Volkswagen ID.5 and ID.5 GTX expand electric SUV family

November 4, 2021November 12, 2021 Toby Hagon 4577 Views Volkswagen

Volkswagen has revealed the ID.5, the third production model in the expanding ID electric car family and one that edges into the premium SUV space.

Based on the MEB modular EV architecture that also underpins the ID.3, ID.4, Skoda Enyaq, Cupra Born and Audi Q4 e-Tron, the ID.5 is a coupe-inspired SUV that has similar dimensions to the more practical ID.4 but gets a more steeply raked roofline.

There aren’t a lot of surprises with the shape given the various teasers Volkswagen had embarked on over recent months.

Volkswagen unveiled both the regular ID.5 and sportier ID.5 GTX.

Volkswagen ID.5 and ID.5 GTX — Volkswagen ID.5 and sportier dual-motor ID.5 GTX

Each shares the same body, although different front bumpers mean the ID.5 is slightly longer than the ID.5 GTX (4599mm versus 4582mm).

And there are big differences beneath the skin. The regular ID.5 gets a single electric motor driving the rear wheels while the ID.5 GTX gets a second motor driving the front wheels to create an all-wheel drive system.

The ID.5 is the first fastback-style electric SUV from a mainstream brand.

Volkswagen ID.5 cutaway of the MEB architecture showing batteries and electric motor — The new ID.5 rides on Volkswagen’s MEB modular electric car architecture

“The ID.5 is electric, sporty and elegant,” says Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen brand CEO. “We are breaking into a completely new market segment with this model.”

The ID.5’s sloping roof shaves 12mm off the rear headroom but the 549-litre luggage space is actually slightly larger than that in the ID.4 (543L).

The ID.5 gets the same 2766mm wheelbase as the ID.4 but it is slightly longer and taller.

While the ID.4 gets roof rails, the ID.5 does without.

Head of Volkswagen design Jozef Kabaň says the company worked hard to maximise interior space.

“The ID.5 is the body style of the future: aerodynamic, expressive, sporty and, thanks to MEB, with short overhangs,” says Kabaň. “That’s how we have been able to ensure a spacious interior despite the dynamic roof line – this simply wasn’t possible before.”

The ID.5’s sleeker shape also helps with EV range.

It’s available with the same 77kWh battery as the Volkswagen ID.4 but lower aerodynamic drag (the ID.5 has a drag coefficient of 0.26 and the ID.5 GTX 0.27) is claimed to stretch the claimed range slightly above that of the ID.4.

Volkswagen ID.5 GTX — ID.5 GTX (right) versus ID.4 GTX… more steeply raked roof means less rear headroom but there is actually marginally more boot space

Charging can be done at up to 11kW using an AC plug and 135kW with DC.

The ID.5 will be offered with the same electric motor combinations as the ID.4. In GTX guise that means matching the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX a combined 220kW that can accelerate the car to 100km/h in 6.3 seconds.

However, Volkswagen also announced a new ID.5 Pro, which has less power from its single electric motor for a claimed 0-100km/h time of 10.4 seconds.

Volkswagen says its latest 3.0 software will be included in the ID.5, making for improved charging.

The ID.5 shares much of its dash layout with the ID.4, which includes a digital instrument cluster and prominent touchscreen in the centre.

The GTX gets red highlights to ram home the sports focus.

As well as over-the-air software updates to potentially improve the car or add features over time, the ID.5 gets Travel Assist that uses swam data to improve the semi-autonomous driving functionality.