ID.3, ID.4: We expect to find under the name ID.5 an electric SUV more imposing than these 2 cars in the Volkswagen catalog. Lost ! What brings in this case this machine which falls into this strange category of cut SUVs?
Electric family SUV
It would be wrong to think that the Volkswagen ID.5 is shorter than the ID.4. For an identical width of 1.852 m, it even extends 1.5 cm more: 4.599 m, against 4.584 m. With 1.615 m, he is also a very small height of 1.2 cm. The 2 cars are to be seen as family electric SUVs. A specific shield, a little more aggressive, distinguishes the coupe from the more classic model.
The machine sits on 19-inch wheels as standard. Relatively full two-tone silver/black Hamar alloy wheels receive Hankook Ventus S1 Evo 3 tires in 235/55 front and 255/50 rear. The presence of a spoiler at the stern, on a softened drop in the roof, affirms the originality of the ID.5.
The copy at our disposal comes in the Pro Performance version with its plain lunar gray paint by default. The side glazed spaces are highlighted in silver grey, more pronounced in the rear quarter panel.
Propulsion topped with a panoramic roof
The Volkswagen ID.5 in our hands is powered by a permanent magnet synchronous motor developing an output of 150 kW (204 hp), for a torque of 310 Nm. It is powered by a battery with a usable energy capacity of 77 kWh .
To fill it up with alternating current, the vehicle has an 11 kW charger. In DC stations, the maximum power announced by the German manufacturer is 135 kW. That is about 30 minutes to regain 80% energy.
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A panoramic glass roof tops our electric SUV coupé. We owe its presence to the Design Plus pack billed at 3,000 euros. It also brings matrix LED headlights with automatic switching and welcome function, rear lights with sequential turn signals, a light strip between the projectors and the logo, and front side windows in laminated glass and tinted behind.
In back
Behind the electrically opening tailgate, the volume offered by the boot is 549 litres, expandable to 1,561 l by folding down the back of the bench seat in 2 parts, with ski hatch. A double bottom can be used to store charging cables and various odds and ends. Don’t look for frunk in the front: there is none. If necessary, it is possible to tow a trailer up to 1,000 kg.
Thanks to the absence of a central service tunnel, 3 people can take place in the rear, benefiting from generous knee space. The inclination of the backrest provides sufficient margin between the head and the roof, despite a slightly lower headroom than on the ID.4.
Comfort is accentuated by padded armrests, available storage, 3-zone air conditioning and fully lowered windows.
The driver’s point of view
The driver and his neighbor shouldn’t complain too much about the comfort of the two-tone upholstery in ArtVelours and imitation leather that equips our Volkswagen ID.5. Against an addition of 1,175 euros to the bill, the front seats are of the ErgoActive type, massaging, heated, electrically adjustable to 12 positions, with memory, pneumatically adjustable lumbar support and sliding extendable seats.
« These seats are very comfortable, but offer little support. They are well suited to large sizes “, believes Maxime Fontanier. The option includes other specific elements: stainless steel crankset; electrically adjustable, folding and heated exterior mirrors; leather multifunction steering wheel, heated with touch controls; Customizable 30-color mood lighting.
It is thanks to this pack that our electric SUV has a folding bench seat back in 2 asymmetrical parts with the ski hatch and the central armrest with 2 cup holders. Note that the vehicle has plenty of storage, well placed and accessible.
Two screens on board
The presentation of the dashboard of the Volkswagen ID.5 is identical to that of the ID.4, with padded materials on the top of the board and which are found at the level of the armrests of the door panels.
Behind the wheel, it’s the same small digital screen for the instrumentation. The ergonomics of the central digital tablet can still be improved. For example, ” the air conditioning is still just as complicated to use: you have to press here, press there again, in short, you have to press millions of buttons to turn the air conditioning on “, comments with a deliberate exaggeration our tester.
The possibility of using this small panel with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay is however a very positive point. ” On this generation, we have a new software, 3.0, which is supposed to be optimized, more fluid, and which now makes it possible to integrate an automatic parking system. Planning has also been optimized “, emphasizes Maxime Fontanier.
« Extremely pleasant in town »
Behind the steering wheel and extending the instrumentation screen to the right, the drive selector is not the most practical to handle. To have a maximum of engine braking, it is necessary to request it again. This triggers mode B (Brake). But no pallets behind the hoop in order to refine the power of regeneration.
To facilitate manoeuvring, Volkswagen’s electric coupé SUV has a significant advantage common to the ID family: an excellent turning circle for its size. It is here 10.20 m. ” This is the best in the category. It’s much better than a Tesla Model Y, for example, which is also much wider and more difficult to park “, compares our journalist.
In use, the brake pedal and the accelerator are quite soft. ” To evolve in town, it is an extremely pleasant SUV. Like the ID.4 or the cousin Skoda Enyaq which also comes in a cut version », Aligns the man with the cap.
“Clumsy on winding roads”
The Volkswagen ID.5 can be based on 3 chassis models: Sport (+ 400 euros), DCC Controlled Suspension (+ 1,300 euros), or Standard, as standard. The copy at our disposal is content with the latter. It shows great flexibility and trepidation, even in Sport mode. Suffice to say that the winding departmental roads are not the favorite playground of this coupe SUV.
What Maxime Fontanier expresses thus: “ The car is clumsy » ; « We feel the weight of the batteries in the floor » ; « Steering is light and lacks midpoint precision » ; « It’s good around town, but it lacks consistency for dynamic driving » ; « We hear the business wandering, because it takes a lot of rolling » ; « You don’t really feel the front axle which tends to widen » ; « The ESP sometimes cuts the engine, preventing you from accelerating out of corners » ; « In terms of the brakes too, it’s a bit light on the sensations, even if the braking distances are suitable. ».
This is why our journalist advises to choose the Sport chassis or the one with piloted suspension. What will not harm the comfort of the people transported on board this car to see first of all as ” a wagon that is appreciated for its habitability ».
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Restricted on expressways
On fast lanes, the Volkswagen ID.5 is rather quiet, both in terms of air noise and rolling noise. Motorists should appreciate the easily manageable driving aids with the buttons on the steering wheel. Available to them, sometimes by adopting an optional pack: active cruise control, reading traffic signs, maintaining the distance from the vehicle in front, lane change assistance, etc.
The coupé SUV does not seek to dazzle with exceptional performance. It achieves 0 to 100 km/h in 8.4 seconds and its top speed is limited to 160 km/h.
On the highway, in calm weather, and at a temperature of 35° C, we recorded an average consumption of 22 kWh per 100 km. Which is not necessarily very high for a 2,117 kg electric car. The range until failure would therefore be approximately 350 km. Perhaps also that the new software 3.0 which controls the machine and intervenes in particular on the management of the batteries, makes it possible to moderate consumption.
Prices
As of June 21, 2022, the Volkswagen ID.5 price list starts at 52,550 euros including tax and excluding bonuses with the Pro model whose engine power is limited to 128 kW (174 hp). The Pro Performance of our test, already better equipped at this level (150 kW / 204 hp as a reminder), requires a little more effort: 54,150 euros, not counting the packs and billable options in addition.
« Which is still very expensive, even if you have the standard assistance pack, and therefore a better level of equipment than the cheaper ID.4 of 3,700 euros », concludes Maxime Fontanier.
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