2025 Volkswagen ID.4 & ID.5 review: Australian first drive

It's been a long time coming, but Volkswagen reckons the 2025 ID.4 and ID.5 electric SUVs are worth the wait.

Fresh from a major mid-cycle refresh – yes, it's been four years since Volkswagen's electric mid-sized SUV first launched overseas in 2021 – and with a possible additional facelift looming, Australia has finally got its first taste of this hugely important vehicle.

Yes, the wait has been long, but there is some good news here. The Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID.5 – two takes on the same-sized vehicle – are heavily updated through the powertrain, battery, driving range and included technology.

Whereas the ID.4 is more of a wagon-style SUV with more of a focus on interior head room and boot space, the ID.5 is more swooping through the roof line in a coupe style.

It has also landed at a much sharper price than was originally predicted, as Volkswagen reacts to the huge influx of new competitors in this space from emerging brands (mostly from China).

Starting at $59,990 plus on-road costs, the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro throws itself right amongst the throng of competitors, of which there is no shortage. The new Tesla Model Y starts at a similar price, as does the BYD Sealion 7.

In fact, a cursory look at the market shows that Australians have the luxury of 21 different electric SUVs to choose from between $50,000 and $70,000. That's staggering.

However, Volkswagen is really putting its best foot forward in this incredibly crowded market.

Looking at the ID.4 Pro first – which is the only variant available for the time being – Volkswagen has decided to go for a higher specification level rather than the alternative. There are heated, electrically adjustable front seats in this spec, with massage but missing ventilation. The seats are trimmed in Volkswagen's classy 'ArtVelour' microfleece and the driver's seat also gets memory.

There are also 19-inch alloy wheels, matrix LED headlights, interior ambient lighting, privacy glass, a 360-degree camera system and a panoramic glass roof. The infotainment display measures in at 12.9 inches, while the digital cluster in front of the driver (which is mounted on on the steering column, BYD-style) is 5.3 inches.

The single electric motor in the rear of the ID.4 gets a welcome power boost, now with 210kW and 545Nm. The battery has 77kWh of usable capacity (82kWh gross), and Volkswagen decided to add in adaptive damping and progressive steering as standard equipment into the ID.4 Pro, while it's optional in other markets.

When it's all said and done, the ID.4 Pro has a claimed driving range of 544km on the WLTP testing cycle, can fast-charge at 175kW, and accelerate from 0–100km/h in 6.7 seconds. Considering the price starts with a five (just), it's compelling.

And for reference, our initial test drive of the ID.4 and ID.5 saw figures of around 18 and 19kWh per 100 kilometres for both vehicles. But this was on mostly fast and flowing country and rural roads, with a fair amount of throttle applied at times. True efficiency – especially around town – will be better grasped in future tests.

For those who want a bit more sporting grunt, the ID.5 with the swoopier roof line gets the GTX trim initially, which adds in an additional electric motor for 250kW in peak combined power, but Volkswagen doesn't offer us a combined torque figure for comparison's sake.

The ID.5 GTX is firmer and sportier in the driving experience, but also picks up an upgraded sound system, sports-style front seats with some embroidery, and 20-inch wheels.

If the Volkswagen ID.4 landed in Australia with the lacklustre pre-facelift specifications like a shorter range, lower specification, and less power, it could have been dead on arrival in Australia.

But because of the upgrades in the facelifted model, the ID.4 in particular is worth consideration.

There are some things missing here, like vented seats and a head-up display, and other options in the electric SUV space do offer a bit more bang-for-buck. It's not a vast chasm, though, and Volkswagen's electric SUV instead holds most of its appeal in the overall polish and poise of the end product.

Typical of many Volkswagen vehicles, regardless of the propulsion method, the ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTX both feel nice and solid. In terms of the design, the application of technology, and the driving experience.

Although, it's not perfect. Let's look at some familiar foibles first.

Those annoying touch-sensitive climate-control buttons and volume slider below the infotainment display – which Volkswagen has since admitted it got wrong and will remedy in the future – persist here. One can accidentally press buttons on the steering wheel – like turning on the wheel heating – while negotiating corners, and it takes your mind off the road while trying to fix it back up.

Climate controls perhaps aren't as bad – in broad daylight at least – but still are not as good as physical controls like a volume knob and proper buttons.

The infotainment display, while not being as large as others in the segment, is big enough for most uses and impresses well for response times and refresh rates. The operating system also seems pretty good, although we haven't had the time yet to really dig into its overall performance.

Otherwise, the interior of both the ID.4 and ID.5 feels nice in terms of the materials, layout and build quality. I've always been a big fan of Volkswagen's in-house seats for quality, comfort and ergonomics. And that remains here, with ErgoActive seats that provide plenty of adjustment and support where needed. You have tilt and reach adjustment through the steering column, and the small digital display always stays in plain sight.

And, of course, I'm always a sucker for an armrest on the driver's seat.

