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Volkswagen's Model Y rivals are finally reaching Australia more than four years after Europe with a starting price lower than expected – and up to 544km of claimed driving range.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV is finally on sale in Australia – four years after Europe – priced from $59,990 before on-road costs, alongside its ID.5 'coupe' sibling.
It is significantly cheaper than forecasts of more than $75,000 two years ago, and undercuts the Tesla Model Y RWD ($63,400) in its latest, facelifted Launch Series form.
Orders are now open, but the first customer deliveries of the ID.4 and ID.5 are not due to take place until mid-2025 – nearly five years after the former's reveal in Europe in September 2020.
The ID.4 was initially earmarked for a 2022 or 2023 launch, but has faced myriad delays as priority was given by Volkswagen head office to other countries with more stringent emissions rules.
Further delays came as VW Australia elected to wait for an upgraded model with a longer range and more power, and in recent months Drive understands it has faced extended, final negotiations with head office to reach the $59,990 price.
Sales of electric cars have flat-lined over the past 12 months, as customers increasingly adopt hybrids as a stepping stone to full electric vehicles – and reports suggest a heavily-updated ID.4 is only a year away from European showrooms.
Two variants of the electric Volkswagens will be offered initially, the rear-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro and all-wheel-drive ID.5 GTX, with an ID.5 Pro and ID.4 GTX to be added from July.
The ID.4 is the cheapest electric car the VW Group sells in Australia, a match on RRP with the Cupra Born – a small hatchback with less interior space, a shorter driving range (511km vs 544km), less power (170kW vs 210kW) and slower acceleration (0-100km/h in 7.0sec vs 6.7sec).
It also undercuts its siblings in the Cupra Tavascan ($60,990 to $74,490) and Skoda Enyaq ($69,990 to $83,490), while undercutting the just-updated Model Y Launch Series ($63,400).
Volkswagen is keen to highlight the ID.4 Pro is cheaper than the outgoing Tiguan 162TSI R-Line all-wheel-drive turbo-petrol SUV ($60,590), while being quicker to accelerate to 100km/h.
It boasts its long-delayed electric cars offer "trademark German quality and engineering" for prices and features "highly competitive with unknown brands and top 10 brand BEVs [battery-electric vehicles]."
Powering the ID.4 Pro is a single 210kW/545Nm rear electric motor and 77kWh (usable) battery, good for a claimed 544km of driving range in European WLTP testing, 0-100km/h in 6.7 seconds, and 175kW DC charging.
The ID.5 GTX steps up to a slightly-larger 79kWh battery, and dual motors with 250kW, good for 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds, and 522km of WLTP range – helped by its slipperier shape.
Standard equipment in the pair includes matrix LED headlights, a 12.9-inch touchscreen running quicker software than earlier ID.4s, power-adjustable heated front seats, tri-zone climate control and a glass roof.
The first batch of cars – compromised mainly of showroom demos and media evaluation vehicles – will initially offer wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto only, before wireless connectivity become available later in the year.
Volkswagen says it is investigating a retrofit or software upgrade to give early-batch vehicles the latest connectivity. All models are offered with access to a GoConnect phone companion app.
The ID.5 GTX adds a sportier body style and more power, plus front sports seats, premium audio, larger wheels and unique styling.
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 are available to order now, ahead of a public debut at next week's Everything Electric show in Sydney, test drive cars due in showrooms soon, and customer deliveries in mid-2025.
2025 Volkswagen ID.4, ID.5 price in Australia
Note: All prices above exclude on-road costs.
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro standard features:
2025 Volkswagen ID.5 GTX adds (over ID.4 Pro):
Alex Misoyannis has been writing about cars since 2017, when he started his own website, Redline. He contributed for Drive in 2018, before joining CarAdvice in 2019, becoming a regular contributing journalist within the news team in 2020. Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines at a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family. Highly Commended - Young Writer of the Year 2024 (Under 30) Rising Star Journalist, 2024 Winner Scoop of The Year - 2024 Winner
