depending on the trim level you choose, you could have a choice of battery options too. While the battery options can vary, there isn’t a huge difference between each trim level.

Below, we have outlined some of the key highlights from each trim level.

Style – Available from £50,850

Battery options: 77kWh Pro & 77kWh Pro Performance

• Alloy wheels "Hamar" 8J x 19, Black, diamond-turned surface
• 'Interior Style' comfort seats in Art velours microfleece
• ‘Air Care Climatronic’ (3-zone) with rear air conditioning control panel
• "Discover Max" 12-inch Navigation infotainment display
• Rear view camera
• Keyless entry and starting
• Panoramic glass roof
• Matrix LED headlights with automatic headlight control, poor weather light and entry lighting

Tech – Available from £56,310

Battery options: 77kWh Pro & 77kWh Pro Performance

• Alloy wheels "Hamar" 8J x 19, Black, diamond-turned surface
• 'Interior Style' comfort seats in Art velours microfleece
• Power seat adjustment for both front seats, with memory feature and seat depth adjustment
• ‘Air Care Climatronic’ (3-zone) with rear air conditioning control panel
• "Discover Max" 12-inch Navigation infotainment display
• Area view and rear-view camera
• Electrically-operated tailgate opening and closing function, operated via foot movement under rear tailgate
• Keyless entry and starting
• Augmented reality head-up display
• Panoramic glass roof
• Matrix LED headlights with automatic headlight control, poor weather light and entry lighting
• Memory feature for Park Assist Plus
• Park assistance plus with front and rear parking sensors (Pro Performance only)

GTX Style - Available from £56,685

Battery options: 77kWh GTX 4MOTION

• 4 alloy wheels "Ystad", 8J x 20 in front, 9J x 20 in rear, Black, diamond-turned surface
• Inserts of front seats and outer rear seats in fabric "GTX"
• ‘Air Care Climatronic’ (3-zone) with rear air conditioning control panel
• "Discover Max" 12-inch Navigation infotainment display
• Rear view camera
• Keyless entry and starting
• Panoramic glass roof
• Matrix LED headlights with automatic headlight control, poor weather light and entry lighting

Verdict

The VW ID.5 was a really nice place to be and if you plan to use it as a family car, it’s easy to see how it could be a perfect choice.

There’s oodles of space in the back for passengers, and the boot space is generous enough. With a decent range and competitive charge times, it’s up there with the most compelling electric car lease deals to consider.

Its technology is fiddly, there’s no doubt about it. However, our time with the ID.5 was short lived. If we were to live with the vehicle for a prolonged period, our feelings here would no doubt change.

The ID.5’s dimensions are only marginally bigger than the ID.4, but the additional space on offer inside and the storage make it a worthwhile upgrade if you’re in the market for a spacious family EV. 

They’re very similar cars, but the ID.5 does edge out the ID.4, in our opinion. 

So, if the improvements sound enticing then an upgrade could be on the horizon for your lease car.