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New Volkswagen W ID5 e-SUV-coupe is more than just a 'squashed' ID4


COMING to a VW dealer near you some time in 2022, the new ID5 and ID5 GTX e-SUV-coupes are Volkswagen's range-topping additions to its now well-established ID family of fully electric SUVs.

At first glance, you may find yourself thinking "isn't that just an ID4 with a squashed bum?". Indeed, set to take on competitors like the Skoda Enyaq and Ford Mustang Mach-E, VW's first ever e-SUV-coupe is based on the same Volkswagen modular electric drive matrix (MEB) as its ID4 and ID3 siblings and has exactly the same wheelbase and length as the ID4.

You might expect that, in order to enjoy the aesthetic bonus of that swooping rear roof line, ID5 owners would have to sacrifice some interior space compared to the World Car of The Year 2021-winning ID4.





However, for rear passengers the damage is minimal, with a loss of only 1.2cm worth of headroom – and, somewhat confusingly, the ID5 actually offers slightly more load space in the back than the larger looking ID4 – 549l vs 543l.

The new lower roofline also reduces the ID5's drag coefficient to just 0.26 (0.27 for the GTX), down 0.02 on the ID4, which helps increase efficiency and range.

The range-topping GTX is the most 'coupe-looking' ID5, boasting sportier external styling including a GTX-specific front air-intake and bumper, IQ.Light LED matrix headlights with intelligent high beams and 3D LED rear lights as standard.

There will be three engine choices linked to trim level: the entry-level ID5 Pro gets a single rear-mounted 171hp motor offering 0-62mph in 10.4 seconds, while the ID5 Pro Performance's rear-mounted unit delivers 201bhp and 0-62mph in 8.4 seconds: both have an OCD-irritating maximum speed of 99mph.

The GTX gets an all-wheel drive front and rear axle-mounted dual motor set-up rated at 295hp, offering 0-62 mph in 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

All ID5s are powered by the same long-range 77kWh battery also used on the ID4 Pro-Performance and GTX models: range is estimated at 323 miles WLTP for the Pro and Pro Performance and 298 miles for the GTX.

The cars can be charged with up to 11kW (AC) using the standard Mode 3 cable. VW claim that the ID5's charging performance "can reach up to 135kW as standard" at a fast-charge station, if you can find one (and if it's actually working), offering 80 per cent capacity in under 30mins.


The ID5's digital cockpit offers a new and improved driver display and high-resolution multimedia system, with an optional 'augmented reality' head-up display also available.

The new ID 3.0 software allows for over-the-air updates and activation of additional functions so that the ID5 can stay up-to-date, along with natural voice control which is now learning-enabled and offers online access to information from the Cloud. We Connect services provide the driver with real-time online traffic information, online map updates, information about charging stations, web radio and more.

The ID5's new optional Park Assist Plus with memory function will do the hard work for those drivers who end their daily commute with a tricky reverse parking manoeuvre, while Travel Assist with 'swarm data' will help keep you in lane, maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front and avoid killer bee attacks (just kidding).

Thanks to Car2X communication, the ID5 can receive real world data from other similarly equipped VWs in the area as well as signals from surrounding infrastructure up to 800 metres away, enabling driver alerts about dangerous areas, accidents and stationary traffic.

The new ID5s are being manufactured at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau. Part of VW's ongoing 'Way To ZERO' initiative, which involves them launching at least one new electric vehicle to market every year, the Germans claim that the ID5 will be "carbon-neutral upon handover to the customer" and that, when charged using 100 percent green energy, they are "already virtually climate-neutral".

Prices are likely to start around £45,000 when Volkswagen begin taking orders in early 2022.


AT A GLANCE: VW ID5/ ID5 GTX

  • Coupe version of ID4
  • Larger boot capacity than ID4 (549l vs 543l)
  • Powered by single long-range 77kWh battery
  • Claimed range of 323 miles (Pro and Pro Performance) / 298 miles (GTX)
  • All-wheel drive dual-motor GTX rated at 295hp
  • Utilises new ID 3.0 digital cockpit
  • On sale in early 2022