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VW ID.4 (2021-2023) vs VW ID.5 (2022-2023)
Selected trimPure Performance 52kWh · 2021-23Change trim222 mi · 52 kWh · £40,275
Selected trimPro 77kWh 174PS · 2022-23Change trim316 mi · 77 kWh · £49,735
At a glance
In this comparison, VW ID.4 leads on running costs, while the VW ID.5 leads on motorway range and charging speed.
Which should you choose?
Choose the VW ID.4 (2021-2023) if...
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the VW ID.5 (2022-2023) if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.5 edges ahead overall, but it's close - check which categories matter most to you.
Value
ID.4
5.2
ID.5
5.4
Too close to call
Motorway RangeID.5
ID.4
3.9
ID.5
5.4
Family
ID.4
8.1
ID.5
8.3
Too close to call
ChargingID.5
ID.4
2.7
ID.5
4.4
Cost Per MileID.4
ID.4
6.4
ID.5
5.5
City Driving
ID.4
6.3
ID.5
6
Too close to call
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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VW ID.4
VW ID.5
Length
VW ID.44,584mm-15mm
VW ID.54,599mm
Width
VW ID.41,852mm
VW ID.51,852mm
Height
VW ID.41,634mm
VW ID.51,618mm-16mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
Full specifications
| Specification |  VW ID.4 Pure Performance 52kWh |  VW ID.5 Pro 77kWh 174PS |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.58m | 4.60m+15mm |
| Width | 1.85m | 1.85m |
| Height | 1.63m | 1.62m-16mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.77m | 2.77m |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 533L | 539L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | 1575L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 10.2m | 10.2m |
| Kerb Weight | Not available | 2,128kg |
| Towing Capacity | 1,000kg | 1,000kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 52kWh | 77kWh (better) |
| Range (WLTP) | 222 mi | 316 mi (better) |
| Max DC Charge | 110kW | 135kW (better) |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £40,275 (better) | £49,735 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2021–2023 | 2022–2023 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh | VW ID.5Pro 77kWh 174PS |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 222 miles | 316 miles (better) |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 185 miles | 263 miles (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | Not available | 29 min |
| Max rapid charge rate | 110 kW | 135 kW (better) |
| Home AC charging | Not available | 11 kW |
| Usable battery capacity | 52 kWh | 77 kWh (better) |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Heat pump | Standard (better) | Not standard |
Driving & everyday use
Prices & deals
New and used prices
Current pricing and recent used-market behaviour.
| Measure | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh | VW ID.5Pro 77kWh 174PS |
|---|---|---|
| Used market price from | £16,750 | £18,990 |
| Average used price | £18,590 | £20,824 |
| Active used listings trackedIndependent UK dealer listings seen in the last 90 days. | 22 listings | 37 listings (better) |
| Recent used-price trend | Down 3.6% over ~6 months | Up 17.6% over ~6 months |
Used prices are indicative figures gathered from independent UK dealer listings and change frequently.
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - VW ID.4 Pure Performance 52kWh
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.5 Pro 77kWh 174PS
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software, real-world range, dealer & service support. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
VW ID.4
Pure Performance 52kWh
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the comfortable ride, quiet cabin and generous rear-seat and boot space.
- Running costs on a home tariff are very low, and the 11 kW on-board charger makes home charging easy.
- Rapid charging holds a steady, consistent speed across most of a charge.
Watch out for
- Software is the most common complaint: slow or buggy infotainment, screen reboots, weak navigation and a limited, unreliable phone app on early cars.
- Scheduled and app-controlled charging is unreliable for some owners, stopping short or not starting.
- Some owners report charging faults, including the cable not engaging or releasing properly, that dealers were slow to diagnose.
Owner tips
- Check that the car has had its software updates; many early complaints were fixed by later versions.
- If scheduled charging misbehaves, set the charging times on the home charger or in the car rather than in the app.
VW ID.5
Pro 77kWh 174PS
Owners love
- Owners like the looks, the comfortable ride and the roomy cabin, which feels more spacious than the ID.3.
- In mild weather owners report around 250-280 miles, and efficiency of about 3.6-3.8 miles per kWh.
- Cars with the optional heat pump lose noticeably less range in winter.
Watch out for
- The software is the most common complaint: slow start-up, settings that reset, unreliable CarPlay and voice control, and updates that needed dealer visits.
- Winter range falls to around 190-215 miles for some owners, well below the figures dealers quoted.
- Several owners report DAB radio stuttering and poor reception.
Owner tips
- Check the car is on current software and ask which updates and recalls the dealer has done.
- Look for a car with the heat pump if you do a lot of winter driving.
Buying options
Get a quote
VW ID.4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
VW ID.4
- £16,4512022Car360View
- £18,9872023Car360View
- £18,2942023Car360View
VW ID.5
- £24,9992023Car360View
- £22,8962022Car360View
- £20,8242022Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Is the VW ID.5 worth the extra £9,460 over the VW ID.4?
The VW ID.5 costs £9,460 more than the VW ID.4. For that premium it adds 94 miles more WLTP range, 25 kW faster peak rapid charging and a 2.3s quicker 0-62mph time. On EVcarsguide's combined category scores, the VW ID.5 comes out ahead overall.
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the VW ID.4 or the VW ID.5?
The VW ID.4 is £9,460 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £160 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the VW ID.4 comes out roughly £9,500 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 185 miles for the VW ID.4 and 263 miles for the VW ID.5 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The VW ID.5 goes roughly 78 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the VW ID.4 or the VW ID.5?
The two are within 0 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.4 and about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the VW ID.4 or the VW ID.5?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 87% battery health for the VW ID.4 and 84% for the VW ID.5. That gives the VW ID.4 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More VW ID.4 comparisons
More VW ID.5 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among the best family EVsWhere the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among the best city EVsWhere the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the VW ID.4 and VW ID.5 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
GuideBuying a Used VW ID.4 (2021 on): Pure, Pro or GTX, the Recall, Range & What to Check
A used VW ID.4 buyer’s guide: 52, 58, 77 or 79 kWh and the 204PS vs 286PS motors explained, the seat-bolt recall, warranty left, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay, used vs new, and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used VW ID.5 (2022 on): Pro, Pro Performance or GTX, Software, Range & What to Check
A used VW ID.5 buyer’s guide: Pro 174 PS, Pro Performance and GTX vs the 2024-on 286 PS Pro, the software issues and updates, the heat pump, warranty left, the door-handle recall, real-world range, what to pay vs new with the grant, and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .