Your guide to Volkswagen's electric ID. Range

The upcoming petrol and diesel ban is giving manufacturers some serious food for thought

While some are scrambling to electrify everything in sight, others are being a bit more strategic about it.

Enter Volkswagen, who decided to take a slightly more convoluted route.

While many brands went straight-forward, shoving batteries into existing cars and calling it a day (like the Vauxhall Mokka Electric and Peugeot E-2008), VW went the whole hog.

They created an entirely new family of electric vehicles (EVs), designed from the ground up to be electric, and slapped the ID. badge on them.

Well, that’s not entirely true.

VW did dabble with electrifying some of their existing vehicles (Golf and up!, we’re looking at you), but they’ve mostly moved on from that idea. Good thing too, because the ID. range is genuinely brilliant.

Building a car to be electric from the get-go has some real advantages:

• More spacious cabins (with flat floors in the rear)
• Better storage and boot space
• Smarter tech integration
• More efficient use of space overall

The downside? People haven’t met these cars before.

It’s a bit like asking someone to try a new restaurant when they’re loyal to one spot. But VW has form when it comes to revolutionary cars. 

The Beetle changed everything first.

And then the Golf did it again.

So, have they hit the hat-trick with the ID. range? Let’s dive in.

What is the Volkswagen ID. Range?

VW first teased the ID. concept (with ID standing for ‘intelligent design’) at the 2016 Paris Motor Show. The idea itself was simple. Create a platform specifically for EVs that could be stretched, shrunk, and adapted for any type of car you want.

That concept became the Volkswagen ID.3 in 2020, and it proved VW were onto something.

Every ID. vehicle uses Volkswagen’s Modular Electric Drive kit (MEB for short), which is basically a really clever Lego set for cars.

Want a hatchback? No problem.

Fancy an SUV? Easy.

Need a saloon or even an MPV? VW’s got you covered.

The MEB platform creates cars that are compact on the outside but roomy on the inside. Think of it like a TARDIS, but for cars. You get a short front end paired with a long wheelbase, which means more space for you and less space wasted on stuff you don’t need.

Thanks to this platform, all ID. vehicles offer:

• Impressive ranges
• Fast-charging capabilities
• More tech than you could shake a stick at
• Practical, spacious cabins

And they’ve covered pretty much every type of car you could want – with even more to come.

Current VW ID. line-up

VW has been busy.

Really busy.

Their current ID. range covers almost every eventuality, whether you need a zippy city car or something that can swallow your entire family and their holiday luggage.

Not every car is available in the UK (e.g., the ID.6 is a China-only affair), but we do get some good stuff. And trust us – they really are some of the best value electric vehicles you can lease right now.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to electric leasing, there’s almost definitely an ID. badged car that’ll suit your lifestyle and budget.

Here’s what’s currently available in the UK:

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

Volkswagen ID.3

The Volkswagen ID.3 kickstarted VW’s electric revolution, and it’s VW’s third biggest launch ever, following the Golf and the original Beetle.

No pressure, then.

While the electric hatchback market is busier than a motorway service station on a bank holiday weekend, with cars like the CUPRA Born and MG4 EV, the ID.3 still holds its own.

What you get:

• Proper VW solid build quality
• Surprisingly roomy interior
• WLTP Comb range of 266-347 miles
• A bit of character (which we love)

The VW ID.3 proves you can have a smaller EV that doesn’t compromise on range.

Perfect if you want something nippy for city driving, but something that’s also capable of longer journeys without needing to be recharged every half an hour.

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.

What makes it so good?

• Spacious cabin with room for three adults in the back (or kids who won’t be elbowing each other)
• Big boot for all your family paraphernalia
• WLTP  Comb range of 224 to 337 miles
• About 300mm longer than the VW ID.3

It’s not the most exciting car to drive, but it’s efficient and comfortable for long journeys.

If you need something practical that can handle the school run and weekend getaways, the VW ID.4 makes a lot of sense.

Volkswagen ID.5

Does the world need a coupe version of a crossover SUV? Probably not.

But does the world want a coupe version of a crossover SUV? Absolutely.

