Volkswagen ID.4 & ID.5 | First Drive Review

Helsinki is not a city that immediately comes to mind when you think of adventure or nightlife. Unlike Barcelona or Berlin, it has a distinctly relaxed vibe. It’s a pristine European city where people, though reserved, are warm and helpful when approached. The city’s landscape is dotted with ancient architecture, churches, and cathedrals—an endless source of inspiration for art lovers. My stint in Helsinki, however, was far from just an artful escapade; it was an adventure with the Volkswagen ID.5, as we explored the city’s outskirts on a winter drive, heading for a husky ride and skiing session.

Almost every automaker has either launched or is aggressively developing its lineup of EVs. Volkswagen is no exception; they have ambitious plans for India, rigorously testing their EVs in the country’s hot and humid climate. While VW sharpened its axe, I flew to Helsinki to spend a few days with the ID.5 in snow-laden conditions. Perhaps writing this review ahead of its Indian debut will nudge VW HQ to fast-track its electric offensive onto Indian roads [ My test car had less than 100 km on board… as fresh as the snow it was driven on].

Let’s meet the Volkswagen ID.5  

Volkswagen ID.5 is the third dedicated model from VW’s MEB electric platform, followed by ID.3 and ID.4, I also drove the ID4 for a brief while, and it’s safe to say that there is no such big difference between the ID.4 & ID.5 except the SUV coupe shape of the latter. The ID.5 also came out with an upgraded software version 3.0, which brings about a lot of improvements in technology and updates the digital features in comparison to its predecessor. Still, the coupe design has cost some amount of headroom and boot size.

Let’s be honest; the interior isn’t something that will scream luxury or napa leather or super high standards we’ve come to expect from Volkswagen. There are brittle, inexpensive-feeling plastics across the dash, around the doors, and where you might rest your knee. What really needs to improve is the MID which definitely feels very small. The ID.4’s boxy shape means it gets a rather cavernous 543-litre boot, but strangely the ID.5 actually beats that with a 549-litre split-level space back there. 

There are three variants of the ID.5 - Pro, Performance & GTX. We had the Pro, which comes with a 77kwh of battery capacity delivering 172 hp of power and 235 Nm of torque, and it also gets a permanently excited synchronous motor on the rear axle, making it an RWD. As you step up, there is a Pro Performance version which produces 201 hp of power and 310 Nm of torque, and finally, and most interesting, though, is the GTX version, which gets an Asynchronous motor on the front axle, and an Permanently Excited Synchronous motor on the rear axle with a combined power of 295 hp of power and 460 Nm of torque.

How to differentiate between ID.4 and ID.5 

From the B-pillar forward, it’s essentially the same car, but the ID. 4’s sensible back end has been slicked up to a coupe-like finish on the ID.5. This is the more stylish option but kills a bit of boot practicality despite a larger boot in liters; it’s the big suitcases that get compromised. It comes with a sporty GTX model targeted to enthusiasts. It’s intended to channel the spirit of past GTIs and convince folks craving performance- EVs can be speedy and cool.

Verdict

There are reasons to believe that VW ID.4 will be the first model to make it to India; there are two reasons mainly for it. First, the ID.5 will not be at the right price point for India, and there is pretty good demand globally. Secondly, Indian consumers prefer an SUV shape, and most coupe designs have not clocked sales volume. We still spent more time with the ID.5 because I personally love the coupe design, and it had almost zero miles on board, and frankly, you will need thick reading glasses to know the difference between the two because there aren’t many.

Cars like the VW ID.5 are interesting for the shift that they herald in the whole process of building cars and owning them. What was once merely well-engineered hardware has morphed into a high-tech software base. And because of the ability to update these software systems remotely, cars like this will arrive on the market ready, and the update will continue.

VW ID.4 & ID.5 are both capable EVs and have all the characteristics of a VW car. It definitely gets the most attention on roads after the Beetle from the VW stable and has the right battery pack, performance & size to make a great case for itself to be called a Great EV SUV. It will appeal to many Indian buyers and should be launched soon to give consumers another great EV option to choose from. I rest my case.

Driving Impressions

The handling of winter tyres on snow really amused me. I took it deep in snow and also at steep corners; it clearly steers itself from the words called “Oversteer’ or ‘Understeer’. The pleasure of eking out the range and getting good efficiency from ID.5 is quite satisfying. Volkswagen is now quite good at putting together a decently thrifty electric powertrain. Recent updates to the onboard electronics have released faster charging, which will be appreciated by those who regularly pound in the mega kilometres.

The steering is weighty but dependable, and the standard Pro/Pro Performance models avoid the sort of torquey point-and-squirt behaviour that many electric cars these days mistake for a character. It makes the car easy to live with in traffic or around town, and the chunky accelerator and brake pedals are a plus. 

On the well-paved Tarmac in Helsinki, it does offer a comfortable ride, but the final verdict will be when it meets the surprising Indian roads. The good part is plenty of tyre sidewall on top of the smallest 19-inch wheels, which could be a great boon for Indian roads. Turning a circle of 10.2 m for a big-looking SUV is pretty impressive, and it was very handy on the small snow-laced twisties. The front seat armrests also enhance driving posture and make it very comfortable.

I must have munched around 1000 km over four days in Helsinki and braved - snowfall and rainfall. Drove on thin and thick layers of ice and also on the tarmac and always felt very confident. The start-stop button takes some time to find because it’s situated at an odd place, but once the ignition is on, then it’s all easy from there. Everything seemed in perfect proportion, from steering input to acceleration to the range, and braking with winter tyres was on point. VW has really used a great recipe to dish out a fully cooked meal.