One thing I'm not a sucker for is the use of shiny piano-black plastics, which tend to attract smudges and scratches like kids descending upon a lolly jar. Around the central cupholders is one thing, but adding them to the main grab handles on each door means these surfaces are going to look bad more often than good.

The electric skateboard platform of Volkswagen's electric SUV means there is plenty of storage space in the centre console area, along with the two regulation-sized cupholders. There are twin USB-C power outlets, along with a 12V plug and wireless charging pad. A lidded area further back can be converted between storage space and extra cupholders (if you're extra thirsty), and there's another nook underneath all of this that will fit in a purse or small handbag.

In the second row, you've got a proper amount of space that you would expect from a mid-sized SUV. Even though both the ID.4 and ID.5 are just under 4.6m long overall, not the longest in the segment, the platform and packaging mean there is a spacious and comfortable second row on offer.

Naturally, the ID.5 GTX gets less head room thanks to the dipping roof line, so the ID.4 is the pick for regular family users. The seats are comfortable, and the vision through to the front and sides of the vehicle is all good, which is important for kids in the back seats.

Air vents are located down near the floor, on the back of the low-lying centre console along with two USB-C power outlets and climate controls. There's a drop-down armrest with cupholders, a ski hatch for loading long items into the vehicle without having to drop the second row down, and room for bottles in the doors.

Strangely, the boot of the ID.5 GTX gets slightly more luggage space on paper than the ID.4 Pro, but that must come down to a trick in the measurements. For those who want to fit more in the boot, the ID.4 is the pick.

Just to make things clear, the Volkswagen ID.4 is first coming to Australia with the rear-wheel-drive Pro variant, while the ID.5 starts with the GTX. As time drags on, you can expect an ID.4 GTX and ID.5 Pro to arrive in Australia, and possibly a lower-priced and specced model as well.

So for those who want the sportier powertrain and driving experience now, you'll have to go for the ID.5 GTX.

After test-driving both of the vehicles back-to-back on some rural roads south-west of Canberra, I reckon the ID.4 is the pick. I say this because it still benefits from the adaptive damping and progressive steering, and has a better overall balance of ride comfort and driving dynamics.

The extra punch of the ID.5 is welcome, and certainly makes it more fun to punt around on back roads. But the ID.4 doesn't feel slouchy in comparison, and has plenty enough responsiveness through the skinny pedal for everyday useage.

The 19-inch wheels over 20-inch wheels would be beneficial here, but the ID.4 Pro has a better level of bump absorption and ride compliance, while also feeling balanced and fun to drive.

There are 15 different modes of damper settings to choose from, which sounds like a lot, but there isn't much of a noticeable jump between each step. Going from top to bottom does show a clear difference, firming up the ride and sharpening the steering a little, but the other 13 points in between feel like overkill.

That being said, those who enjoy the firmness and more direct, sharp steering feel of the GTX (along with the extra grunt, of course) will know which way to go. It's certainly more sporty and fun overall, and proved to be a fun companion on a quiet, snaking road over the hills.

The weight is always there, however, so don't expect to retain high clarity of steering response and stability when you really start to nudge things, because physics does inevitably catch up.

Although, both the ID.4 Pro and ID.5 GTX have a soft and spongy brake pedal feel, which does take a fair amount of pedal movement before you get a meaningful response. This is something you might get used to, but others could miss that sharp responsiveness you get elsewhere.

One great piece of news here is that the ID.4 and ID.5 both don't have the propensity to beep and bong at you as badly as other SUVs currently on the market, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, we don't have a camera-based driver monitoring system here in the Volkswagen SUVs, because its design dates back four years. And secondly, the technology that is here is well tuned to not be invasive and annoying.

This includes things like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, Travel Assist which is Volkswagen's version of lane centering and semi-autonomous driving, and a more advanced take on autonomous emergency braking that includes pedestrian, cyclist and intersection detection.

Many EV buyers will no doubt gravitate towards the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 because of the familiarity that comes from the badges that adorn it. And I totally get that: in a field of offerings that are often new to the Australian market, the provenance of Volkswagen in Australia does go a long way.

However, this isn't a car that's just trading on good vibes alone. It's priced right, and well specced enough to hold its own in such a tight and competitive space. There's better outright value for money available elsewhere, and that might be something that is always the case of comparing Chinese versus European offerings purely because of the economies of scale.

But the ID.4 in particular feels like good enough value for money, while providing a vehicle that feels well dialled and honed overall. The driving experience is nice and without major issues, and the interior balances the wants and needs of tech, flashiness and practicalities all adroitly.

In other words, it's definitely worth consideration in such a crowded field.

Sam Purcell has been writing about cars, four-wheel driving and camping since 2013, and obsessed with anything that goes brum-brum longer than he can remember. Sam joined the team at CarAdvice/Drive as the off-road Editor in 2018, after cutting his teeth at Unsealed 4X4 and Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures. Off-road writer of the Year, Winner - Sam Purcell

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