VOLKSWAGEN is about to embark on an epic EV rollout in Australia in 2024, and GoAuto was invited to partake in an in depth electrical highway journey in Europe to get a really feel for just a few key new fashions that will likely be a part of that product onslaught.
We spent two frenetic days and lined greater than 500 kilometres of driving within the alps of Austria in three key ID electrical autos — the ID 3 hatchback, the ID 5 GTX midsize SUV, and the ID Buzz household van.
Mountain passes are usually not the standard location you’d think about for such testing, however we weren’t alone in having fun with the views from the Grossglockner cross whereas piloting zero-tailpipe-emission autos; there have been dozens of electrical vehicles and SUVs additionally on the highway, and the proximity to quick charging places leaves Australia feeling like we’re actually within the infancy stage of the EVolution.
Every of the fashions we drove featured satnav with built-in cost places, and amazingly, the readout on the display screen included the utmost charging capability of stated recharge spots. It’s very unusual to be driving in a mountain village with a inhabitants of 3000 individuals, and but have a alternative of 22kW, 50kW and 150kW chargers.
Whereas Australia has its personal Infrastructure battles, VW’s native arm will roll out these fashions within the second half of 2024, with mid-sized SUVs within the type of the ID 4, ID 4 GTX, ID 5 and ID 5 GTX confirmed for a July arrival.
The GTX, in case you’re questioning, signifies that that is the all-wheel drive, performance-oriented model of the automotive, and on the subject of 4 vs 5, the latter is a coupe-style SUV, the previous a extra typical round-back mannequin. The variations offered in Australia gained’t essentially be the identical as what’s at present obtainable in Europe, with new, extra highly effective ID 4 and ID 5 rear-drive base fashions (210kW/545Nm) anticipated to supply prospects in extra of 500km of EV driving vary.
The GTX is about to see an influence bump, too, as much as 250kW, although the present mannequin’s twin-motor format with 220kW and 460Nm is hardly a slouch. A 0-100/h time within the six-second vary is nice for a standard mannequin, however gradual based mostly on the benchmark Tesla Mannequin Y’s occasions. And that US model’s Chinese language-made big-selling SUV is what Volkswagen is aiming to steal prospects from — have in mind the Group can even have Skoda Enyaq, Audi This autumn e-tron and Cupra Tavascan providing alternate choices, as properly.
Actual particulars and specs for all fashions are nonetheless to be locked in, and the pricing and customary gear lists are additionally to be confirmed. However studying between the strains, all fashions could have a robust stage of ordinary gear, with highlights together with LED lighting, giant alloy wheels, elegant inside trims and huge touchscreen instrument shows with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Nevertheless, it’s anticipated that consumers will see pricing for ID 4 and ID 5 fashions to be over and above high-grade variations of the petrol-powered Tiguan (additionally set to be refreshed late in 2024), whereas the GTX efficiency variations – which achieve totally different chassis parts to reinforce their driving behaviour, bigger wheels, sportier styling and totally different inside trim – will likely be “within the realm of the step from GTI to R fashions”, so a $10,000 to $15,000 premium over base fashions.
Nevertheless, it stays unclear if the ID 4 and ID 5 GTX fashions will likely be positioned as extremely because the Mannequin Y Efficiency, which is nearly $100,000 earlier than on-road prices. The precise particulars on driving vary, battery capability and powertrain specs will likely be revealed nearer to launch.
Australia will doubtless solely see a single ID 3 hatchback trim grade domestically, and as with the closely-related Cupra Born, it’s doubtless we are going to get a long-range battery possibility solely – although the enchantment of a extra reasonably priced short-range battery pack may additionally see the ID 3 arrive at a extra acceptable worth level, contemplating the plethora of recent reasonably priced EVs on sale available in the market.
The mannequin we examined was a high-grade Professional S mannequin, with a 77kWh battery pack with as much as 546km (WLTP) driving vary. The lesser Professional model in Europe runs a 58kWh battery with 426km (WLTP) vary. It’s debatable {that a} lower-spec battery may provide quite a lot of enchantment domestically, particularly if it leads to a worth level nearer to $50,000 than $60,000. Notably, the Professional S is significantly heavier and due to this fact slower than the Professional – the 0-100km/h is 7.3sec vs 7.9sec.
