Volkswagen ID 6 Spacious Electric SUV for Families

By Isabella Storyclaire

last updated December 21, 2024

Contributions sourced from

SUV offensive in China: Volkswagen reveals 6 new cars at Auto Shanghai, including 3 world premieres

Making their physical world premiere following an online launch just two days before, the ID.6 X and ID.6 CROZZ are the latest members of Volkswagens pure-electric ID. family. The brand continues to update and expand its range of ICE cars with the all-new models Teramont and Teramont X, the all-new Golf GTI and, as another world first, the brand-new Talagon a large-sized all-rounder SUV.

Ralf Brandsttter, CEO Volkswagen: This emphasises the brands target of at least 70 percent of cars sold in Europe being electric by 2030; and at least 50 percent in North America and China.

Dr. Stephan Wllenstein, CEO of Volkswagen Brand China: The future of Volkswagen is certainly going to be electric and fully connected. However, as Chinas NEV market ramps up over the next decade, ICE cars will still remain a preferred choice for our customers. As such, we will continue to improve our existing models and their variants making them ever more efficient and ever more digital as well as introduce new models, so as to meet the needs of our Chinese customers.

ID.6 X and ID.6 CROZZ: roomy SUVs for the digital era

Volkswagens e-offensive takes another step forward with the fully-electric ID.6 made exclusively for China, and the brands flagship SUV for the ID. family. Built on the MEB platform, the roomy ID.6 has a long wheelbase of 2,965 mm and comes with a flexible 6- or 7-seater layout. The 6-seater comes with comfortable Captains Chair seats, while the 7-seater is flexible to suit all needs. The powerful, aerodynamic and modern exterior is matched with illuminated front and rear logos that ensure the ID.6 stands out on the road.

Intuitively user-friendly, the human-machine interface (HMI) creates a more relaxed drive thanks to state-of-the-art technologies, such as the augmented reality head-up display (AR HUD), and Volkswagens ID. Light, which visually communicates with the driver for example by alerting an upcoming turn. Equipped with IQ.DRIVE, including the latest generation Travel Assist, the ID.6 offers a safe drive and is tested to Volkswagens highest standards. With two battery options, a range of up to 580 km (China-NEDC) is achieved for worry-free driving.

With the new ID.6 and another new ID. model to be introduced within this year, Volkswagen will further expand its electric offensive in China. Thus, the brand is laying the foundations for at least 50 percent of all cars sold in China being electric by 2030. Volkswagen is gradually increasing its range of MEB cars: By 2023, Volkswagen will have a total of eight ID. models in China, making MEB nationwide there.

The Teramont family: new designs and fully connected

SAIC VOLKSWAGENs Teramont SUV family has now been refreshed with a new design and the latest technologies. Both models feature Volkswagens new electronics architecture, which allows for more touch control functions, including for the interior lighting and rear air-conditioning, while a safer driver is provided by the latest advanced driving assist systems, such as Travel Assist. The full-size 7-seater all-new Teramont has a new front and rear bumper, with new exterior lighting for a more distinctive, powerful effect. It is 5,052 mm long, 1,989 mm wide and 1,773 mm high, with a 2,980 mm wheelbase. Its brother, the all-new Teramont X, is now sportier than ever, being equipped with special R-Line styling, such as the special new front with embedded high-gloss black trim, lower spoiler and special rear bumper. Being 4,917 mm long, 1,989 mm wide and 1,719 mm high, the Teramont X has a 2,980 mm wheelbase. Both models come equipped with either a low-carbon or high-power third generation 2.0-litre turbo-charged engine, offering a maximum output of 137 kW (186 hp) and 162 kW (220 hp), respectively.

The Golf GTI: the sporty hot hatch is going digital

The eighth generation of the iconic hot hatch the all-new Golf GTI from FAW-Volkswagen is now fully-digital and features an even more sporty design. The new exclusive GTI design features matrix LED headlights with follow-up steering and dynamic light control, an exclusive GTI central control panel, an engine start button with pulsing red backlight, a multi-functional leather racing steering wheel, sports suspension, large-sized wheels and more. With the new MQB Evo platform, the all-new Golf GTI is always connected, being packed with the latest technologies and systems for intuitive usability and a fun, smart drive. The CNS 3.0 infotainment system provides various online add-value services to further enrich customer experience in the digital era. The all-new Golf GTI is equipped with Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) featuring driving mode selection, plus a progressive electric power steering system for superior handling. Equipped with a 2.0-litre turbo-charged engine, it has maximum output of 162 kW (220 hp) and 350 Nm maximum torque and can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds.

