VW ID.5 overview: Hey good lookin’

Volkswagen, like Audi, has a trick up its sleeve on the subject of its mid-sized SUV. Sitting within the so-called C section – the largest promoting section of the market – the corporate gives not one, however two electrical fashions. The ID.5 sits alongside the ID.4, simply because the Audi This autumn sits alongside the This autumn Sportback.

This design has confirmed standard with these wanting an SUV, however with out that squared again – as a substitute choosing a coupé-like dropping roofline, for a sleeker total aesthetic. This mannequin, nevertheless, prices from £50,710 on the time of writing.

Design

There is a minor aerodynamic benefit to the smooth roofline that VW ID.5 gives, however we will not assist feeling that this design is standard as a result of it seems to be sporty. Certainly, with the rear finish wearing a neat spoiler, that second look at a passing ID.5 will reveal these athletic seems to be.

There’s greater than a passing resemblance to the ID.4, though the element across the entrance bumper is barely completely different, giving it a barely extra aggressive look beneath the curve of that enclosed entrance. VW’s new badge sits proudly within the centre, the traces down the aspect tracing their means across the shoulders to emphasize the wheel arches.

The rear of the ID.5 is mainly the identical because the ID.4, aside from the roofline resulting in that rear door, in fact, and that spoiler.

The ID.5 is a automobile that may develop on you and having hung out with each the ID.4 and the ID.5, we’re now leaning in direction of the ID.5 as being barely extra thrilling. However in a twist on practicality, the ID.5 has a 549-litre rear space for storing, which is definitely a bit of bigger than the ID.4. Your canine may not agree, however in the event you’re packing for a protracted weekend, this mannequin would possibly simply offer you area to squeeze in an additional six pack.

There’s numerous trims – Model, Tech, Max, GTX (though this will likely differ by area) – with the ID.5 getting extra body-coloured components than the ID.4, which once more helps to spice up the seems to be. There is a excessive normal of fundamental specification, together with a panoramic glass roof and 19-inch wheels, however with the ID.5 beginning at simply over £50k, you’d anticipate that.

It’s, then, a handsome automobile and – not like the ID.4 – the sporty aesthetic would possibly enchantment to those that both aren’t going to make use of it to cart the youngsters round, or need to conceal the truth that they’ve stuffed a younger household within the again seat.

A captivating inside

The inside of the ID.5 is similar because the ID.4, and as such has the identical niceties and the identical disadvantages.

It is fashionable and clear, with VW taking the chance to scale back the buttons throughout the inside of the ID.5. That leaves the driving force with fewer controls to press, and the drive controller sitting on the aspect of the show – a neat toggle so that you can twitch to manage the automobile. It is not vastly sensible, although, because it’s barely hidden behind the steering wheel.

This inside is an evolution of the ID.3, however apparently, VW has additionally accepted that it has some drawbacks. The subsequent automobile from the corporate – the VW ID.7 – makes some modifications to the association to deal with a few of the drawbacks that we’ll discuss in a minute.

VW is pushing the animal-free and sustainability message by the ID household, so you may discover artificial interiors reasonably than lashings of leather-based, however there is a high quality to the finishes of the seats. Using shiny black plastic by no means sides effectively with us although – it at all times must be dusted and attracts fingerprints – however there’s loads of area back and front.

The VW ID.5 sits on VW’s MEB platform the place the battery makes up the ground. Without having for a transmission tunnel, the true profit is felt within the backseats, the place the particular person sitting within the center does not must straddle a bump within the flooring.

Which means there’s legroom and elbow room for adults, one thing that is felt throughout a spread of electrical SUVs. In that, the flat flooring is not distinctive to VW, you may discover a lot the identical within the Hyundai Ioniq 5, a pure competitor for this mannequin.

The panoramic roof lets mild flood the inside, whereas visibility is mostly good, and door pockets are massive sufficient to allow you to stash a water bottle in. There’s additionally a pleasant little pocket on the rear of the seats that is a perfect place to slide a cellphone into.

The inside tech

There is a 12-inch show sitting within the centre of the sprint, with temperature controls beneath it and a run of buttons for a number of selection menu choices – local weather, parking, driving mode and driving assistant options.

It is maybe an odd combination that has the sensation of being chosen by committee, which might be why the Forthcoming VW ID.7 removes these for shortcuts on the show as a substitute, permitting higher customisation. For the ID.5 (this technology at the least) these are mainly the one buttons you get, with every little thing else being managed by the show or on the steering wheel.

