Your guide to Volkswagen's electric ID. Range

Volkswagen’s ID. electric range explained

With the 2035 diesel and petrol ban looming over manufacturers, many have turned their hand to producing all-electric vehicles, with some prioritising these over launching new combustion engine – or even hybrid – vehicles.

In fact, some have even come out to say that, eventually, their entire line-up will be electric.

The electric revolution really is upon us, and it’s showing no sign of abating any time soon. Luckily for us, the new EVs that are being launched month after month are some of the best, coolest, and most innovative cars we’ve seen in a while. 

Despite pervasive myths that try to convince you otherwise, electric vehicles are not only lower in emissions, but their running costs tend to be cheaper, and their technological nature lends them to some really cool evolutions.

Even Henry Ford would be pleased to see where the humble automotive has ended up.

And Volkswagen are no exception to the rule. While many established brands went down the route of solely electrifying their already popular cars – think the Vauxhall Mokka Electric, Citroen e-C4 and Peugeot E-2008 – VW decided to create an entirely new line of cars, badged ID., and designed to be electric from the ground up.

Well, we tell a small lie. 

VW have dabbled in electrifying their current lineup, including the Golf and the Up, but have since (mostly) binned that idea off in favour of the ID. Range – a full family of all-electric vehicles.

Creating a car to be electric, rather than just shoving a battery under the floor of an existing model, has many benefits. It means the cars are often more spacious, boot space isn’t compromised, and it’s all-around a better experience.

It also has its downsides – customers haven’t met these cars before, don’t know what they’re like, and it can be a gamble to get someone to opt for an unknown EV over an electrified popular model. Fortunately, VW knows what it’s doing when it comes to being innovative and forward-thinking, with many of their cars – think the Beetle and the Golf – revolutionising the automotive world at launch.

Have VW done it again with the ID. Range?

Let’s find out.

What is the Volkswagen ID. Range?

Volkswagen first teased the ID. idea (with ID. standing for ‘intelligent design’) at the 2016 Paris Motor Show when the brand unveiled the ID. concept. 

This car later went into production as the Volkswagen ID.3, and deliveries started in 2020. An auspicious year in so many ways, but luckily for VW, the brand-new ID.3 cemented the ID. concept as a good one.

Every ID. vehicle is based on Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive kit (MEB), which is a platform specifically designed for electric vehicles. And, because it’s modular, it can be expanded or shrunk as needed to create the different styles of car, from hatchback to SUV to saloon to MPV. There is quite literally nothing VW can’t do.

The design of the MEB also lends itself to cars that are on the more compact end of their segments – good for agility and fitting in tight parking spaces – but that remain spacious on the inside, with a short front end pairing with a wide wheelbase.

Thanks to this platform, all the ID. vehicles boast high ranges, quick-charging ability, more digital features and tech than you could shake a stick at, and practical cabins.

And they’ve really run the gamut of cars. 

Current VW ID. line-up

VW have covered pretty much every eventuality with their current ID. Range. Not every car is available in the UK, with different cars suiting different markets – for example, the VW ID.6 is a larger crossover SUV only on sale in China – but the majority are available here.

And thank Volkswagen for that, because they really are some of the best, and best value, electric vehicles available.

If you like a VW car and you want to switch to electric leasing, there’s bound to be an ID. series car suitable for your lifestyle and your budget, whether you need a little daily runaround, or you need something you can throw your entire family and their luggage in. 

And they look good. Which is a nice bonus.

The current UK VW ID. line-up comprises of the following cars:

• VW ID.3 (hatchback)
• VW ID.4 (crossover SUV)
• VW ID.5 (coupe crossover SUV)
• VW ID.7 (saloon)
• VW ID.7 Tourer (estate)
• VW ID.Buzz (minivan/cargo van)

But which one is right for your next Volkswagen lease?

Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 kickstarted VW’s electric revolution, and it’s only grown in popularity, representing a very good option if you’re looking at an electric hatchback lease.

It’s also renowned as VW’s third biggest launch of all time, on the heels the VW Golf and the original Beetle, with VW aiming to shake up the EV world. While it might not have quite set the world on fire, it was certainly one of the first hatchback EVs to be both affordable and good, with a solid build quality and competitive range. 

While the EV hatchback market might now be a more crowded one, with competitors like the CUPRA Born and MG4 EV muscling in, the VW ID.3 still stands up.

Built to the standard Volkswagen is renowned for, properly roomy inside, and with a WLTP Combined range of between 266 and 347 miles depending on the battery size, a VW ID.3 lease is one to consider if you’re looking for a smaller EV, but still want the range larger ones are often known for. And it’s got a little character to it. 

We like it when a car has good character.

Volkswagen ID.4

As a nation, we love a crossover. There’s a reason that cars like the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage are so popular. But do you know what those cars aren’t?

Electric. 

But that’s where the Volkswagen ID.4 comes in. An electric crossover SUV that actually stands up to its combustion engine and EV rivals, the VW ID.4 was a launch that made a lot of sense for the German brand. 

If you have a family that you need to transport places, then the humble crossover is just perfect.

