The number of new VW electric cars available to buy or lease has grown quickly, and seems to still be growing all the time, with more and more offerings hitting the market. Volkswagen was an early pioneer in EVs, with the e-Golf and e-Up (all-electric versions of the Golf hatchback and the Up city car) arriving in 2014, and since then, a vast number of new electric models have arrived. Here's our guide to all of them.
Traditionally, the Volkswagen Golf has been the core of the company’s range, and the release of the aforementioned e-Golf proves that it was that car that initially led the way to Volkswagen's all-electric futures. More recently, though, it's been VW's ‘ID’ range of EVs that has continued the march in earnest, led by the Volkswagen ID.3 electric family hatchback. It is a rival to models such as the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, MG4 EV, Cupra Born and Peugeot e-308.
The Volkswagen ID range of electric cars has grown over the years, with the ID.4 crossover SUV following a year after the ID.3. It’s been well received, with prizes including the 2022 World Car of the Year award. The Volkswagen ID.5 is a sleeker, more coupe-like version of the ID.4, and the ID.7 is a large family hatchback, also available in ID.7 Tourer estate form.
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz stole headlines when it arrived in 2022: it's a fully electric, people-carrying retro reinterpretation of the classic Volkswagen Microbus.
Volkswagen electric cars are also now starting to bring the brand’s famous GTI heritage into the modern era. You can buy sporty-looking Volkswagen ID.4 GTX and ID.5 GTX models, with more power and plentiful red accents like those worn by the Golf GTI over the years. We look forward to a high-performance version of the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.Buzz electric cars in due course, too.
Here, we’ll take you through the full range of Volkswagen electric cars on sale in 2024, and show you what’s interesting and exciting about each new VW EV available to buy or lease.
Electric Volkswagen cars 2024
1. Volkswagen ID.3
Year launched: 2020
The Volkswagen ID.3 was a landmark Volkswagen electric car when it was launched in 2020. The ‘3’ in its name refers to it being the third-generation VW core family car, following the best-selling Beetle and Volkswagen Golf.
The Volkswagen ID.3 is a more affordable family five-door hatchback alternative to the high-profile Tesla Model 3. The Volkswagen is more practical than the Tesla, thanks to its hatchback boot.
Currently, the Volkswagen ID.3 is available to buy or lease with a 58kWh battery or a pricier 77kWh battery option. With the 58kWh battery and 204PS electric motor, the car has a 265-mile electric driving range, and the rear-wheel drive car will accelerate from 0-62mph in 7.4 seconds. Use a 100kW public rapid charger and 180 miles of range can be added in just 30 minutes.
The Volkswagen ID.3 has a digital-first interior with dual colour screens. It is equipped with over-the-air software update functionality, so improvements can be made without having to visit a dealer. Appealing standard features include ArtVelours microfleece upholstery, wireless smartphone charging and Discover Pro navigation.
The Volkswagen ID.3 is similar in size to a Volkswagen Golf, measuring 4,261mm long and 1,809mm wide. It has a useful 385-litre boot, and if the rear seats are folded, it can carry loads more than 1.6 metres long.
2. Volkswagen ID.4
Year launched: 2021
The Volkswagen ID.4 is a 100 percent electric SUV. It has a more assertive appearance than the lower-slung Volkswagen ID.3, but retains the clean, simple lines seen in all modern Volkswagen electric cars. Those looking to buy or lease a new Volkswagen ID.4 can choose from some bright metallic paint shades and contrasting roof colours.
There are two sizes of battery available in the Volkswagen ID.4: either 52kWh or 77kWh. There have been a variety of powertrain combinations over time, too, from 150PS in the base-level rear-wheel-drive car to 340PS in the four-wheel-drive Volkswagen ID.4 GTX at the top of the range.
The Volkswagen ID.4 with the longest electric driving range is the 77kWh Pro variant, which can travel up to 349 miles on a full charge. All versions with the 77kWh battery have a range of over 300 miles, though, even the GTX.
Volkswagen ID.4 GTX models are marked out by 20-inch alloys and black exterior accents. The addition of a front-axle electric motor gives four-wheel-drive traction and 0-62mph in 5.4 seconds. This makes it faster than a Volkswagen Golf GTI.
Because of the clever Volkswagen electric car design, the ID.4 boasts a turning circle that’s more akin to a small compact car, despite being a roomy and family-friendly SUV. It also has a commodious 543-litre boot, which grows to 1,575 litres with the rear seats folded.
The Volkswagen ID.4 has a roomy interior as well, with a spacious rear passenger compartment and an appealing high-set seating position. The dashboard majors on touchscreens and touch-sensitive buttons, and the central infotainment screen is constantly updated via over-the-air technology.
Because it is a Volkswagen electric car, refinement is excellent, giving this family SUV a luxurious feel on the move. It is a very capable alternative to models such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Volvo XC40 Recharge and Skoda Enyaq iV.
3. Volkswagen ID.5
Year launched: 2022
The Volkswagen ID.5 is a more rakish iteration of the Volkswagen ID.4, with a sleeker and more coupe-like rear roofline. Prices starting from more than £45,000 make it a rival to models such as the Kia EV6, Tesla Model Y and Audi Q4 e-tron.
Earlier on in its life, the Volkswagen ID.5 was only available with the larger 77kWh battery. It could be paired with either a 170PS or 204PS motor, both driving the rear wheels, and, like the Volkswagen ID.4, there was a 299PS Volkswagen ID.5 GTX at the top of the range. The Volkswagen ID.5 GTX had a sportier appearance and could accelerate from 0-62mph in 6.3 seconds, thanks to the extra power and traction from its all-wheel-drive setup.
