VW ID 5 review: looks and range make a winning combo

Anyone dipping their toe into the world of EVs will quickly learn peace of mind and reducing any worries about range anxiety means a lot. So while the VW ID 5 might start from a sizeable £59,195 (and climbs a lot higher if you opt for the GTX edition pictured, with its dual motors, four-wheel drive, 295bhp and hot-to-trot 0-60mph time of 6.3 seconds), its 77kWh battery and 322 mile range go a long way to justifying the cost. Besides, everything’s expensive these days, and electric cars are no exception.

It also brings a more interesting stance and funkier roofline than the more demure ID 4 SUV, coming closer to the sportier styling of the Audi Q4 E-tron Sportback. With extra space inside we reckon it’s more appealing than VW’s smaller ID 3 hatchback, with plenty to offer the family-focused car buyer.

For those considering a coupe-style SUV, the ID 5 Max 77kWh Pro Performance 204PS edition tested here bags you a crop of added extras. Does that make it worth that added expenditure – and does it tick all the right boxes if you’re looking to get the family from A to B?

The styling

We rather like the fairly subdued lines of the VW ID 5. It’s not a very showy car and certainly doesn’t turn heads, but is arguably easier on the eye than the ID 3, and a lot more exciting than the staid ID 4. It’s admittedly still more sober than the very dynamic likes of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or the posh Genesis GV60, and not even the GTX model offers much in the way of design thrills, but 19in alloys and distinctive LED headlights help give it real road presence. Spend some time in its company and those seemingly quite bland lines do grow on you.

Whatever your opinion, you’re getting a car with VW’s trademark well put-together build quality.

Unsurprisingly, the trade-off for the crossover coupe styling is a compromised view out the back window. Otherwise the ID 5 is actually very accommodating for all shapes and sizes of passenger. VW’s MEB platform tucks all the battery bits underneath, so there’s room for all, whether you’re in the front or back. The seats and other cabin materials are functional rather than luxurious, but it all works to good effect.

There’s plenty inside that’ll look familiar to anyone who’s spent any time in any of VW’s other ID models. This is most notable around the driver area, with a tiddly instrument cluster sitting in front of the steering wheel and a drive mode selector on the right side for thumb and finger twist selection.

The drive

As is the case with many electric cars, the VW ID 5’s driving experience is dependable and perhaps a little uninspiring. The dual-motor GTX variant might pack more power, but still feels far from being a true performance model like its GTI or R-badged predecessors.

A less powerful Pro edition gets the job done, but the rear-driven 201bhp Pro Performance edition feels like the star of the line-up. There’s just enough beef from the battery pack to get you down the road quickly enough, with plenty of torque on hand for any swift manoeuvres that need to be carried out. Still, you’ll be just fine with the base model if monthly payments need to be counted.

The VW ID 5 starts off feeling confident on the road and delivers a comfortable drive from there on in. In fact, the more time you spend on the road the more it grows on you. That decent range also means motorway mileage is a pleasure, rather than an arduous challenge with range issues always at the back of your mind.

Once it’s time to charge the ID 5 can be replenished up to 80% in just 29 minutes if you’re lucky enough to find a 135kW charging point. You’ll need to take care reversing into tight charging bays though, due to the limitations of the rear window view. Call on those on-board cameras and sensors instead, eh?

The technology

One of the most talked about features of recent VW group EVs has been the infotainment system. The ID 5’s 12in central display has more of the same slightly annoying hijinks as its rangemates: Slimline buttons for climate controls and the like run along the bottom of this touchscreen, but other more intricate tasks are handed over to onscreen icons. They egg you on to touch them but while on the move, this is a fiddly task.

There is some cool stuff at work too, with the destination array performing quite well once you’ve got your head around how it works; like how to delete unwanted destinations in your sat nav travels. It’s far from brilliant though. Maybe it’s more intuitive to some, but for now we think VW could give the whole thing a back-to-the drawing board makeover. It’d make the ID 5 and other models equipped with this infotainment setup much more memorable.

The added backup of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto might be handy if you prefer something that works without the need for swearing. Controls on the steering wheel, including the voice control, get the job done – but some tasks feel wearing rather than enjoyable to navigate. Surely not the desired effect and perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this EV.

VW ID 5 verdict

If you’re not fussed about having a more fashionable crossover coupe then head for the ID 4, which is essentially the same car. There’s less range from that model, but the essence of the two EVs is the same. However, anyone who has a craving for a funky SUV and doesn’t mind splashing the cash will find the VW ID 5 impressive. That’s mainly thanks to the very respectable range. Comfort levels are solid too, as is storage, which should please any buyer with a family in tow.

The downside, at least for VW, is that there are other just as good, if not better, comparable models vying for your attention. The ID 5 can hold its own, and it is good, but a few things let it down a bit. Most notably, the infotainment is a source of irritation. If VW can make some tweaks to that side of things, we’d say the ID 5 is a very worthy all-electric offering that should, at least, be driven. It’s more fun to take on a run than you might be expecting.

VW ID 5 Technical specifications

Powertrain	Single electric motor, rear-wheel drive
Battery	77kWh
Power	201bhp
Torque	229lb ft
0-60mph	8.4mph
Top speed	99mph
Range	322 mies
Maximum charge rate	135kW
Cargo volume	549 litres