Volkswagen ID.5 Review 2023

If you're looking for a stylish electric SUV which will go about its business with little fuss, the Volkswagen ID.5 reviewed here is a good choice. It's comfortable, easy to drive and the standard-fit 77kWh battery means it has one of the longest ranges of any electric car. A Kia EV6 is a more interesting choice, though, while the Volvo C40 Recharge feels considerably posher.

If you're in the market for an electric SUV like the Volkswagen ID.5, you'll also want to look at the very similar Volkswagen ID.4 (it's essentially an ID.5 with a less trendy rear end and more affordable price tag). The Skoda Enyaq iV is another Volkswagen Group alternative (and one that's also available as a coupe-SUV model), while the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron is a posher competitor.

The Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are two of the best electric cars on the market, while you could also look at the new Genesis GV60. And then there are more upmarket alternatives like the Volvo C40 Recharge and Mercedes EQA.

A few hard plastics and flimsy finishes might be acceptable in an entry-level ID.4, but the Volkswagen ID.5 is a premium coupe-SUV with a price tag to match. Even the range-topping Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max fails to feel particularly special inside, which is poor form for a car that's up against a Volvo C40 Recharge or Audi Q4 e-tron.

All Volkswagen ID.5 models come with the same 12.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system along with a small 5.3-inch digital driver's display. 

Volkswagen's latest generation of infotainment systems have received their fair share of flak and it's fair to say the ID.5's navigation display isn't perfect. It's not all that user-friendly, while the lack of shortcut buttons mean it's distracting to use on the move. Volkswagen's 'much-improved' voice-activated 'hello ID.' personal assistant feature is a bit hit and miss, too; in fact, we could only trigger it accidentally during normal conversation.

Still, the infotainment isn't without its merits. The graphics are sharp and the screen's positioning high up on the dashboard is convenient for glancing at on the move (a current trend we wholeheartedly support). Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, too, so you can access your phone's apps through the in-built display.

The Volkswagen ID.5 measures 4599mm long (that's just 15mm longer than a Volkswagen ID.4), 2108mm wide (including door mirrors) and 1615mm high. That means it's pretty big, as electric SUVs go, and it certainly feels spacious enough inside.

You'd expect the sloped roofline to hinder headroom inside but, much like the Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe, even the tallest of rear-seat passengers shouldn't feel claustrophobic at all. There's loads of legroom in the back, too, although – just like the ID.4 – things might start to feel a little tight with three adults sat side-by-side.

On paper, the Volkswagen ID.5 actually has a very slight space advantage over the standard ID.4 SUV. It can officially carry up to 549 litres of luggage compared to the ID.4's 543 litres. Note, though, that's up to the parcel shelf – an ID.4 will be more capacious if you fill it up to the roofline. For outright practicality, you might wish to look at the Skoda Enyaq iV with its 585-litre boot instead.

All Volkswagen ID.5 models come with the same 77kWh battery, yet there's a choice of three different motor setups with power outputs ranging from 174PS to 299PS.

It's actually the entry-level 'Pro' motor which is expected to be the most popular, with its single motor providing 174PS and fairly leisurely 0-62mph acceleration of 10.4 seconds. That's pretty tardy as electric cars go and even an entry-level petrol or diesel Volkswagen Tiguan will out-accelerate it on the open road. Still, it feels peppy enough around town and could be a fine choice if you're looking for an efficient way to cover an urban commute.

Volkswagen ID.5 Pro Performance models turn things up a notch, with their electric motor providing 204PS and 0-62mph acceleration in 8.4 seconds. This is more like the performance we're being accustomed to from electric vehicles – it doesn't sprint up the road like a Tesla Model Y, but there's enough pace there for speedy overtakes.