Later, though, the range was pared back slightly, but significantly upgraded. The regular rear-drive ID.5 got a power hike up to 286PS, while the range from its 77kWh battery is given at 344 miles, while the GTX was given 340PS and a new 79kWh battery, giving it a range of 329 miles and a 0-62 time of 5.4 seconds.
The Volkswagen ID.5 shares the same digital-first interior as the ID.4. Some of the touch-sensitive controls are fiddly, but the tech-packed centre screen is kept up to date via over-the-air technology. Standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay add familiarity, too.
Interior room is pretty good. Despite the sleeker roofline of the Volkswagen ID.5, rear-seat space and headroom remain decent. The car has a very impressive 549-litre boot, which is marginally bigger than that offered by the Volkswagen ID.4.
4. Volkswagen ID.7
Year launched: 2023
The Volkswagen ID.7 is one of the largest cars in the electric VW ID range, and one of the best, most complete models that has been launched to date. It has a good range, ultra-refined performance and drives in a sophisticated, capable way. With a super-practical interior and much-improved infotainment, it’s a great way for Volkswagen Passat drivers to switch to electric. It's available both as a hatchback ID.7 Fastback model, and as an estate, called the ID.7 Tourer.
Several versions are available, with two battery options. The standard car, called the ID.7 Pro Match, has a range of up to 381 miles from its 77kWh battery and will reach 62mph in 6.5 seconds from standstill. The Pro S Match has a larger 86kWh battery that gives it a range of up to 436 miles. Meanwhile the sporty GTX 4MOTION model has four-wheel drive and extra power, giving it a 5.4-second 0-62mph time, and a range of up to 365 miles. All of those figures are marginally worse for the Tourer model, but we do mean only marginally.
The ID.7 delivers excellent efficiency at motorway speeds thanks to its excellent aerodynamics: the wind-cheating shape means less energy is used to push it through the air.
The Volkswagen ID.7 drives well, with mature, well-honed manners and a level of sophistication that elevates it from a mainstream car into one that competes with premium brands. Inside you'll find a smart, tactile interior that shows VW has heeded the criticism levelled at early Volkswagen ID.3 models. It has a quality feel and appealing materials.
Overall, the Volkswagen ID.7 is a great choice for those seeking a grown-up electric car, one that’s as well-rounded as a regular VW, just with the future-ready appeal of a pure electric drivetrain. Some electric cars can lack that final bit of polish, but not the Volkswagen ID.7. It’s a tantalising taste of what’s to come from the marque’s electric cars.
5. Volkswagen ID.Buzz
Year launched: 2022
The ID.Buzz is an EV people carrier that seats up to five people: a seven-seat version with a longer wheelbase is due to arrive imminently, though, which will be even more appealing. There is also a Volkswagen ID.Buzz Cargo commercial van version.
Using the same Volkswagen electric car architecture as other ID models, the ID.Buzz is relatively compact, measuring just over 4.7 metres long. However, a stretched wheelbase means interior space is extremely accommodating; even with all the seats in place, the boot measures a huge 1,121 litres. Fold the rear seats and it grows to a gigantic 2,205 litres.
The retro styling of the Volkswagen ID.Buzz is a real delight. It is charismatic and cute, from the stubby front end with a large VW logo in the centre, to the shallow windows and sliding side doors, to the three-bar design in the rear pillars. Even the two-tone colour schemes reference classic models from the 1960s.
It's appealing inside as well, with the electronic screens of Volkswagen electric cars being neatly integrated into an open-plan and super-comfortable interior. Delightful details abound, and all models have a good level of standard spec. The split A-pillar means those in the front have panoramic visibility for a really special feel when on the move.
At launch, the Volkswagen ID.Buzz was offered with a 77kWh battery, giving it a driving range of up to 258 miles. It came with 170kW rapid charging functionality, giving you the ability to charge it from 5-80 percent in 30 minutes via a public DC rapid charger. Life and Style trim levels were available. Changes to the range in 2024 (at the same time as details for the LWB seven-seater were announced) swapped the 77kWh battery for a larger 79kWh one, and added an 86kWh battery option to the range, along with a new GTX high performance variant. This has 340PS, while the regular version's power was upgraded from 204PS to 286PS.
The Volkswagen ID.Buzz is odds-on to become a modern classic, and a Volkswagen electric car that will be in very high demand. If you want to buy or lease a new Volkswagen ID.Buzz, best get your order in sooner rather than later.
The most affordable brand new Volkswagen electric car is the ID.3. Prices start from around £36,000.
The Volkswagen ID series is a range of battery-powered Volkswagen electric cars. We’re told ID stands for ‘intelligent design, identity and visionary technologies’.
There used to be a pure electric version of the previous-generation Golf, called the Volkswagen e-Golf. The latest VW Golf range does not offer an EV version, although there are plug-in hybrid models.
What was the first Volkswagen electric car on sale?
The first production Volkswagen electric car was the Golf CityStromer, which was sold between 1992 and 1996. Only around 120 were built, but 50 remain on the road. Volkswagen UK even has one in the reception of its offices.
Can you buy an approved used Volkswagen electric car?
There are a growing number of approved used Volkswagen electric cars. The Volkswagen e-Up is popular and there are more Volkswagen ID models joining the approved used ranks.
When will Volkswagen cars all go electric?
Volkswagen has vowed to go purely electric in Europe and the UK by 2035. By 2030, the company predicts 70 percent of its new cars sold in the region will be EVs.
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