VW to boost ID.4/ID.5 range

Volkswagen is giving its family electric sport utility vehicles another round of upgrades instead of waiting for a full replacement. In the United Kingdom, the updated ID.4 and ID.5 get larger batteries in several trims, more power in some versions, and longer certified range in most of the lineup. (autoexpress.co.uk) The biggest jump is at the cheap end, where the ID.4 Pure moves from a 52 kilowatt-hour battery to 58 kilowatt-hours and from 222 miles to 265 miles of rated range. The matching ID.5 version goes from 227 miles to 272 miles, which is a gain of 45 miles for the coupe-roof model. (autoexpress.co.uk) Volkswagen also turned up the rear motor in those entry models from 168 brake horsepower to 187 brake horsepower. Auto Express says the company kept the starting price unchanged for the small-battery ID.4 at £36,995 even with the extra battery capacity and power. (autoexpress.co.uk) The mid-range Pro versions get smaller gains, but they are still aimed at the number buyers watch most closely on dealer sheets. The ID.4 Pro keeps its 347-mile range, while the ID.5 Pro rises from 344 miles to 351 miles after a battery change from 77 kilowatt-hours to 79 kilowatt-hours in several trims. (autoexpress.co.uk) The all-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro 4Motion gets one of the more noticeable changes. Its two motors now make 297 brake horsepower instead of the previous figure, and its rated range climbs from 325 miles to 341 miles with the same 77 kilowatt-hour battery. (autoexpress.co.uk) Even the performance-focused GTX versions were tuned for efficiency instead of just speed. Auto Express reports that the ID.4 GTX improves from 322 miles to 326 miles and the ID.5 GTX from 327 miles to 331 miles, even though both now use a 77 kilowatt-hour battery where 79 kilowatt-hours had been offered before. (autoexpress.co.uk) This is not the first time Volkswagen has used the ID.4 and ID.5 to roll out drivetrain improvements before a full redesign. In October 2023, Volkswagen said new Pro and GTX versions got a more efficient drive unit with up to 286 metric horsepower in Pro models, up to 340 metric horsepower in GTX models, and maximum certified range of 550 kilometers for the ID.4 and 556 kilometers for the ID.5 under the European test cycle. (volkswagen-newsroom.com) That 2023 update also fixed some of the things owners complained about inside the cabin. Volkswagen added a 12.9-inch screen, faster software, illuminated touch sliders, and a revised steering-wheel control layout after earlier ID cars were criticized for awkward controls and laggy menus. (volkswagen-newsroom.com) The strategy is different on each side of the Atlantic. In the United States, Volkswagen’s 2026 ID.4 is already on sale from $45,095 with an Environmental Protection Agency estimated 291 miles of range for the ID.4 Pro, and the car is assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee. (vw.com) So the latest move in Europe looks less like a flashy relaunch and more like a steady spreadsheet war over usable miles, trim pricing, and motor output. Volkswagen is still treating the ID.4 and ID.5 as live products that need constant tuning while newer electric rivals keep closing the gap. (autoexpress.co.uk)