Volkswagen ID.5 review - Practicality & boot space

Many of the latest coupe SUVs are cleverly designed to look a lot sleeker than standard SUVs without losing much of the practicality. The Volkswagen ID.5 is impressive in this respect, helped by its large dimensions. It’s more than capable of hauling a family and all their things, and feels no less spacious than the Volkswagen ID.4. For many buyers, the choice will come down to which one they prefer the look of.

Volkswagen ID.5 interior & storage space

The ID.5’s swept-back shape has improved efficiency without impacting too badly on passenger space. Front-seat room is just as good as in the ID.4, while rear headroom is reduced by only 12mm. The ID.5 offers greater headroom than the Ford Mustang Mach-E, and legroom is decent as well. Even tall adults should be able to get comfortable in the back of the car.

Its electric powertrain negates the need for a transmission tunnel, so the floor in the rear is completely flat. That means even someone sitting in the middle seat has room for their feet. Overall, the ID.5 is more spacious than a Volkswagen Tiguan.

The ID.5 comes with three ISOFIX points as standard (on the outer rear seats and the front passenger seat), so it’s possible to fit three child seats in the car at the same time. The windowline of the car shouldn’t restrict visibility too much, either.

Boot space

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With the rear seats in place, the ID.5 actually offers a very slightly bigger boot than the ID.4. Its 549-litre loadbay is more than that of some estate cars, and will be more than enough for the majority of buyers. That’s a larger luggage capacity than the Kia EV6 and Ford Mustang Mach-E, even if a Tiguan is bigger still. Bear in mind that specifying a spare wheel drastically cuts boot space.

Flip the rear seats down and luggage capacity stands at 1,561 litres, compared to 1,734 litres for the ID.4. The Tesla Model Y is said to offer up to 2,100 litres, but that includes a front storage compartment under the bonnet which the ID.5 doesn’t have. We would have liked to see a front boot on the VW, because it’s a handy place to store charging cables.

Towing

The Volkswagen ID.5 isn’t the most accomplished tow car, because it can only tow a braked trailer weighing up to 1,000kg - although many EVs can’t tow at all. Most caravans will be out of the question, but a small or medium trailer should be doable. Check out our guide to towing with an electric or hybrid car for all the info. On the ID.5, a swivelling towbar costs £890.