• Pared back dashboard
• Generous equipment
• Very few buttons

How is the quality and layout?

Inside, the ID.5 is pretty much identical to the Volkswagen ID.4. That means you get a very clean and uncluttered dashboard, with the absolute bare minimum of physical switchgear. The gear selector is mounted on the side of the instrumentation pod for a twist ‘n’ go action, while the other controls consist of a few touch-sensitive buttons and a large, 12.0-inch central touchscreen.

In the middle you get a modular storage area, with two big cupholders and a cubby that can be subdivided as you please. It’s here that you’ll also find the wireless charging pad – well hidden, to stop notifications from tempting you as you drive – and two USB-C ports for charging and data transfer.

However, the ID.5 is dark and dingy inside, with the interior trimmed in a plethora of blacks and greys. Even the large panoramic sunroof doesn’t make it feel as bright and airy in here as we’d like, and it’s a real shame when cars like the Skoda Enyaq or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 so effectively utilise interesting textures and fabrics to seem less bleak.

Similarly, the quality simply doesn’t feel good enough for a car of this price. Everything appears to be well-made, but the plastics are rather hard and unappealing to touch.

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Infotainment and tech

You can’t miss the 12.0-inch infotainment screen. It dominates your eyeline and on first inspection it looks the part, with its bright and easy to read screen. Despite its size, it’s still a smaller set-up than you get in rivals such as the Tesla Model Y, and Ford Mustang Mach-E.

Don’t expect to jump in and use it straight away. It does take a bit of getting used to. There are a set of shortcuts at the bottom of the screen, which help you get to different menus, such as the climate controls. But then you still need to prod at a screen to turn the heating up, rather than use a physical dial.

It works well with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and offers wireless connectivity for both, although during our testing a considerable lag would occur the longer you drove. For instance, if you were two hours into a drive and wanted to change song, there would be a five second delay between you pressing the button and the track changing.

Comfort

• Comfortable sports seats on all models
• Electric and massaging function available
• Plenty of adjustments on all versions 

The Volkswagen ID.5 comes as standard with heated sports seats, with the driver gaining optional (and excellent) massaging and electrical adjustment. These features really make a difference on a longer journey.

There’s plenty of adjustment to the ID.5, too, for both the steering wheel and seat, meaning it’s easy to get comfortable behind the wheel – even for a taller driver. While there’s plenty of space in the rear seats, the view out isn’t brilliant thanks to small side windows.