Volkswagen ID.5: A New Era of Stylish EVs

The Volkswagen ID.5 merges stylish design with practical features, appealing to buyers seeking a modern electric vehicle. This episode explores its key specifications, the used market landscape, and how it compares against notable electric competitors, all while highlighting essential considerations for prospective buyers. 
• Analysis of the Volkswagen ID.5's unique design 
• Overview of Volkswagen's evolution in the electric vehicle market 
• Key features of the ID.5 including digital interfaces and infotainment 
• Performance options, including the GTX model's capabilities 
• Evaluation of the ideal target buyer for this vehicle 
• Consideration of rear headroom implications 
• Current pricing trends in the used ID.5 market 
• Factors influencing used car pricing such as mileage and condition 
• Insights into insurance costs and vehicle efficiency 
• Discussion on potential issues with used ID.5s, including battery health 
• Comparative analysis of ID.5 against other electric vehicles 
• Encouragement for listeners to engage with questions and discussions on EV options

Transcript

Speaker 1 0:10

Welcome to the Mega Car Review Podcast from Confounderit, your go-to show for everything cars, whether you're a gearhead or just shopping for your next set of wheels. Every week, your hosts, marv and Claudia, dive into the latest automotive trends, give hands-on reviews and share the insights you need to make the smart decisions in the world of cars From the hottest models to market secrets. Marv and Claudia have you covered. Get ready for expert opinions, lively debates and all the details you won't hear anywhere else. Now let's join Marv and Claudia for another episode of the Mega Car Review Podcast.

Speaker 2 0:44

All right, everybody welcome back for another deep dive.

Speaker 3 0:47

Yeah, let's do it.

Speaker 2 0:48

Today we are diving into the world of electric vehicles.

Speaker 3 0:52

Always exciting stuff.

Speaker 2 0:53

Specifically the Volkswagen ID.5. Yeah, One of our listeners sent in a bunch of info on this car because they are thinking of picking one up on the used market.

Speaker 3 1:03

Okay, interesting, yeah, and I got to say just looking at the information and the pictures and stuff on this car because they are thinking of picking one up on the used market.

Speaker 2 1:06

Okay, interesting, yeah, and I got to say, just looking at the information and the pictures and stuff, this is a really interesting car.

Speaker 3 1:12

For sure.

Speaker 2 1:13

I think I'm most intrigued by the fact that it's like a coupe SUV.

Speaker 3 1:16

Yeah, it's cool design right.

Speaker 2 1:18

Yeah, is that all it is, though? Is it style over substance?

Speaker 3 1:21

That's what we're here to find out. Yeah exactly Volkswagen's been on this electrification journey for a while now.

Speaker 1 1:26

Right.

Speaker 3 1:26

And the ID.5 is a pretty fascinating case study of how they're blending their history with their electric future.

Speaker 2 1:32

So to kind of set the scene for everyone listening.

Speaker 3 1:34

Yeah.

Speaker 2 1:35

You know what exactly is this ID.5 that we're talking about today.

Speaker 3 1:39

Sure, so in the simplest terms, it's an all electric SUV coupe. Okay, simplest terms, it's an all-electric SUV coupe. Okay, like you said, it's kind of a sportier, more aerodynamic version of their popular ID.4 SUV.

Speaker 2 1:49

Okay, so how long has Volkswagen been making electric vehicles?

Speaker 3 1:53

Well, they've actually been dabbling in EVs for quite some time, but it's really in recent years that they've made this big push to become a leader in the EV market.

Speaker 2 2:01

Okay.

Speaker 3 2:02

You know the ID.5 isn't their first foray into the EV world. Right, the ID.3, a fully electric hatchback, came before it.

Speaker 2 2:10

But wasn't the ID.4 also before the ID.5?

Speaker 3 2:13

You're absolutely right. The ID.4, which is like the more traditional SUV version, actually debuted before the ID.5.

Speaker 2 2:20

So the sportier version came out after the less sporty version.

Speaker 3 2:23

Yeah, it's a little bit of a head scratcher in terms of the timeline, but hey, that's Volkswagen for you.

Speaker 2 2:26

All right, so let's kind of walk through some of the key features of this ID.5 and when they kind of hit the market.

Speaker 3 2:32

Okay. So the ID.5 debuted back in 2022. Okay, and right from the start it had that really distinctive coupe-like roofline, which is a big part of its appeal. Yeah, but you know, don't let that fool you, it's still a pretty spacious vehicle inside, okay. Another standout feature is the digital cockpit and that huge infotainment screen that dominates the dashboard.

Speaker 2 2:54

Yeah, when I saw the pictures I was like whoa.

