The world is slowly but surely moving towards electric vehicles. And indeed, they offer plenty of benefits, especially if you’re a company car driver. But what about people who regularly need to tow?
Well, a used Volkswagen ID.5 certainly makes an intriguing proposition. So, is it worth a look if you’re after one of the best electric tow cars?
What’s a VW ID.5 like inside?
The Volkswagen ID.5 is a properly roomy SUV for towing a caravan. Up front, there’s huge legroom and headroom, and plenty of adjustability (up and down as well as fore and aft) for the seats, so you should have no trouble tailoring a driving position to your needs.
The news remains good for the three people in the back row. Again, there’s enough headroom and legroom, and the fact that the car is an EV means there’s no centre tunnel, so everyone gets a flat floor for their feet.
The boot is a big, 549-litre affair, and offers six litres more space than that in its ID.4 sister car, which looks bigger but actually isn’t. Better still, the boot floor is height adjustable, so you can store the charging cable beneath it. Just make sure that you don’t need to charge up when the boot is full.
However, the rest of the interior is an acquired taste. The plastics feel a bit down market, and the infotainment and interior controls are more awkward to use than they should be. For example, the temperature controls are touch pads on the dashboard that aren’t even illuminated at night. Yes, you can also use the screen, but that’s thoroughly distracting. If you’re thinking about an ID.5, make sure that you can live with this.
Don’t miss our pick of the standout towing equipment that can make a big difference to your experience on the road, too.
How does a used VW ID.5 drive?
There are two battery options available for the ID.5: the Pure 52kWh unit, and the Pro 77kWh affair. The most popular powertrain in early cars was the 201bhp motor, but in 2023 this was replaced by a 284bhp unit in early 2023, and is the pick of the range, because it offers strong performance with a decent official battery range of 339 miles. However, in our towing tests, this fell to 139 miles.
The ID.5 has a low towing limit of just 1000kg, too. And with its kerbweight of 2117kg, you can’t use the 85% match calculations when you’re matching a caravan to the car, because this would exceed the 1000kg limit. Not ideal.
However, if you own one of the best small caravans and it’s lightweight, the ID.5 is brisk off the mark and entirely stable when up to speed. It stops well, too, although hill-starts can be awkward unless you go into the touchscreen and activate the ‘auto hold’ function.
Still, it’s quiet at speed, and completely benign on a twisty road. The ride is decent, but there can be a little fidgeting at lower speeds – blame the firm suspension that has to keep all the weight in check.
What will a Volkswagen ID.5 tow?
- Kerbweight: 2117kg
- Towing limit: 1000kg
- Nose weight limit: 75kg
- 85% match: N/A
What to pay for a used Volkswagen ID.5
- High: Price: £34,650; Model: GTX; Year: 2025; Miles: 4300
- Sweet spot: Price: £21,500; Model: Pro Style; Year: 2022; Miles: 29,500
- Low: Price: £14,000; Model: Pro Style; Year: 2022; Miles: 83,000
See our review of the 2022 Volkswagen ID.5 77kW 204PS Pro Performance Style to see what we made of it at the time.
Running costs of a Volkswagen ID.5
- Insurance group: 35
- Annual VED: £200*
- Range: 339 miles
- Full service: N/A
*Add £440 if car had a list price of more than £40,000 when new.
Trouble spots
There are undeniably fewer moving parts in an electric vehicle, which bodes well for recalls. And so it is with the ID.5, which has been the subject of just the one recall over the course of its life so far. This enforced garage visit concerned the door handles, which could allow the doors to open unexpectedly. Fortunately, a software update resolved the issue.
For full details, visit check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk.
Verdict
There’s no denying that the VW ID.5 is a decent-looking and spacious car, but other EVs such as the BMW i4 or Kia EV6 make better tow cars because they can tow heavier vans. The VW’s dashboard is also irritating to use. Yes, the world might be moving towards EVs, but if you’re a tow car user, there are better choices out there.
Alternatives to consider
Used Cupra Formentor (2022-present)
If you aren’t ready to go full-on EV, then perhaps a plug-in hybrid could be the way to go. In which case the Cupra Formentor 1.4 TSI VZ1 makes a fine choice. It has a decent towing limit of 1700kg, and the PHEV powertrain makes light work of getting everything moving. The Formentor is also a stylish-looking SUV that’s spacious inside, albeit with a sportily snug feel. That snugness extends to the boot, which offers just 420 litres of space.
See our review of the Cupra Formentor eHybrid 1.4 TSI 245PS VZ1.
Genesis GV70 (2020-present)
The Genesis GV70 is a hefty 2310kg, but it has a maximum towing limit of 1800kg, which is significantly more than the VW ID.5. However, it also has an exceptionally high towball weight of 180kg. The Genesis also produces 485bhp, which makes it fabulously rapid in a straight line – put your foot down and all of your holiday accoutrements will end up in a big pile at the back of the caravan. However, the range of 283 miles trails rivals’.
See our review of the Genesis Electrified GV70 Sport.
Nissan Ariya (2023-present)
The Nissan Ariya SUV is a 2222kg EV that can tow a maximum of 1500kg, so it’s competitive. It is an exceptionally stable tow car that is unflustered by anything, be that crosswinds on motorways, turbulence from HGVs, bumpy B-roads or city driving. It’s brisk rather than rapid, but has a decent official range of 309 miles – although this fell to 130 miles when we towed on a cold day. Cabin space is plentiful for five, but the 408-litre boot is a bit disappointing.
See our review of the Nissan Ariya E-4orce Evolve.
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