Volkswagen Id.5 vs Ford Mustang Mach-E

What's the difference?

At long last, Volkswagen’s electric mid-size SUV duo has landed in Australia.

The appeal of the ID.4 as an electric family SUV alternative to the likes of the Tiguan is obvious, but where does the more coupe-styled ID.5 fit?

It comes in a single GTX trim for now, taking aim at some of the more performance-oriented EV SUVs on the Australian market, of which there are now quite a few. But now it’s arriving later than many of its rivals.

Has VW done enough with the ID.5 GTX for it to justify a spot on your test-drive list? We went to its Australian launch to find out.

Australian EV buyers seem to be missing the point of the Mustang Mach-E.

Yes, Ford’s exorbitant early pricing did not help – which the mid-sized EV has yet to recover from. And the V8-muscle-car image – and baggage – that the Mustang prefix brings no doubt confuses and even repels some people. Especially eco-conscious ones.

But it’s not that complicated. The Mach-E is merely meant to be a sporty, stylish and attainable family car, albeit with electric power.

Five years on from its US launch, does the 2026 Series II facelift keep up with newer and fresher electric SUV alternatives? And is it worth the premium that the Mustang badge commands?