Speaker 3 2:56

Yeah, it's very modern, very high tech.

Speaker 2 2:58

So is it all screens then?

Speaker 3 2:59

Pretty much you know. Everything is controlled through those screens Climate control, navigation, even the driving modes.

Speaker 2 3:05

Wow.

Speaker 3 3:06

And then, of course, you've got the powertrain options.

Speaker 2 3:08

Right.

Speaker 3 3:08

Different battery sizes and power outputs are available, depending on the trim level.

Speaker 2 3:13

Okay.

Speaker 3 3:13

And then there's the GTX performance model.

Speaker 2 3:16

Ah, yes, the GTX, I saw that.

Speaker 3 3:18

For those who want a little extra oomph.

Speaker 2 3:20

So what's special about that GTX version then?

Speaker 3 3:22

Well, first of all, it's got dual motors.

Speaker 2 3:24

Okay. Which means all-wheel drive or, as Volkswagen calls it, four motion Catchy.

Speaker 3 3:30

Yeah, and it can go from zero to 60 molo per hour in about six seconds. Okay, so it's definitely got some pep in its step. And it probably handles a little bit better you bet it's got a sportier suspension and some nice styling tweaks to match that performance.

Speaker 2 3:43

So you know we're talking about this car and who it would be good for, and it seems to me that it would be perfect for someone who wants an EV that's practical but also has a little bit of style.

Speaker 3 3:54

Yeah, I think you're spot on there. So what do you think is the target buyer for this car? Well, I'd say it's someone who appreciates the best of both worlds. Right, they need the space and practicality of an SUV. Maybe they've got a family or they just need to haul stuff around Right, but they also don't want to drive around in something that looks like a boring old box Right. They probably value technology, a modern driving experience, and maybe they even have a bit of a sporty side.

Speaker 1 4:21

Right.

Speaker 3 4:22

So you know, maybe a younger professional couple or small family that's looking to make a statement with their car.

Speaker 2 4:30

Yeah.

Speaker 3 4:30

They're not afraid to stand out from the crowd.

Speaker 2 4:33

So you mentioned families.

Speaker 3 4:34

Yeah.

Speaker 2 4:34

What about that sloping roof line you were talking about earlier? Does that affect the headroom in the back?

Speaker 3 4:38

It does a bit yeah.

Speaker 2 4:39

Okay.

Speaker 3 4:40

You know that coupe-like roof line does cut into the rear headroom a little.

Speaker 2 4:44

Okay.

Speaker 3 4:44

It's not a deal breaker, but it's definitely something that potential buyers should keep in mind, especially if they've got caller family members or friends. They're frequently driving around.

Speaker 2 4:53

So if you're listening and you're thinking of buying an ID.5 and you have tall people in your life, maybe take them along for a test drive.

Speaker 3 5:01

Exactly you want to make sure everyone's comfortable.

Speaker 2 5:03

Okay, so let's talk about the used car market then. Right, because this listener is looking at picking one up used.

Speaker 3 5:08

Right. What kind of price range are we looking at for a used ID.5 these days? Well, according to our data from MarketCheck UK, the average price for a used ID.5 is hovering around £40,500.

Speaker 2 5:22

Okay.

Speaker 3 5:23

But as with any used car, prices can vary quite a bit.

Speaker 2 5:26

Oh, of course.

Speaker 3 5:27

We've seen some ID.5s listed for as low as £32,995. Wow, and others going for upwards of £55,500.

Speaker 2 5:37

Whoa okay, that's a big difference.

Speaker 3 5:39

Yeah, it is a pretty wide range.

Speaker 2 5:41

So what accounts for that big difference in price?

Speaker 3 5:43

It all comes down to the usual factors, you know, the age of the car, the mileage, the condition and, of course, the specific trim level and options.

Speaker 2 5:49

Right.

Speaker 3 5:50

A newer model with low mileage and all the bells and whistles is obviously going to command a higher price.

Speaker 2 5:55

Sure makes sense.

Speaker 3 5:56

And then you've got things like the battery size and whether it has all wheel drive. Those can also affect the price.

Speaker 2 6:02

Okay, so let's say you found the ID.5 of your dreams.

Speaker 3 6:05

Yeah.

Speaker 2 6:06

And you're ready to pull the trigger.

Speaker 3 6:07

Yeah.

Speaker 2 6:08

What about things like insurance and efficiency and all that jazz?

Speaker 3 6:11

Ah, the nitty gritty.

Speaker 2 6:12

Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 3 6:13

Well, when it comes to insurance, the ID.5 falls into insurance groups that are pretty reasonable for an electric car.