Available in two battery variants, the ID.4 offers a competitive claimed range of between 224 and 337 miles (WLTP Comb). It’s not the most fun to drive, sure, but it is an efficient and comfortable cruiser that’ll stand up to long journeys. 

And if you have a family prone to arguments over whose elbow is touching whose, the spacious cabin will be an absolute lifesaver. There's plenty of space in the back for three adults to sit comfortably, let alone two or three kids. At about 300mm longer than the VW ID.3, the boot is also a lot bigger, making a VW ID.4 lease a properly versatile and practical one.

And if EV boot size is your (niche?) game, you may want to look at these electric cars with big boots.

Volkswagen ID.5

Does the world need a coupefied version of an already good and popular crossover SUV? Probably not. But then again, there’s something to be said for the merging of the sleek look of the coupe with the practicality of a crossover for an aesthetically-beautiful-but-still-good-for-family-life car.

If that sounds up your alley, then it’s a VW ID.5 lease that you’ll want to look at. 

Based on the VW ID.4, the ID.5 doesn’t look drastically different, but it gives you a coupe roofline that makes the exterior look sleeker, and bins off the more traditional chunky SUV design.

And the addition of the sloping coupe roofline doesn’t compromise on inside space either. The Volkswagen ID.5 still works as a very good family car, with a spacious cabin and generous boot. With an efficient and comfortable drive, there’s really nothing bad to say about this one. It’s just a very nice, very electric coupe crossover SUV.

Say that five times fast.

Volkswagen ID.7

Volkswagen’s latest ID. launch is actually available in two flavours: saloon and estate. 

The VW ID.7 saloon was launched first, and is basically the VW ID.3 elongated and disguised as a saloon. And with so many manufacturers focusing on SUVs and crossover SUVs, it’s nice to see a launch that goes against the tide and represents a properly good electric alternative. 

Just under 5 metres long, this is undoubtedly a beast of a car. But aesthetically, it’s a very nice one, with VW adding a contrast black roof and aluminium-style strips across the frames to jazz up the ID.7 a bit. And as jazzing up connoisseurs, we’ll take anything that adds a bit of visual interest to what could otherwise be quite a boring car.

If you’re after a massive range, then a VW ID.7 lease is the one for you.

The headline figure Volkswagen has been trumpeting is 435 miles (WLTP Comb) on a single charge, though you’ll need the top spec Pro S model with the 86kWh battery to achieve this. But the Pro battery at 77kWh and a WLTP range of 384 miles is still very good and stacks up against competitors.

The VW ID.7 Tourer doesn’t fare quite so well in the range stakes, with a claimed range of up to 426 miles (WLTP Comb) if you go for the larger batteried Pro S model. However, when it comes to interior space? It’s unmatched. Massive cabin, massive boot, and an optional roof box if the 605L cavern isn’t quite enough for you.

It’s a properly family-focused estate, and just as worthy of your time as any electric SUV.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

The launch of the VW ID.Buzz was, for us, one of the most exciting in recent years.

Just look at it! 

It’s properly fun, harking back to the iconic, loveable VW Type 2 camper. Bringing back the iconic two-tone paint and adorable front end, it’s like nothing we’ve ever seen before (that didn’t have a combustion engine). Going electric allows brands to be more innovative and playful, and VW have really nailed the brief.

Ironically, it’s not actually available as a campervan. Yet.

Instead, you can get a VW ID.Buzz lease as either a standard-wheelbase model (five or six seats), a long-wheelbase model (seven seats), or as a cargo commercial van. It makes a really fun alternative to most traditional MPVs if you’re often carting a lot of people around, and truthfully, there aren’t many seven-seater electric options.

And, for a whacking great EV MPV, the claimed mileage comes in at very competitive 258 miles (WLTP Comb), which is impressive when you consider the size and the amount of people and stuff you can fit inside. Sure, you won’t hit 258 in the real world, but it’s still very good.

So, if you’re going to lease a seven-seat EV, you might as well go for the best one. 

Future ID. launches

Volkswagen aren’t resting on their laurels just yet.

Despite having covered pretty much every flavour of EV you could ask for or wish for, VW have more tricks up their proverbial sleeve. There are currently two more electric ID. vehicles in the pipeline and launching in the next couple of years, though we wouldn’t be surprised if there were even more planned.

The VW ID.2 is the next release, pipped to launch in 2025. 

It’s a B-segment hatchback. If that is automotive gobbledygook for you, it’s basically a smallish hatchback. For context, the VW ID.3 is a C-segment hatchback around the same size as the Golf. The ID.2 on the other hand will be about the same size as the Volkswagen Polo, and offers a little more choice for those who like the nippy little cars without going really small.

If you like really small and being able to nip in and out of traffic and park in the tightest, smallest parking spaces, then the VW ID.1 is slated to launch in 2026.

It’ll replace the Volkswagen e-Up!, and really will be on the tinier side.

Handy though, for those of us limited on space and without the need to cart around lots of people or stuff. Really, more than anything else, the VW ID. Range offers a choice that many other manufacturers don’t. If you need an EV, you will find what you’re looking for in the line-up.

We like it a lot.