Volkswagen's ID.4 and ID.5: A Closer Look at the Upgrades and Driving Experience

In the race to sell electric cars, everyone's been chasing Tesla. But VW's ID 4 has been gaining ground, especially after sorting out some initial supply issues. In the first half of this year, they sold nearly 16,500 here—more than 10% of their total, putting it just ahead of the Jetta. They've listened to feedback and are rolling out some changes, like a power boost and UI improvements.

As for testing the 2024, we'll have to wait a bit. But we did get a closer look at a Euro-spec car in Germany. Specifically, the ID.5, which is like the ID 4's lower-roofed cousin. The changes we're talking about apply to both. The Euro-spec GTX trim was pretty much equivalent to the ID 4 S Plus.

Upgraded Powertrain

The big stuff is happening under the hood. Both the ID 4 and ID 5 are getting a beefier rear motor, exclusively with the bigger 77.0-kWh battery. The smaller 58.0-kWh pack still has the old setup. This new AP550 motor is also going to power the upcoming ID.7 sedan.

It's got a reworked rotor and a more efficient cooling system, which means more power and better performance under heavy loads. In the 77.0-kWh ID 4, this new motor cranks out 282 horsepower. If you go for all-wheel drive, it bumps up to 335 horses. As for the range, we are not clear, but VW's betting this new motor will boost EPA numbers for both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive models.

Revamped Interior

Inside, there are tweaks too, mostly to make the user experience smoother. The 77.0-kWh version's infotainment system gets a facelift with a bigger 12.9-inch touchscreen. It's got better resolution and a snazzier interface, complete with shortcut icons for easier navigation.

Looks and works better than before, though it's still awkwardly positioned above the touch controls for temperature and audio volume. On the bright side, they've fixed the climate control visibility issue at night. Plus, they moved the gear selector to the steering column from its kind of weird spot on the gauge cluster.

Interior and Driving Experience

Apart from that, the cabin stays pretty much the same. Roomy across the two rows of seats, and there's a solid 30 cubic feet of cargo space in the back. It's a functional interior, nothing too fancy, and the window controls can be a tad annoying to toggle between front and back. The plastics feel more about durability than luxury, but top-of-the-line versions on both sides of the pond now come with a punchy new Harman/Kardon sound system.

Speed and Stability

Driving-wise, not a huge departure. The all-wheel drive version feels smooth and drama-free, though it's not in the same league as the zippier rivals in its segment. VW says it's quicker, but they're keeping quiet on the exact numbers. For reference, the 2021 AWD ID 4 did 0 to 60 in 5.4 seconds. The new one feels spirited but not jaw-dropping—you can feel the heft the motors are up against. Don't expect it to compete with the EV speed demons like the Kia EV6 GT or Tesla Model Y Performance.

One thing we can confirm for the European model is the raised speed cap—from 99 to 112 mph. As it was tested out on the unrestricted autobahn. Of course, that sort of driving gulps down the range, but it's a blast passing slower cars.

Speaking of the autobahn, the Euro-spec ID 5 felt rock-solid at high speeds. The adaptive dampers gave a comfy and controlled ride. It handled city bumps just as well, even on those hefty 21-inch wheels. VW says they've tweaked the steering software for a better feel and more assertive self-centering, but we still struggled to feel much feedback or connection to the front wheels.

All in all, the ID 5 changes are more of a nip and tuck than a total makeover. It's a car that promises easy living, but it's not exactly an adrenaline-pumper—a mix that's worked well for VW in the past. A high-up VW exec told us that one of the big challenges for big automakers going electric is moving beyond the early adopters to the everyday consumers who make up most of the market. The ID 4 and ID 5's practicality seems tailor-made for that job.

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