There’s a voice assistant which goals to elevate some features out of the realms of contact, nevertheless it’s a bit of hit or miss. Like so many in-car programs, they can not maintain a candle to the likes of Alexa or Google Assistant on the subject of decoding what you are really saying, after which doing one thing helpful with it.

Should you plug in your cellphone you get Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, with entry to respective voice assistants, however we nonetheless spent a while attempting to get VW’s IDA to know some fundamental directions, earlier than giving up.

The driving force show is lowered to fundamental info, with some fashions of the ID.5 benefitting from a heads-up show. With that driver show shrinking, it feels just like the HUD is one thing you profit from to get extra info into your eyeline, however you may have to select the appropriate trim stage to get this.

VW’s intention with the consumer interface on ID fashions was to maneuver to one thing extra fashionable and smartphone-esque, providing an on-screen residence button and huge icons for apps. It is had a combined reception, nevertheless, and isn’t at all times as intuitive in use as you may want it to be. A lot of this revolves round proximity sensing – the show altering barely as you attain out in direction of it – and utilizing the house button because the apps menu button too. Which means it typically takes a pair extra faucets to get to what you need, making it fiddly.

Which may not be a priority in the event you’re at all times going to make use of your related cellphone, however there are some charming options. For instance, within the navigation settings, these a pleasant visible show of current locations underneath the solutions tab. Should you’re a creature of behavior, which means you may simply get in, faucet the place you are going and get on the street – whereas additionally being instructed whether or not you may have the vary to get there.

Battery, vary and efficiency on the street

The VW ID.5 is a pleasant easy automobile to drive, benefiting from the seamless supply of that electrical energy. It gives a great journey top, properly damped in opposition to bumps within the street, with mild steering – it is about as straightforward to drive because it might get. The visibility out of the again is not nearly as good because it may very well be, however with rear cameras for parking, it is not too arduous to slide it right into a grocery store parking bay.

There is a 77kWh (internet) battery within the ID.5, with a 128kW motor (174PS) driving the rear wheels on the Professional. The Professional Efficiency will get the identical battery with a 150kW motor (204PS) for a bit of extra energy, whereas the GTX additionally has the identical battery, however has a 220kW twin motor association (299PS) – so it is also all-wheel drive.

At that entry-level mannequin, you are a 0-62mph time of 10.4 seconds, dropping down to six.1 seconds by the point you get to the prime quality GTX. These aren’t blisteringly quick when in comparison with a Tesla Model Y or Kia EV6, for instance, and a few would possibly discover that entry mannequin a bit of vanilla to drive, nevertheless it’s additionally probably the most reasonably priced.

Speaking of affordability, its ID.4 sibling is accessible with a 52kWh battery, which makes it far more reasonably priced – although in fact you are sacrificing vary with that drop in battery capability.

Speaking of vary, VW cites a 327-mile vary from the Professional, which is fairly respectable – aggressive even – though you’d demand that form of vary on the ID.5’s asking worth. The similarly-priced Ford Mustang Mach-E cannot attain that form of vary, so the ID.5 will get one thing proper on this regard.

On the street, the vary you may get will depend upon numerous components, not least your driving type. To assist increase your effectivity, there are each D (drive) and B (battery) modes, the latter providing barely sturdy regen choices, higher for stop-start one-pedal driving.

The averages we obtained from the VW ID.5 over the long-term got here in at nearer to 4.1 miles per kWh, which might offer you round 315 miles. As we have mentioned, loads relies on the way you drive.

Verdict

The VW ID.5 presents itself as a sporty model of the ID.4, stripping away the smaller battery possibility and making it look a bit of costlier. It is aggressive when it comes to its vary, however the energy on the entry-level mannequin does not offer you a vastly thrilling drive, if that is what you are searching for.

It is a handsome automobile, nevertheless, with that coupé styling making it barely extra interesting than the ID.4. However in a section the place the competitors is big – not least from fashions throughout the VW household – the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback (equally priced) and the Skoda Enyaq Coupé (cheaper) each have the identical battery and barely perkier acceleration.

Then you’ve gotten the competitors from Hyundai with the Ioniq 5 (cheaper), and Kia with the EV6 (additionally cheaper) – each providing the same battery capability and a extra engaging efficiency.

This implies the ID.5 slots into a wierd place as a pretty automobile, with a lot to supply, however going through fierce rivalry. We just like the ID.5 – we like its type, and the way easy and fuss-free it’s to drive, however inside tech may very well be higher and it feels a bit of too costly in comparison with the competitors.