What is the best Volkswagen electric car?
VW is branching out into the world of electric cars, with some impressive hybrid and fully electric options
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Volkswagen is a brand that has become synonymous with high-quality yet affordable cars, and it’s also a brand that springs to mind for those looking for an economical model.
Despite a lot of negative press in 2015, its diesel models continue to be extremely efficient, but it has since turned its attention to building electric vehicles.
Whether you’re after an electric version of a familiar model or a dedicated electric-only model, Volkswagen has plenty of high-quality and high-tech EVs to pick from.
Volkswagen ID.3
The ID.3 is one of the most popular electric hatchbacks of any brand and looks a lot more stylish than your typical hatchback without necessarily standing out as an alternative to petrol or diesel.
There are three battery sizes to pick from: most buyers opted for the 58kWh model, which can do around 260 miles between charges, and there’s also a smaller (and cheaper) 45kWh battery that can do just over 200 miles.
Going for the larger 77kWh model will give you a range of up to 340 miles, according to Volkswagen, but strangely, these long-range versions are strict four-seaters.
Standard kit is a strong point, with all cars getting LED headlights, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and all-around parking sensors, so there’s little need to go for a more expensive trim.
Instead, we’d spend our money going for a more powerful 204hp model with the 58kWh battery, which VW calls the ‘Pro Performance’ version – it can do 0-62mph in 7.3 seconds.
What makes the ID.3 one of the best VW electric cars?
The ID.3 was launched in 2020, and it came at a time when there weren’t many electric hatchbacks to pick from, especially with such large batteries.
Several years later, there are now plenty of deals on used models, saving thousands compared with brand-new examples, which are more expensive than ever.
Volkswagen ID.4
Built using many of the same parts as the ID.3, the ID.4 is more similar in size to a Volkswagen Tiguan.
It too is available with the 77kWh battery, though because it’s much larger, its range is reduced to around 310 miles, and likely less in the real world.
The ID.3’s other batteries were not made available in the ID.4, with it instead getting a 52kWh middle ground. Volkswagen claims around 210 miles of range.
Standard equipment is even better and includes part-leather seats and a reversing camera in all but the most basic City trim, which was only on sale for a few months.
If you like the sound of the ID.4 but want something that looks a bit different, it’s built on the same platform as the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4 e-tron.
Is the VW ID.4 the best electric SUV?
SUVs are often criticised for having little boot floorspace, with a lot of the size coming from the extra height. The ID.4’s boot is spacious by all accounts, so there’s a lot of room to fit all the family’s luggage.
Volkswagen ID.5
Both the Enyaq and the Q4 e-tron have coupé versions, badged Enyaq Coupé and Q4 e-tron Sportback respectively, but Volkswagen sells its coupé-SUV under a different name – the ID.5.
Under the bonnet, it’s virtually identical to the ID.4, but don’t be fooled by the sporty-looking sloping rear roofline – its boot is actually six litres bigger than the ID.4, measuring 549 litres. In reality, they’re both just as practical.
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the ID.5 is a lot more expensive than the ID.4 just from looking at their list prices on Volkswagen’s site.
The truth is that the ID.5 is only available in higher trims and with a larger battery, so it’s not that much more like-for-like.
Why should I get a Volkswagen ID.5?
There aren’t many sporty-looking coupé-SUVs around, electric or not, so the ID.5 certainly stands out if you’re after something more eye-catching.
Volkswagen e-Up
This was Volkswagen’s first mass-market electric car – it launched in 2013 as an electric alternative to the already-popular VW Up and got a major upgrade in 2019.
Early models had an 18.7kWh battery, which meant that even 100 miles of range was ambitious. If you’re after an e-Up, we suggest going for a 2019-onward model with the larger 32.3kWh battery, which can do around 160 miles between charges.
The newer version also supports 7.1kW charging speeds compared with the previous model’s 3.3kW, which means charging at home should be much quicker despite the larger battery, allowing drivers to benefit from cheap off-peak rates.
Is the e-Up the best used Volkswagen electric car?
Volkswagen’s earliest and smallest electric car is now available to buy for a fraction of the price it once was, and with a range of around 100 miles, it makes for a perfect electric city car or first car.
Volkswagen e-Golf
The relative success of the e-Up was followed by an electric version of the Golf, and it’s this model that was eventually replaced by the ID.3.
It’s based on the Mk7 Golf, which proved to be incredibly popular thanks to its high-quality interior and practical dimensions.
Again, there are two battery sizes to pick from. The 24.2kWh battery initially available from 2014 was replaced by a 35.8kWh battery in 2017, when the entire Mk7 Golf range got an update.
Who is the Volkswagen Golf electric model best for?
The Golf is an incredibly familiar car to many drivers, and the electric version is simply a regular Golf with a battery and motor in place of the engine and fuel tank, so it should feel incredibly normal.
Volkswagen PHEV models
If you’re not entirely sold on Volkswagen’s current range of electric cars, which is expanding under the ID brand, there’s also a small selection of hybrids to pick from.
Most notable are the Golf GTE and Passat GTE, which each use a 1.4-litre petrol engine, an electric motor and a battery capable of around 30-40 miles between charges.
Newer Golf models are also available with a less powerful plug-in hybrid variant, badged eHybrid, but they’re still capable of the same high efficiency.
The German carmaker has recently added plug-in hybrid power to other models, including the Arteon, Tiguan, and Touareg.