The Talagon: large-sized all-rounder SUV

FAW-Volkswagens brand-new Talagon is the latest result of Volkswagens SUV offensive in China and opens up a new segment, being the perfect fusion of an SUV and MPV. The Talagon is 5,152 mm long, 2,002 mm wide and 1,795 mm high, with a 2,980 mm wheelbase, and has a flexible 6- or 7-seat arrangement. Based on the MQB Evo platform, it integrates the latest hardware and software that enables a more user-friendly driving experience. The exterior has a modern, unique look thanks to the lighting package, which features illuminated door handles and rails, offset by the illuminated rear logo. The interior features the latest generation Innovision Cockpit and has a free-floating design to add to the spacious feeling. With different powertrains, the top of the range model is equipped with a 2.5-litre V6 engine, with the latest DQ501 gearbox and 4MOTION, making the Talagon ideal for both city and off-road driving.

Volkswagens ACCELERATE strategy: The future of mobility is electric

As part of the brands ACCELERATE strategy, Volkswagen is expediting the electrification in the upcoming years. The foundation of which is the introduction of a new MEB car each year until 2026. This emphasises the brands target of at least 70 percent of cars sold in Europe being electric by 2030; and at least 50 percent in North America and China.

Booth Tour with Dr. Stephan Wllenstein, CEO Volkswagen Brand China

Volkswagen I.D.6 Three-Row Electric SUV: All You Need To Know

The Auto Shanghai 2021 has seen a wide variety of models and electric vehicles have taken cemtre-stage this time around. Volkswagen has unveiled the new ID.6 three-row electric SUV as well at the 2021 Shanghai Auto Show and it's the third model to join the ID. family, after the ID.3 and ID.4. In fact, this new seven-seater electric SUV- the Volkswagen I.D.6 has been exclusively developed for the Chinese market. Here's everything you need to know about the new Volkswagen I.D.6.

Also Read:Volkswagen Virtus Review: 1.0 TSI And 1.5 TSI Automatics Driven

Also Read:2021 Volkswagen Polo Facelift: All You Need To Know

Volkswagen will offer the SUV in two trim options - ID.6 Crozz and ID.6 X, and while the former is being manufactured in the north of China by the joint venture with FAW, the ID.6 X will be produced in the southern part of the country by VW's other joint venture with SAIC.
The new ID.6 is about 300 mm longer than the ID.4 at 4880 mm, which allows it to accommodate a third row of seats
The new Volkswagen ID.6 is also underpinned by the Modular Electric Drive Kit (MEB) platform. The company says that it has been tailored specifically for the requirements of Chinese customers in terms of space, functionality, design and user experience. V
In terms of looks, the electric SUV gets an aggressive-looking front with bold muscular lines all around the exterior, while the stylish LED headlights and the larger glossy patter upfront further accentuate the design.
The new VW ID.6 comes without any physical buttons and switches. The 12-inch touchscreen display is the main command centre
The new ID.6 is about 300 mm longer than the ID.4 at 4,880 mm, which allows it to accommodate a third row of seats. Wheel sizes include a range of options from 19-inch to 21-inch rims. Volkswagen says that it will be the most spacious model in the ID. Range.
It will also be offered with smart interior finished in high-quality material and good lighting.
The second row of seats can be adjusted longitudinally, and the SUV also gets a large panoramic glass roof as standard, while a panoramic sunroof that opens is available as an optional extra. The futuristic dashboard almost comes without any physical buttons and switches.
The 12-inch touchscreen display is the main command centre, and it comes with the "Hello ID." voice control. VW also offers an augmented reality head-up display that is available as an optional extra and you also get the IQ.Drive assistance systems.
The Volkswagen ID.6 range will be offered in four configurations in China. The SUV comes with two batteries with a storage capacity of 58 kWh and 77 kWh of net battery capacity.
The VW ID.6 comes with a range of between 436 km and 588 km on a single charge and a max output of nearly 302 bhp
In combination they deliver a range of around 436 km to 588 km on a single charge, while the max power output from the electric motor is around 225 kW, which is nearly 302 bhp.
The SUV also gets an electric all-wheel drive (AWD), courtesy the e-machines version of VW's 4MOTION system. The ID.6 can accelerate from 0 to 100 kmph in 6.6 seconds and for a top speed of 160 kmph.