There is something really quite appealing about mixing the sleek looks of a coupe with the practicality of a family SUV, and the VW ID.5 does it with aplomb.

The Volkswagen ID.5 is based on the ID.4, but it gets a sloping roofline that makes it look a lot more stylish, without really taking away from the practicality that the SUV affords.

Why you might want one:

• All the flexibility of the VW ID.4
• Sleeker, more distinctive looks
• Still spacious inside
• Efficient and comfortable to drive

It’s basically a very nice, very electric coupe crossover SUV.

Try saying that five times fast.

Volkswagen ID.7

VW’s latest ID. launch comes in two flavours: saloon and estate.

While everyone else is obsessing over electric SUVs, VW has gone against the grain.

Volkswagen ID.7 saloon

The VW ID.7 in its saloon guise is basically an elongated ID.3 in a fancy suit.

At just under five metres long, it’s a proper big car, but VW has made it look good with a contrast black roof and aluminium-style trim.

The headline figures:

• Up to 435-mile WLTP Comb range with the top-spec Pro S model (86kWh battery)
• 384-mile range (WLTP Comb) with the Pro battery – still extremely competitive

Volkswagen ID.7 Tourer

The VW ID.7 Tourer – Tourer being another word for estate – trades a bit of range (up to 426 miles WLTP Comb) for massive amounts of space.

What you get:

• Enormous cabin
• 605-litre boot
• Optional roof box if 605 litres isn’t quite cutting it
• Proper family-focused estate car

It’s just as worthy of your time as any electric SUV, and it’s potentially even more practical.

Volkswagen ID.Buzz

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

Just look at it!

It’s like someone took the loveable VW Type 2 camper and dragged it through a time machine into the electric age.

What makes it special:

• Iconic two-tone paint job
• Adorable retro styling
• Available in five-seat, six-seat or seven-seat variants
• Also available as a cargo commercial van
• Up to 285 miles (WLTP Comb) range – impressive for something this big

Unfortunately, it’s not available as a campervan (yet), but it makes a brilliant alternative to traditional MPVs.

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

What’s coming next for VW?

Volkswagen isn’t done yet.

Despite having covered pretty much every type of car you could want, they’ve got more EVs in the pipeline.

VW ID. Polo (2026)

The production version of the ID.2all concept, this will be VW’s first electric vehicle to use an existing nameplate (Polo) alongside the ID. branding.

What to expect:

• Subcompact electric hatchback (Polo-sized)
• Sleek headlights similar to the VW ID.7
• 12.9-inch central touchscreen and 10.9-inch digital driver’s display
• Physical switches for audio and climate
• 38kWh and 56kWh battery options
• GTI ‘hot hatch’ version coming too

VW ID. Cross (2026)

Consider this the electric equivalent of the VW T-Cross – a subcompact crossover SUV that’ll use Volkswagen’s new, updated ‘MEB+’ platform.

What to expect:

• Volkswagen’s ‘Pure Positive’ design language
• Floating roof design
• Front and rear light bars
• 13-inch touchscreen and 11-inch digital instrument cluster
• Front-mounted motor
• Up to 261 miles range (WLTP Comb)

VW ID.EVERY1 (Slated for a 2027 launch)

Currently still a concept, this entry-level electric car aims to make EV driving more accessible.

The vision:

• Around £20,000 starting price
• At least 155 miles of range (WLTP comb)
• Compact yet spacious
• Classic VW design cues (think Golf-inspired C-pillar)
• Perfect blend of innovation, efficiency and affordability

Why choose a VW ID. vehicle for your next lease?

The Volkswagen ID. range offers something most other manufacturers don’t.

Genuine choice.

Whether you need a compact city car, a family SUV, a practical estate, or even a funky seven-seater, there’s an ID. vehicle that’ll fit your needs and budget.

They’re well-built, practical, good-looking, and offer competitive ranges with fast-charging capabilities. Plus, they feel like proper VWs – solid, dependable and thoughtfully designed.

If you’re thinking about making the switch to electric, the ID. range is definitely worth considering.

After all, VW knows a thing or two about creating cars that change the game.