Speaker 2 6:22

Okay.

Speaker 3 6:22

But the more powerful GTX model is going to be in a higher group, which means higher premiums.

Speaker 2 6:27

Yeah, that makes sense.

Speaker 3 6:28

As for efficiency, the ID.5 is actually quite good. Most models can get well over 200 miles on a single charge, okay, but of course your actual range will vary depending on your driving style, the weather conditions and things like that.

Speaker 2 6:41

Right.

Speaker 3 6:41

And then there's servicing costs, which tend to be lower for EVs compared to petrol or diesel cars.

Speaker 2 6:47

That's a good point.

Speaker 3 6:48

You don't have all those oil changes and spark plugs and whatnot to worry about.

Speaker 2 6:52

And right now EVs are exempt from road tax in the UK. Right, that's correct, At least for the time being.

Speaker 3 6:59

Absolutely. Government policies can shift, so it's good to keep that in mind.

Speaker 2 7:02

Okay, so no car is perfect, true? What potential issues should our listener be aware of when shopping for a used ID.5?

Speaker 3 7:12

Well, one of the biggest things to consider with any used EV is the battery health.

Speaker 2 7:17

Right.

Speaker 3 7:18

You want to make sure the battery hasn't degraded significantly over time.

Speaker 2 7:21

So how do you check that?

Speaker 3 7:23

The best thing to do is to ask the seller for a battery health report or, if you're really serious about buying a particular car, you can get an independent inspection.

Speaker 2 7:31

Okay.

Speaker 3 7:31

Another thing to be aware of is that there were some reports of software glitches in early ID.5 models.

Speaker 2 7:38

Oh really.

Speaker 3 7:38

Yeah, so it's worth checking if those have been addressed through software updates.

Speaker 2 7:43

Okay.

Speaker 3 7:43

And then, of course, there's the usual wear and tear stuff. You know, check the tires, the brakes, the suspension, just like you would with any used car.

Speaker 2 7:51

So we've talked a lot about the ID.5 itself.

Speaker 3 7:53

Yeah.

Speaker 2 7:54

But how does it compare to some of the other EVs out there?

Speaker 3 7:57

That's a great question.

Speaker 2 7:58

You know there's a lot of competition in this market, so let's talk about some of the main rivals. How does the ID.5 stack up against something like the Tesla Model Y, the Hyundai Ioniq 5, or the Kia EV6?

Speaker 3 8:11

Okay, well, each of those cars brings something different to the table, right? The Tesla Model Y is known for its performance and its cutting-edge tech features, like the autopilot system. Yeah, but it also tends to be more expensive than the ID.5. The Hyundai IONIQ 5 has a really striking design and some seriously fast charging capabilities.

Speaker 2 8:30

I've heard good things about that one.

Speaker 3 8:32

Yeah, it's a great car.

Speaker 2 8:33

What about the Kia EV6?

Speaker 3 8:35

The EV6 also has a very distinctive design and offers a really nice balance of performance range and features.

Speaker 2 8:41

So where does the ID.5 fit in with all of that?

Speaker 3 8:43

I think the ID.5 holds its own in that crowd. It's got that blend of practicality and style that we talked about, and it benefits from Volkswagen's reputation for build quality and it's competitively priced, especially in the used market. So you know, it really comes down to individual needs and preferences.

Speaker 2 9:01

So, to wrap things up, it sounds like the ID.5 is a solid contender in the used EV market.

Speaker 3 9:06

I think so yeah.

Speaker 2 9:08

Any final thoughts for our listener who might be thinking about taking the plunge.

Speaker 3 9:11

Well, you know, the ID.5 is a great example of how electric cars are evolving.

Speaker 2 9:15

How so.

Speaker 3 9:16

They're not just those quirky little eco-friendly things anymore. Right, they're stylish, they're practical, they're fun to drive and they can perform really well. As battery technology continues to improve and prices become even more competitive, we're going to see more and more exciting EVs like the ID.5 hitting the market.

Speaker 2 9:34

So the future is electric.

Speaker 3 9:36

Absolutely.

Speaker 2 9:36

Well, we've covered a lot of ground today. I hope you found this deep dive informative.

Speaker 3 9:41

I hope so too.

Speaker 2 9:42

Now, if you're listening and you have any questions about the ID.5 or any other EV for that matter, yeah. What other information do you need before you decide to buy one?

Speaker 3 9:51

Don't be shy, reach out.

Speaker 2 9:52

Keep researching, keep asking questions and, most importantly, enjoy the journey of finding your perfect EV.

Speaker 3 9:58

Happy driving.

Speaker 2 9:59

See ya, bye you.