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Volkswagen ID.6 2021 Review

Mark Andrews9 Dec 2021

REVIEW

Volkswagen ID.6 2021 Review

Volkswagens new ID.6 family SUV could be a hit in Australia, as we find out with a drive in Shanghai

The all-new battery-electric Volkswagen ID.6 takes the ID.4 formula and stretches it to a six- and seven-seat family SUV. Unveiled earlier this year as a China-only model, the ID.6 is set to roll out to other markets from 2022 onwards, and is a prospect for launch Down Under as Volkswagen Australia works on its long-awaited EV rollout thats still to kick off. To date, large electric SUVs have been the domain of luxury brands, so the ID.6 could hand VW a unique proposition among the mainstream players, where hybrids are available but no EVs as yet. So come with us on a drive in Shanghai to see whether the Volkswagen ID.6 is worth waiting (or lobbying) for.

Chinese ID

The range-topping 2021 Volkswagen ID.6 X Prime on test here tips the scales at the Australian equivalent of $74,000 in China (RMB335,888), and would be the prime candidate for sale Down Under from a range that starts at an incredibly reasonable $53,000 (RMB239,888) in the Chinese market.

Not only does the Prime version get the largest battery pack on offer, but is the only one that gets a dual-motor powertrain for strong performance and all-wheel drive.

Its also the only six-seater model available right now, with the others seating seven, although Australian product planners would no doubt be eyeing a combination of high specs and seven seats for our market.

Launched at the Shanghai motor show in April 2021, the Volkswagen ID.6 was originally meant to be a China-only model, where there is strong demand for large cars with plenty of seats that make it is easier to cart around extended families.

It is instantly identifiable as a member of the ID. range and is in essence a longer version of the Volkswagen ID.4, which is considered most likely to be VWs first foray into EVs in Australia.

The ID.6 measures in at 4876mm long, largely thanks to a 200mm increase in wheelbase. That makes it a little shorter than the Tesla Model X but longer than the Kia Sorento PHEV, the latter being the only plug-in (albeit hybrid) mainstream large SUV in Australia right now.

We might note that Kia is also likely to turn up here at some point with its own flagship large electric SUV, based on the recent Kia EV9 concept.

Width and height only get minor changes and, in the metal, the ID.6 is difficult to tell apart from the ID.4, the easiest identifiers being the longer side window between the C- and D-pillars along with slightly different front lights.

That level of familiarity extends to the interior, which again is instantly recognisable.

In China, the ID range is split between Volkswagens joint ventures with SAIC and FAW. Each produce a variant of the ID.6, the X we tested being produced by Shanghai VW (SAIC), whereas FAW get the Crozz which has minor cosmetic differences.

Volkswagen has woken up to the fact that the ID.6 has very few current competitors, especially outside China, and that there is a market for an affordable seven-seat EV.

Its strongly rumoured the ID.6 is destined for Europe, and with Australias love for SUVs, were a natural target providing theres enough incentive for Volkswagen Group Australia to bring it here.

Coming off Chinese assembly lines could be a benefit for its local prospects compared to Europe, with an ever-increasing number of EVs bound for Australia from global brands now being produced in the worlds biggest auto market.

Peoples EV

Climbing on board the 2021 Volkswagen ID.6 in Shanghai, theres a high-tech feel but a level of familiarity that was appreciated compared to our recent experience in the Tesla Model Y.

Compared with the Model Y, the Volkswagen ID.6 not only gets an instrument display but goes one better still in that it also has a head-up display. This gives information such as the speed and navigation prompts, minimising time spent looking away from the road.

Furthering this is VWs ID. Light system, but we were unable to really appreciate its benefits during the daytime. Theoretically at least, the system can show navigation prompts via an animated blue line and an incoming telephone call with a green flash in the centre, thanks to a strip of 54 LED lights at the base of the windscreen.

Unusually for a car in the Chinese market, it is possible to switch the system over to English and this also extended to the voice control sure signs that this is a car developed to extend beyond Chinese borders.

The 12-inch infotainment screen has a reasonable graphical interface and is fairly intuitive with a square which acts as a home page button. Further, there are some buttons underneath such as Mode which takes you then directly to the drive mode on screen.

The sensitivity of these buttons could be better and there seems to be a lag. Voice control in English does work but the system seems much better in Chinese, plus the cars English language female voice has a rather authoritarian, curt manner.

