Upgraded 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 unveiled

The upgraded 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 have been revealed to battle stiff competition from mid-size electric SUVs like the Tesla Model Y, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and Kia EV6 ahead of their Australian release in July 2024.

Europe’s largest car-maker has attacked the biggest areas of criticism where it could and added more power, (a lot) more torque, better ride quality and an all-new infotainment system for both the two- and four-wheel drive models.

The big news is that the Pro Performance models now get 210kW of power – 60kW more than their predecessors.

Even more than that, peak torque has risen from 310Nm to 545Nm – an astonishing 75 per cent leap from the APP 550 electric motor, pulled straight from the larger Volkswagen ID.7 flagship.

The permanent magnet synchronous motor is both more powerful and more economical, with increased thermal stability (via battery pre-conditioning), enabling it to be driven at its capacity with no diminution of performance – or range, which increases to 550km for the ID.4 (up 11km) and 556km for the ID.5.

The extra urge and efficiency have convinced Volkswagen to lift the top speed from 160km/h to 180km/h for even the base 210kW version of the twins, a speed which was previously reserved for all-wheel drive ID.4 and ID.5 models.

The more expensive ID.4 Pro 4MOTION all-wheel drive now gets 220kW – up 35kW – thanks to a new e-motor on the rear axle and an additional motor up front.

Flagship ID.4 and ID.5 GTX variants both now get tauter suspension and an output of 250kW (up 30kW), resulting in 0-100km/h acceleration in a claimed 5.4 seconds – 0.6sec sooner than before – from their 77kWh battery packs.

The stock ID.4 Pure Performance (which won’t be available from launch in Australia) has an unchanged power unit, retaining its 125kW power output and its 160km/h top speed, but its smaller 52kWh battery can now charge at 115kW instead of the previous 110kW.

Now charging at up to 175kW, the all-wheel drive, 210kW-plus ID.4 and ID.5 models have also been fitted with new e-motors, bigger new batteries and more range, plus some clever power electronics and software to get more out of what they have.

All that equates to a short 10-minute charge now adding up to 178km of range. (The less powerful rear-drive ID.4 and ID.5 retain their 135kW maximum DC fast-charging rate.)

That includes an intelligent route planner that selects preferred charging stations and automatically pre-conditions the lithium-ion battery for DC charging as it approaches them, reducing charging times. It can also be manually activated on the infotainment system when drivers aren’t utilising the navigation system.

Volkswagen has paired the stronger powertrain with GTX versions of the ID.4 and ID.5, complete with improved handling and, finally, better ride quality from the rear-end of the MEB architecture.

There has been a massive upgrade of the optional adaptive chassis control (DCC), with all-new software and more sensors providing input into the decision-making that governs how the car reacts in critical situations.

There are Eco, Comfort, Sport and Individual (driver-customised) modes that control the dampers and other running gear, like the brakes and electric motors.

The system is therefore able to detect better than ever before how the wheels and body are moving in order to control the shock absorbers accordingly by means of refined algorithms.

Thanks to DCC, the driver also has the option of adjusting the running gear to a more comfortable or sportier via the selected driving profile Eco, Comfort, Sport or Individual (plus Traction in the AWDs) by means of a slide control.

The enhanced progressive steering has also been reconfigured in both product lines. The steering responds more directly and precisely from the centre position and makes a noticeable contribution to the linear driving behaviour typical of a Volkswagen.

The biggest area of criticism aimed at all of the MEB-based, Volkswagen-branded EVs has been their interior, and significant efforts have been made to revise that for the ID.4 and ID.5.

The counter-intuitive, monocolour infotainment system was a particular object of derision, and that has been completely overhauled with a larger 12.9-inch touch-screen now aided by natural voice control and permanent touch sliders. That said, the expensively developed touch sliders have also come in for criticism.

There is also a new augmented head-up display as an option, and the illuminated sliders control the air-conditioning and the volume.

The driving mode selection has been shuffled off the infotainment system and onto its own steering column-mounted switch, like on the ID.7 and the ID. Buzz. Besides being less fiddly and annoying to switch between driving modes, it also frees up space in the infotainment unit.

The 16:9 layout on the larger infotainment is now free-standing and now measures 12.9 inches instead of the old car’s 10-inch (or optional 12.0-inch) unit.

There are two permanently visible control bars on the screen alongside a complete overhaul of the clunky multimedia software, and there is a central home screen in the middle.

The volume control has been relocated to the left spoke of the steering wheel, while four directional buttons on the right spoke manually navigate around the infotainment unit.

Also new for the ID.4 and ID.5 is the option of a powerful 480-Watt Harman Kardon sound system, while leather trim has also been ditched from the ID mid-size SUVs.

A new safety suite delivers an exit-safety warning, alerting rear passengers to oncoming traffic including cars and bicycles before they open their doors.

Working at a range of up to 70 metres, the warning system has a visual warning via LEDs in the external mirror, plus an acoustic warning and a delay in opening the door.

All of the upgraded models get a safety suite including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, front/rear parking distance control and a front assist AEB system that detects pedestrians, cyclists and cars including those turning at junctions.

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