Volkswagen ID 5 long-term test: report 2

The Volkswagen ID 5 is intended to be a more stylish alternative to traditional electric SUVs – does it succeed? Our used cars editor is living with one to find out...

Published21 April 2023

The car Volkswagen ID 5 77kWh Pro Performance Style Run by Mark Pearson, used cars editor

Why it’s here To see how the pricey Volkswagen ID 5 stands up against its many polished rivals in this highly competitive class

Needs to Show that it’s more than just a pretty face. It’ll need to dispatch commuting, work and family life without any range anxiety issues and cope with a wide variety of everyday duties

Miles covered 3999 Price £52,185 Target Price £51,413 Price as tested £54,960 Test range 280 miles Official range 315 miles

21 April 2023 – My car is alive with the sound of music

My Volkswagen ID 5 plays a tune to me as I get out of it. Actually, what it’s doing is playing a series of notes that VW seems to have adopted as a jingle for its TV adverts. The odd thing is that every time I hear it, it reminds me (and probably only me) of the chorus of the Canadian rock band Rush’s 1980 top 20 hit ‘The Spirit of Radio’.

Now, with the greatest of respect to any fans of Rush, a band I must admit I haven’t given much thought to over the intervening years, I am still trying to work out if this musical accompaniment doesn't add a slightly unwanted comedic effect to my departure. Mind you, I can only add that wherever it is I happen to be going, I'm usually in a rush, so maybe this is just a case of VW being prescient.

Certainly, everything about my ID 5 seems to be designed not to hinder progress, if I am in a hurry. It handles corners surprisingly well, and my 77kWh Pro Performance version has 201bhp, so it's never short of punch.

It's responsive, too. I’ve driven too many petrol and diesel-engined cars over the years with automatic gearboxes that have been deliberately tuned for fuel economy rather than performance, such that there is often a long pause before the car responds to the commands of your right foot. An electric car like my ID 5 offers instant torque, of course, so no such problems exist; put your foot down and it goes.

It’s also easy to find the right driving position, thanks to the level of adjustment built into the comfortable and supportive driver’s seat and the neat-looking and good-to-touch steering wheel. It was easy to hook up my phone for smartphone mirroring, too, so I can use the right traffic-avoiding apps when on the move.

On top of that, the small pod housing the digital instruments and gear selector moves with the steering wheel, so you can always see the easy-to-read display. I think this last is a thing of genius and I am content to say it is my favourite thing about the whole car so far – certainly better than its serenading of me every time I get out of it.