VW ID.5: Elegant Promise Fulfilled
In 2019, VW already rolled out images of the future ID family. Among them was a chic midsize SUV coupe that looked significantly more elegant than the production ID.4. Now, VW delivers with the form of the ID.5, which is positioned slightly above the ID.4 in terms of price and equipment. Unlike the ID.4, which is distributed and assembled worldwide, the ID.5 will initially be produced only in Zwickau and will be handed over to customers with a CO2-neutral balance. So far, so familiar.
Slightly more basic equipment, always from Zwickau
Visually and price-wise, it is positioned slightly higher than the ID.4. This means: The wheels always start with 19-inch alloys (instead of 18-inch steel as with the ID.4), a contrasting colored roof is standard as are the painted side skirts. The coupe form does reduce overall volume with the rear seat folded, but due to the higher shoulder towards the rear, the standard trunk volume rises from 543 to 549 liters. Headroom in the rear decreases by a bearable 12 millimeters - as our seating test showed, four 1.9-meter passengers still find ample space in all seats.
At the front, VW always installs the top sport seats and the animal-free interior feels much higher quality, as it did with the ID.4 compared to the ID.3. Especially since VW offers dark saddle brown as the main color in the basic configuration, which inherently adds a sense of luxury and, combined with the white steering wheel and white control accents, stands out aesthetically. Those who find this too classic and daring can opt for the black-blue combo, which is more sportily accented.
So far, so subjective. More important, however, is the new software update 3.0, where the ID.4 currently stands at version 2.3. The maximum charging power is expected to increase from 125 to 135 kW at peak, which, according to spokesperson Benedikt Griffig, should save up to nine minutes of charging time from five to 80 percent SOC at a DC charger. As a result, one would no longer spend "more than half an hour" at the DC charger when charging the ID.5 from five to 80 percent. This is not only achieved through the extra 10 kW charging power, but also because the ID.5 can generally sustain higher charging power for a bit longer.
The Operating System 3.0: Mixed Progress
In version 3.0, voice recognition is also supposed to have improved – it is by no means perfect yet: the ID.5 still struggles with French street names like "Destouchesstraße" in Munich, but it responds appropriately to "my front passenger is cold" with the idea of increasing the temperature on the passenger side – and searches for restaurants when told "I'm hungry." Nevertheless, version 3.0 still has some room for improvement compared to the best, at least regarding the main functions we could quickly test. We were also not yet able to test the data collection from other group models, which should then be incorporated into the navigation system to warn or redirect earlier – here, the Travel Assist may see a noticeable improvement in practice.
We also were not able to test the new park assistant with memory function, which can save and retrace tricky courtyard entrances via trajectory. However, this requires four extra park sensors on the sides of the bumpers, which is why previous ID.3 and ID.4 models cannot simply be retrofitted over-the-air. According to Griffig, the system works autonomously over a distance of around 50 meters at walking speed at Level 2. If something gets in the way of the ID.5, it stops. Then you have to finish the drive manually.
A subtle improvement is also brought by the improved aerodynamics from 0.27 to 0.26, which is expected to increase the range from up to 490 to up to 520 kilometers. For the batteries, only the large format offering a gross 77 kWh is available, and for the drives, one can choose between the rear-wheel drive 128 kW in the Pro, the 150 kW in the Pro Performance, and the 220 kW in the GTX All-Wheel Drive, which combines a faster responding asynchronous motor at the front with the synchronous machine at the rear axle.
The ID.5 is configured in ten clicks, but unfortunately, the heat pump still costs extra. The battery continues to have an eight-year or up to 160,000 kilometers warranty – during which it should still be able to provide 70 percent net energy. The prices, adjusted for equipment, will be slightly above those of the largely identical ID.4. Good taste has always been a bit more expensive.
What does that mean?
VW is using the market introduction of the ID.5 for detail improvements that will also benefit the ID.4 and ID.3. However, much work is done on the details, just as the ID.5 and ID.4 differ in detail.
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