Pitched as the GTI of electric vehicles, the range-topping GTX has an extra electric motor powering the front axle (meaning it's four-wheel drive). This produces a combined 299PS and will sprint to 62mph in 6.3 seconds. It feels urgent enough – especially as, like all electric vehicles – there's no delay when you hit the right-hand pedal. But it still doesn't surge forwards anywhere near as quickly as some competitors (a twin-motor Volvo C40 Recharge will reach 62mph in just 4.7 seconds, for example).

Unlike the Volkswagen ID.4 (which is available with a smaller and more affordable 52kWh battery pack), the ID.5 is offered solely with a 77kWh battery. That means most models can travel up to 313 miles between charges according to the official WLTP tests that all new cars are subjected to.

That's a very competitive range and will be plenty for day-to-day driving for many SUV buyers. With its extra performance, this figure drops to 296 miles for the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max – as ever, though, if you're heavy with the accelerator pedal this figure could be a fair chunk less in the real world. The top-spec GTX Max comes as standard with a heat pump which can warm the cabin in a more efficient manner, meaning wintery weather shouldn't hit the ID.5's range as much as it might otherwise.

Powering a car by electricity can be good news for refinement – but it can also be problematic for engineers wanting to mask wind or road noise. The Volkswagen ID.5 impresses here, though, with its serene cabin and little in the way of external noise making itself known.

As it's so technically similar to the Volkswagen ID.4, Euro NCAP decided it didn't need to waste an ID.5 by carrying out its normal crash tests – it just handed it the five star safety rating. This includes impressive scores across the board, including 93% for adult occupants, 89% for child occupants, 76% for vulnerable road users (i.e. pedestrians and cyclists) and 85% for its safety assist features.

You get desirable safety tech like an autonomous emergency braking system as standard, as well as a lane-assist system which can nudge you back into your lane if you start to stray. Not everyone is so keen on lane-assist features – and, annoyingly, it takes quite a lot of searching through the ID.5's infotainment system to turn it off.

The Volkswagen ID.5 is expected to be a very reliable car. Like all electric vehicles, there are very few mechanical parts to go wrong, and servicing should be pretty simple (and therefore affordable). A few early Volkswagen ID.3 buyers reported software glitches but these seem to have been fixed by over-the-air updates.

Volkswagen ID.5 insurance groups provisionally range from 29 (for the ID.5 Tech Pro) to 40 (for the ID.5 GTX Max). It's worth shopping around for quotes, especially as the high performance (and high repair costs) of electric vehicles mean insurance can often be more expensive than an equivalent petrol or diesel car.

As a pure-electric vehicle, you won't pay any road tax (VED) on the Volkswagen ID.5. That's quite a chunky saving when you consider a petrol or diesel car with a little price of more than £40,000 is stung by £685/year tax for the first five years.

Technically the Volkswagen ID.5 isn't exempt from road tax – you'll still have to fill in a form to process it – but it is free.

The Volkswagen ID.5 is available in three trim levels: Tech, Max, and the sporty range-topping GTX Max.

Standard equipment across the ID.5 range includes a panoramic sunroof, ID.Light LED matrix headlights, LED tail lights, the Travel Assist semi-autonomous assistance system, an electric tailgate three-zone climate control, an augmented-reality head-up display and 12-way electrically adjustable ArtVelour microfleece seats with massage function.

Additional features on the Volkswagen ID.5 Max include 20-inch alloy wheels, sportier seats and the Sports Package Plus (with Dynamic Chassis Control with Driving Profile Selection and progressive steering). The ID.5 Max also features an energy-efficient heat pump.

With its dual-motor setup providing a boost in performance, the Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Max is the sporty range-topper of the line-up. Externally, it's marked out by specific, sportily-styled bumpers with integrated lights, 20-inch ‘Ystad’ alloy wheels, while the roof frame and C-pillar are finished in glossy anthracite. The interior features exclusive seat upholstery with contrasting red stitching, dark blue leatherette door panels, GTX-branded door sill protectors, and GTX logos on the steering wheel and digital screens.