Best VW electric car
Volkswagen has been selling electric cars for a decade now, so here’s the ultimate guide to every VW EV
Volkswagen is a brand that’s renowned for building quality cars that are affordable to buy and run, so if you’re after an electric car, it’s a great place to start.
The German car manufacturer was one of the earliest to offer an electric model, but when electric motoring really took off, it brought out an entirely new range of electric vehicles (EVs) with an ever-wider appeal.
This is great news for used car buyers because there’s a mix of cheaper and more high-tech options available to suit every budget.
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VW electric car options
The company’s first attempt at electric cars was to add electric versions of its existing models, with the Golf and the Up getting the EV treatment.
Later on, the company shifted to building dedicated, electric-only models, under the ‘ID’ brand.
All ID models share the same motors, batteries and in-car tech, which means that all you’re left to do is pick the right size and shape.
Volkswagen e-Up
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VW’s smallest car was its first to get an electric makeover in 2013, and it makes for the perfect electrified city car thanks to its small dimensions and efficient electric motor.
Despite the small 18.7kWh battery, the relatively light e-Up can do up to 100 miles from a full charge. It compares very well to the newer and more expensive Smart EQ ForTwo and EQ ForFour models.
A second version arrived in 2019 with a larger 32.3 kWh battery, which means newer models can do around 150 miles between charges.
If you like the look of the Up but can’t find the right model for you, electric versions of the SEAT Mii and Skoda Citigo were also made, which look almost identical.
Volkswagen e-Golf
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Volkswagen first started exploring electric versions of the Golf with the Mk6 model, but it wasn’t until the Mk7 model that the company made electric power available in its popular family hatchback.
It first went on sale in 2015 with a 24.2kWh battery, which meant 100 miles of range could likely only be achieved in ideal (warm) conditions.
When Volkswagen updated the Mk7 Golf in 2017, it changed the battery for a 35.8kWh pack that can do around 150 miles from a full charge.
Unlike other early electric models like the Nissan Leaf and BMW i3, the Volkswagen looks a lot more like a conventional car and can be a more appealing switch for those who won’t want to stand out.
Volkswagen e-Transporter
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While it’s not technically a car, you can find Transporters with rear seats so they’re especially appealing to large families.
It wasn’t introduced until 2020, so it hasn’t had as long as the e-Golf and e-Up to depreciate and can still be an expensive buy.
Built with the help of German car tuning company ABT, it uses a 37.3kWh battery. Because of its size, getting 100 miles of range might be a push, but for many city dwellers, this is more than enough.
It’s based on the updated T6.1 Transporter, which is a firm favourite among van drivers, but this model has been replaced by the much funkier-looking T7.
Volkswagen ID.3
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When Volkswagen decided to stop electrifying existing models and start selling purpose-built EVs, it started with the Golf-sized ID.3.
One of its many selling points is that, despite its Golf-like dimensions and boot space, interior space is more on par with the much larger Passat thanks to its long wheelbase and short overhangs.
Most buyers opt for the 58kWh battery pack that promises around 260 miles of range, but larger 77kWh models and cheaper 45kWh models have also been sold at various points.
The infotainment display initially got a lot of bad press because it was slow to respond and could be glitchy, but Volkswagen has since issued software updates that go some way to fixing this.
An updated version went on sale in 2023 with slightly tweaked styling and improved interior material quality, but even the earliest and most basic models are extremely well-equipped.
Volkswagen ID.4
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The Volkswagen ID.4 is an SUV similar in size to the Tiguan, which is another popular VW model.
The 543-litre boot is larger than you’ll get in the Tiguan with the seats in their rearmost position, though the Tiguan does have sliding seats to expand the size of its boot.
Battery sizes include 52kWh, 58kWh, and 77kWh, and you’ll even find a 299hp GTX-badged performance version capable of getting to 62mph in 6.2 seconds.
Volkswagen ID.5
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The ID.5 is based on the ID.4, but features a sloping rear roofline that makes it look like a much taller coupé. It’s the Volkswagen equivalent of the Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback or Skoda Enyaq Coupé.
Because it’s marketed as a sportier version of the brand’s electric SUV, it’s only available with the larger battery and more powerful motors.
This makes it look expensive, but compare it to a similarly-specced ID.4 and the difference is less stark, which makes stylish ID.5 ownership appealing.
Volkswagen ID. Buzz
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With a hatchback and two SUVs on sale, Volkswagen went about reinventing its classic camper with electric power.
Again, it’s only available with the larger battery and more powerful motors, but range does suffer compared to the SUVs simply because of its boxy shape, which isn’t especially aerodynamic.
With time, Volkswagen hopes to make short- and long-wheelbase versions available, with passenger vans, cargo vans, and even campers all available.
While it’s more expensive than similar electric cars, it’s cheaper than something like a Mercedes EQV and was one of the first mainstream electric vans, further adding to its appeal.
Volkswagen ID.7
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The Volkswagen ID.7 probably won’t go on sale in the UK until at least 2024, but when it does, it will enter an extremely crowded market that’s already home to the immensely popular Tesla Model 3.
Helping it to stand out is a claimed range of more than 430 miles, a performance GTX version, and a starting price that could be around £50,000.
Depending on the trim level, Volkswagen has hinted at luxuries like heated and cooled seats, a dimmable panoramic sunroof, an augmented-reality heads-up display, and hidden digital air vents like you’d find in the Model 3.
Volkswagen ID.2
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If you like the sound of an electric VW car but prefer something smaller, a Polo-sized ID.2 is set to join the range in 2025, with prices looking to start from €25,000 (around £21,750).
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.