Monday, May 9, 2022

Volkswagen ID.5

Following the success of the first-ever ID.3 hatchback and the World Car of the Year award-winning ID.4 crossover, a coupe crossover version of the said VW electrics has arrived and it's ready to snatch some profits out of the Tesla Model Y. Welcome to the first-ever ID.5.

2022 Volkswagen ID.5
2022 Volkswagen ID.5

2022 Volkswagen ID.5 GTX
2022 Volkswagen ID.5 GTX

With prices starting at 46,515 Euros plus additional costs, the ID.5 is basically a coupe crossover version of its relatives.

At first glance, it looks identical to the ID.4 crossover as well as its minimalist interior that is not friendly for speedo boys behind the wheel and seating for up to five people as usual, but because being the coupe crossover version of the ID.4, the ID.5 features a sloping roofline which is a very German thing to do since the first-generation BMW X6. 

When it comes to boot space, the ID.5 is slightly more compared to the ID.4 with the rear seats present but with the rear seats folded down, that's 14L less than the ID.4. Fair enough for a coupe crossover with a sloping roofline but it's still more than enough to tackle everyday needs.

In its rear-wheel-drive configuration, which feels like an old Porsche 911 when you handle it precisely like a pro, making it a mild coupe crossover to drive on a daily basis, the Pro Performance variant's 204ps 77kWh battery pack allows the ID.5 to sprint from 0-100kph in 8.4 seconds and has a top speed of 160kph, which is 20kph slower than Japanese cars. Range? It's good for 516km based on WLTP standards and when plugged into a public charging outlet, it will reach 80% capacity in almost half an hour.

The high-performance GTX variant adds another electric motor to the front axles, making it a four-wheel-drive electric crossover that produces 299PS of power and 310Nm of torque, capable of hitting a 0-100kph time of 6.3 seconds and a top speed of 180kph, which makes it feel like a Japanese car as expected. The driving range is good for 491km and when plugged into a public charging outlet, it will reach 80% capacity in less than 40 minutes, which is longer than the normal rear-wheel-drive ID.5 but with the GTX, it's a capable crossover than can tackle through all kinds of conditions despite retaining its mild driving feel from its normal equivalent.

The ID.5 and the ID.5 GTX are packed with the most advanced safety features Volkswagen ever thought of ranging from Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring, multi-collision brake and Lane Assist, Side Assist lane change system, Park Assist, Park Distance Control, and so on.

With the addition of the coupe crossover derivative to Volkswagen's ID line of electric vehicles, looks like the road to electrification is still going on strong, like it or not. Although not as good as the Tesla Model Y, its pricing is worth owning it, and looks like the Germans are on the roll with this one.

Photo: Volkswagen

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