Volkswagen ID.5 Review

​Motors & Performance

Some of the VW ID.5s were fairly sedate from the 2022 launch, with the slowest ID.5 ‘Pro’ models offering a 0-62mph time of around 10 seconds, and the more popular ‘Pro Performance’ version dropping that to a punchier 8.4 seconds. The facelifted, model year 2024 (MY24) VW ID.5 brought usefully more power and efficiency, so even the everyday ID.5 Match now gets 282bhp, and will do 0-62mph in 6.7 seconds.

Then, of course, there’s the ID.5 GTX with its all-wheel drive and 335bhp, which mean that it can punch through 62mpg in 5.4 seconds; rapid enough for anyone, you might think, although the Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3 all offer even faster models if you’re keen on a bit of drag-race showmanship in your family electric car.

We haven’t driven this updated ID.5 yet, but watch this space and we’ll bring you driving impressions very soon. Suffice to say for now, that it’s faster than it was. And it didn’t really feel slow before, to be honest.

Don’t expect a one-pedal mode from the brake regeneration, either. VW wants its electric cars to feel very familiar even to those drivers who haven’t had electric vehicles before, so the brake regen’ is very mild in the default mode, or you can increase it by flicking to ‘B’ mode on the steering column stalk – but it’s never close to the one-pedal drive mode that you get in the Nissan Ariya.

Drive & Handling

We've only driven the 2024 Match so far and despite the useful increase in power, it drives much the same as before. The ID.5 may have a racy, coupe-like body but that's where the sporty pretensions stop – the ID.5 is very much a comfort-orientated car. The steering is usefully direct, but, if anything, it promotes how soft the ID.5 is. The suspension gives a good ride at most speeds, even with the optional 20-inch wheels of our test car, but take the ID.4 through a twisty set of corners and there's a bit too much body roll for our liking. The ID.5 feels a better fit for UK roads than a Peugeot E-3008, for instance, with it delivering a smooth driving experience, but don't expect anything exciting.

In fact, even those forking out for the all-wheel drive GTX may wonder where Volkswagen’s sporting spirit went. Despite adaptive chassis control (DCC) and a progressive steering system fitted as standard, the ID.5 GTX never feels eager to be hurried through corners in the way that the Kia EV6, Ford Mustang Mach-E or even a Tesla Model 3 does. 

If you like the ID.5, yet want four-wheel drive and don’t want the cost of the high performance GTX, Skoda does an Enyaq Coupe – which uses the same MEB platform and running gear – with less power, all-wheel drive and a lower price.