Overview

The Volkswagen ID.5 is an electric SUV with a coupe-style roofline. It shares its underpinnings with the Volkswagen ID.4 but the sleek looks are designed to appeal to more fashion-conscious customers, who’ll happily pay a premium to stand out from the crowd with a more eye-catching car.

The same thinking applies to the Audi Q4 Sportback E-Tron and the Skoda Enyaq Coupe, both of which share their battery and motor technology, as well as plenty of their chassis and software, with the ID.5. It’s also a rival for other flagship electric cars from competing brands, such as the Tesla Model Y, Volvo C40, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

The flavour of the month is clearly utilising the flexibility of an electric drivetrain to make cars that are still suitable for family life but don’t look like a traditional boxy SUV.

It will cost you. Even the ‘entry-level’ models start from around £50,000, meaning it costs more than many of those rivals. Opt for the most potent ID.5 GTX, with 299hp, twin motors and four-wheel drive, and the price can top £61,000. Certain aspects of the ownership experience, particularly the somewhat low-rent interior, make it hard to justify such expense.

On the plus side, all ID.5 models offer a long driving range – up to 327 miles WLTP – as well as reasonable practicality. Rear seat space is unchanged from the ID.4 and the boot is functionally identical beneath the parcel shelf.

Click through our review of the ID.5 to find out what it’s like on the road, how much room there is inside and how plush it is. Then at the end we’ll offer a verdict on whether you should buy one or not.