Test Car Specifications
Model: 2022 Volkswagen ID.5 77kWh Pro 174
Price: £55,400 (as tested)
Engine: 128kW electric motor
Battery: 77kWh lithium-ion
Transmission: single-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power: 174hp
Torque: 310Nm
Emissions: 0g/km
Range: 313 miles
0-62mph: 10.4 seconds
Top speed: 99mph
Boot space: 549 litres
Styling
From the front, the ID.5 looks much like the ID.4, but then it would, because they share a huge amount of technology and engineering. It's at the back where the changes have really been made, because the ID.5 has a much more sweeping roofline that merges with the rear window and ends with a kind of spoiler arrangement on the tailgate. For our money, it's no better looking than the ID.5, but it's no uglier, either.
Interior
From the front seats, the ID.5’s cabin looks much the same as that of the ID.4. Mainly because it is much the same. You get the same clean, minimalist design with two screens – a central touchscreen and a digital instrument display – as well as a steering column-mounted gear selector that takes a little getting used to. Ergonomically, it’s sub-optimal. There are too many touch-sensitive switches for our liking and there’s too much reliance on VW’s hit-and-miss infotainment technology. It isn’t too bad for navigation or media purposes (although the volume controls are a nightmare), but when you want to operate critical safety tech, for example, it’s far too fiddly and distracting. A button would be better. And don’t get us started on touchscreen climate control. What do we want? Buttons! When do we want them? All the time!
Practicality
Despite the fastback shape, the ID.5's boot is very slightly larger than that of the ID.4, measuring 549 litres with the rear seats upright. That's an increase of six litres on the ID.4, but don't let that number tell the whole story. When the back seats are folded and space is measured up to the roof, the ID.4 comes out on top by dint of its more practical shape. And it can take more bulky items. Nevertheless, the ID.5 is only a little less useful than its sibling, and those who want the style sacrifice little in terms of practicality.
Performance
Our test car came in fairly basic 77kWh Pro form, with a 77kWh battery powering a single 174hp motor on the rear axle. Performance was adequate, with the instant punch of the motor making the ID.5 feel faster than its 10.4-second 0-62mph time would suggest – especially around town. And anyway, 10.4 seconds is perfectly sufficient for a family SUV. Most importantly, this is the ID.5 with the greatest range, managing 313 miles on a single charge according to the official economy test. In the real world, you probably won’t manage that, but well over 200 miles should be achievable over a mixture of roads, and if you’re careful, on longer motorway journeys.
Ride & Handling
Unsurprisingly, the ID.5 drives in much the same way as the ID.4. Sometimes in coupe-SUVs such as this you can feel the reduction in bulk and the lower centre of gravity that comes from removing part of the boot, but there’s no discernable difference here. And that’s a shame, because the ID.4 wasn’t brilliant and nor is the ID.5. It still feels a bit heavy and sloppy and soft when you turn the wheel, but it doesn’t ride that well either. It isn’t disastrous – plenty of other family SUVs do much the same thing and it doesn’t hurt their sales – but we were hoping for more comfort, if not necessarily more engagement, from the ID.5.
Value
The ID.5 starts at just over £50,000, and that's a lot for a base model. Particularly when the equivalent ID.4 comes in below £45,000. Admittedly, you get plenty of range, but the standard equipment is solid without being all that inspiring. Yes, there's a reversing camera and satellite navigation, but there's no leather upholstery. And while the front seats are heated, you'll have to spend more to get heated bums on the back seats.
Verdict
The ID.5 will not go down as one of the all-time greats. Aside from some rather subjective styling, it doesn't offer anything over and above the equivalent ID.4, but you pay a lot more for the privilege. Yes, the range is decent and the power is ample, but the ride is too lumpy and the interior is too touch-sensitive for our liking. If you want an electric SUV, get a Ford Mustang Mach-E or a Skoda Enyaq, but if you must have a VW, the ID.4 is the one to go for.
