mReview: Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Electric – Give ID Time
The ID.5 GTX is Volkswagen’s challenger for the sporty-electric SUV segment but it can be a little hard to live with.
We never got the original ID.5 range in Singapore, with the first models brought in already the updated versions of the ID.5 Pro and ID.5 GTX. The latter is what we’re looking at today and it’s received a bump in power over the pre-facelift as well as an updated interior.
Total power output now sits at a healthy but not ludicrous 290kW (389hp) and 545Nm of torque thanks to the dual electric motors and 82kWh battery. 0-100km/h is disposed of in 5.4 seconds and it’ll hit its 180km/h V-max pretty quickly too.
However, its 2.2-ton heft does make it quite a task to decelerate, especially with the ID.5’s pretty weak regenerative braking. Canyon carving is also not going to be top of your priority list as although the weight is mounted low in the car as is standard fare for EVs, steering feel is nonexistent and the ID.5 is much better reserved for city driving instead, sporty GTX badge notwithstanding.
549 litres of cargo capacity is good enough for two large suitcases or many tins of Milo.
However (again), daily driving may prove a little uncomfortable as the ride is rather harsh, an issue exacerbated by the 21-inch wheels and low-profile tyres that come standard on the GTX spec ID.5, the ID.5 Pro gets 20-inch rims instead. I’d be interested to see how much the differences between the Pro and GTX affect the ride quality.
The sloping-roof coupe styling helps to achieve the ID.5's 0.26cd drag coefficient.
On the upside, cabin space in the ID.5 is plentiful, even with its sloping roof. The ID.5 both looks and feels really big inside and out. The sporty interior is covered in suede with electric sports seats as standard on the GTX.
Dominating the cabin though is the 12.9-inch infotainment display mounted in the middle. This digital behemoth is how you access all of your car’s functions. It has everything you expect it to have like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with an AI voice assistant, although in my testing, it didn’t seem all that interested in assisting. There’s also a banging Harman Kardon sound system which is always a plus.
However (again, again), I’m sad to say there except for the hazard lights, there are zero physical buttons on the centre console. The buttons on the steering wheel are also all touch-sensitive which is simply the wrong decision. Thankfully, Volkswagen seems to have wisened up and they’re bringing back proper, physical steering wheel buttons on their newest models.
The ID.5 GTX isn’t what I’d call an easy pick, it certainly has its fair share of shortcomings and may not be worth the premium over the ID.5 Pro. However (last one I promise), the ID platform is still relatively in its infancy and with time, I’m sure that a great manufacturer like Volkswagen is going to sort itself out and deliver the standard of cars we have come to expect, know, and love.
| Volkswagen ID.5 GTX Electric | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price (at time of publishing): $265,900 including COE | VES Band: A1 | |
Motor: Dual electric motors |
Charging Rate: 135 kW DC, 11 kW AC |
Power & Torque: 290 kW (389 bhp) & 545 Nm |
Transmission: Single-speed |
Driven Wheels: All |
Consumption: 21.2 kWh/100km |
0-100 km/h: 5.4 seconds |
Top Speed: 180 km/h |
Battery Capacity: 82 kWh |
|
Dimensions (L x W x H):
4,599 mm x 1,852 mm
x 1,616 mm |
Wheelbase: 2,770 mm
|
Cargo Capacity: 549 litres |
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