And at last, there’s the fashionable tackle a retro basic – the VW ID Buzz. This electrical van is offered in each family-friendly passenger spec and in addition as a Cargo mannequin in short-wheelbase guise, whereas the long-wheelbase mannequin we can even get is solely a seven-seat people-mover van.
As with the opposite fashions, precise particulars are to be confirmed, however we drove the short-wheelbase ID Buzz Professional five-seat van, with a 77kWh battery, a single rear-mounted electrical motor (150kW/310Nm, the identical because the ID 3), and a claimed driving vary of as much as 423km (WLTP).
Whereas the long-wheelbase mannequin with three rows of seats will clearly be the extra interesting for patrons who’re purchasing for a Buzz as an EV various to the Multivan (once more, which can even be revamped late in 2024), the short-wheelbase mannequin gives an attention-grabbing context level, as a result of at 4712mm lengthy it’s shorter nose-to-tail than a Tesla Mannequin Y (4750mm), but its tall (1985mm) physique, broad shoulders (2212mm together with mirrors) and nonetheless an extended wheelbase (2989mm, versus 3239mm for the LWB model).
Count on the LWB mannequin to be priced over and above present high-grade Multivan fashions, which is $98,690 MSRP, however the pricing for the five-seater could also be a bit extra approachable. Right here’s hoping.
Driving impressions
Let’s begin off within the ID Buzz, which was probably the most attention-grabbing and enjoyable of the three to drive. A whole lot of that comes all the way down to novelty issue, as a result of that is an instantaneous icon by way of look.
It’s eye-catching on the skin, and really nice on the within too, although the model we drove didn’t have rear-seat air-vents or opening home windows, which it seems are fitted customary to the LWB mannequin.
However additionally it is a reasonably good factor to drive, with correct steering, good trip composure and a pleasant steadiness to the way in which it handles itself, too. Maybe the largest challenge right here is the 150kW/310Nm electrical motor, which feels a bit relaxed on the subject of acceleration, and can solely really feel the burden extra whenever you add a household into the combination.
It must also be famous that the payload is just not terrific, regardless of the cargo capability being very beneficiant. Boot capability is 1121 litres, however the most payload for the model we drove is simply 529 kilograms. So, a household of 5 might want to watch how a lot stuff they plan to take with them.
For additional context, the Cargo model of the Buzz, which we’re additionally getting, will fall properly beneath the anticipated requirements for payload capability as properly, with a 648kg obtainable. For context, the bottom payload for a T6.1 Transporter is 948kg.
The ID 3 was a bit extra energetic feeling by way of the drive, although maybe not as jumpy because the Cupra Born, which provides an additional 20kW in comparison with this mannequin. Once more, with 150kW/310Nm, there’s sufficient to make the ID 3 really feel zippy, notably at decrease speeds in stop-start conditions.
And it’s a fairly enjoyable little factor to drive at open highway pace too, with competent steadiness and management in corners, candy steering and the rear-wheel-drive feeling of pushing you in direction of the horizon quite than pulling you, it does provide a good bit of enjoyable and performance, too.
The inside of the model we drove had a four-seat format, because the Cupra Born additionally gives, however hopefully Australian consumers could have the selection of 4 or 5 seats. One downer for the ID 3 is the shortage of rear-seat air vents, however in any other case it’s a reasonably good feeling cabin, although not with out its infotainment quirks, as with all the present ID fashions.
These screens do take some studying, and the controls – haptic sliders for temperature and quantity beneath the media system (not illuminated, both), and haptic ‘buttons’ on the steering wheel as properly – are tedious. You will need to additionally undergo the display screen to show off emergency lane preserving help each time you drive the automobile. Annoying.
It’s virtually not value commenting on the ID 5 GTX, if the powertrain goes to see as dramatic a change as anticipated. As a result of in its present kind, it’s appropriate for household prospects however hardly scintillating in its acceleration, as we all know EVs could be.
What’s nice concerning the ID 5 GTX is that it feels fairly naturally dynamic in corners, with an awesome stage of energy and poise on provide within the twisty stuff, and a good stage of consolation for freeway (or autobahn) cruising. One factor we famous was a slight bobbing of physique when the adaptive suspension was set to the traditional stage, whereas softening off the dampers or firming them up made for a special type of trip, as you’d anticipate.
Time will inform as as to if these competent and compelling electrical autos will reach Australia, and quite a lot of that may come all the way down to pricing, specs and simply what else occurs available in the market earlier than these EVs arrive.
