Volkswagen ID.5 review: what the car critics say
The ID.4's 'sportier, more stylish twin' – but 'don't believe the hype'

Volkswagen is selling the ID.5 as "the ID.4's sportier, more stylish twin – but don't believe the hype", said The Daily Telegraph. Although it is billed as a coupé, it is really just an electric SUV with a slightly more sloping tail, and alas it has most of the ID.4's flaws. There are three powertrains: Pro, Pro Performance and GTX, plus two trim levels: Style and Tech. All models have a 77kWh battery, with an official range of 324 miles.
Like the ID.4, the ID.5 is not pretty and it has the same underwhelming interior – "superficially swishy", but with "terribly cheap" plastic mouldings, said The Sunday Times. The dashboard controls, as in other current VWs, are "absolutely awful", with "useless" touch-sensitive buttons, "baffling" touchscreen menus and heating controls that don't light up at night. "This is not a likeable or compelling car."
The interior isn't great, but it is at least spacious, with a panoramic sunroof as standard, giving a light, airy feel, said Auto Express. And despite the sloping ceiling, there's plenty of headroom, generous legroom and a huge boot. But on the road, it feels "lacklustre" and "uninspiring", and it's lazy turning into corners. On the plus side, traction is decent, steering is accurate enough, and it has a 5-star Euro NCAP crash rating. Price: from £50,710.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In pictures: Volkswagen ID.5
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - May 4, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - deportation, Canadian politeness, and more
-
5 low approval cartoons about poll numbers
Cartoons Artists take on fake pollsters, shared disapproval, and more
-
Deepfakes and impostors: the brave new world of AI jobseeking
In The Spotlight More than 80% of large companies use AI in their hiring process, but increasingly job candidates are getting in on the act
-
A journey into Egypt's western desert
The Week Recommends There is much more to be found in Egypt when straying from the usual tourist destinations
-
Splash! A Century of Swimming and Style: full of 'revelations and surprises'
The Week Recommends The Design Museum's sweeping collection of all things swimming contains hidden depths
-
The Ugly Stepsister: 'slyly funny' body-horror take on Cinderella
The Week Recommends Emilie Blichfeldt's cutting Norwegian revision of the classic fairy tale leaves no character unscathed
-
John Boyne shares his favourite books
The Week recommends The bestselling novelist picks works by Tobias Wolff, Christos Tsiolkas, and Agatha Christie
-
The Brightening Air: a 'gripping' family drama
The Week Recommends Connor McPherson's Chekhovian drama about a pair of siblings whose lives are upended by the arrival of their relations
-
6 isolated homes for hermits
Feature Featuring a secluded ranch on 560 acres in New Mexico and a home inspired by a 400-year-old Italian farmhouse in Colorado
-
Allies at War: a 'revelatory' account of the Second World War
The Week Recommends Tim Bouverie's 'old-fashioned diplomatic history' explores the often fraught relationship between world powers
-
The Friend: a 'graceful' but flawed dog movie
The Week Recommends Naomi Watts stars in 'intelligent' adaptation of Sigrid Nunez's book about a 'problematic pooch'