The X factor

The lowest Pure-spec version of the 2021 Volkswagen ID.6 uses a 63.2kWh battery pack and a 132kW electric motor driving the rear wheels.

Going further up the model range brings a boosted 83.4kWh battery and a more powerful 150kW motor. The Prime on test here is the only one to get all wheel-drive thanks to an 80kW motor grafted onto the front axle, in addition to the 150kW motor at the rear.

While the Prime might have the most power, acceleration figures are far below dual-motor EVs from Tesla and some of the Chinese competitors such as Nio or XPeng.

On the road this means that the ID.6 lacks the urgency of many EVs but still by combustion engine standards its no slouch.

The additional motor reduces the range by about 15 per cent, taking the top-shelf ID.6 to a still-useful 510km based on the NEDC testing cycle. That said, some of its rivals can achieve longer ranges via much bigger battery packs and the Prime gets through juice at an average level.

There are three main driving modes, with each step up having a minor impact on the remaining range displayed on the instrument panel.

The most noticeable effect of each is the change to the colour of the icons on the infotainment system. For Eco theyre blue, Comfort yellow and with Sport a fiery red.

Unfortunately the colour and the declared range seem to be the only discernible differences from the driving modes, with the feel of the car remaining the same.

Family friendly

One of the most innovative design aspects of the Volkswagen ID range is the drive selector mounted very neatly on the side of the 5.3-inch instrument screen.

You simply rotate once clockwise to select Drive for the 2021 Volkswagen ID.6. Rotate it again and you increase the cars regenerative braking to the highest level.

Unlike many EVs from Chinese car-makers, the regenerative brakes really do draw down the speed when you lift your foot from the accelerator. However, unlike say a Tesla it doesnt seem possible to come to a complete stop, rather the ID.6 goes down to 5km/h and then it coasts.

Even on the Primes 21-inch wheels the ride is quite smooth. Whereas the ID.4 offers something for keen drivers, the ID.6 isnt what wed call dynamically engaging.

But for a family car it handles well and is predictable. The steering has a reasonable weight to it and there is some useful feedback.

The Prime gets the highest level of what Volkswagen refers to as Traffic Assist. Press a button on the steering wheel and the car can drive itself to an extent. You do, however, need to press the accelerator to get the car to start off if it has stopped for more than a minute, and the system seems to leave braking far too much to the last minute for our liking.

It is probably best left to highway usage.

The ID.6s raison detre though is as a family car and this it does well. Not only is the cabin spacious, thanks to a panoramic roof its light and airy too.

The seven-seat set-up makes more sense than the Primes six-seater configuration. However, it does allow the Prime to have individually adjustable second-row seats.

Unlike the front seats theyre not electrically controlled, but they do get a heating and cooling function thats also found up front. They make ingress to the third row easier too.

Perhaps surprisingly, the third-row bench is very useable, capable of seating anyone up to around 1.75m tall. Depending on the position of the second row, legroom is also acceptable.

Unlike the second row which gets USB chargers, theres not much in the way of creature comforts bar some roof-mounted lights. And strangely, while both sides have pockets, only the passenger on the left gets a drink holder.

Furthermore, the third-row bench doesnt come with the sacrifice of a useable boot. One-latch folding and pull handles make it easy to lower and raise the seats, creating a flexible space.

Under the cargo floor theres also a neatly stowed shelf which comes out to cover the luggage space when the third row is down.

Primed for success

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.6 has few direct competitors, and in Australia at this price point there are none at all.

That leaves the ID.6 pretty much in a class of its own, although it remains to be seen whether Volkswagen Australia creates a viable business case for it to be sold Down Under.

In the ID.6 you are constantly reminded that VW has been building cars for more than a few years. As well as providing decent space, theres strong attention to detail in design and execution.

Were not sold on the ID.6 as a six-seater, where the individual seats leave a large hole in the luggage compartment when the third row is down.

And the shorter range of the dual-motor powertrain means wed be more inclined to steer towards the high-output, long-range single-motor version.

But as an example of where Volkswagen is heading, and the sort of car that many of us might be driving in the not-too-distant future, the ID.6 has its place.

How much does the 2021 Volkswagen ID.6 X Prime cost?Price: $80,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)Available: TBC (On sale now in China)Powertrain: Two permanent magnet synchronous motorsOutput: 230kW/472NmTransmission: Single-speed reduction gearBattery: 83.4kWh lithium-ionRange: 510km (NEDC)Energy consumption: 17.7kWh/100km (NEDC)Safety rating: Not tested