Thinking About An EV? Here's What We Learnt After Four Months With The Volkswagen ID.5

For the past four months, our family has been driving a Volkswagen ID.5.

When Volkswagen first offered us the opportunity, we saw it as a chance to properly test an electric vehicle and answer some of the questions we'd always had about EV ownership.

Would charging be annoying?

Would range anxiety become a thing?

Would it actually work for family life?

Would we constantly have to think about battery levels?

Four months later, the surprising thing is that we stopped thinking about most of those questions altogether.

The Volkswagen didn't feel like an "EV" for very long.

It just became our car.

The Thing That Surprised Us Most

Before driving an EV, we expected the biggest difference would be the technology.

What actually surprised us was how practical it was.

Family life involves a lot of stuff.

Prams.
Nappy bags.
Toy library finds.
Groceries.
Weekend adventures.
The random collection of items that seem to follow a one-year-old wherever they go.

One of the things we loved most about the ID.5 was simply how much space it had. I never found myself standing in the boot trying to figure out how to fit one more thing in. Everything just seemed to fit. Even when we headed away for a family holiday to Pōnui Island and packed what felt like half our house, we still managed to fit everything we needed.

Portacot.
High chair.
Baby gear.
Outdoor gear.
Luggage.

Travelling with a baby is no joke and the ID.5 handled it with ease.

Charging Was Much Less Of A Thing Than We Expected

If there's one concern we hear most often about EVs, it's charging.

And honestly, we had those concerns too. What if we forgot? What if we ran out? What if it became another thing to think about amidst all the other things that goes on in a parent’s mind?

The reality was surprisingly simple.

Most of the time we just plugged it into a standard wall socket in our garage and charged overnight.

Because we have off-peak power, charging overnight was also incredibly affordable compared to filling a petrol tank.

We probably charged around once a week.

That was it.

Instead of making special trips to a petrol station, the car simply charged while we slept. Quite instantly it stopped feeling unusual and just became part of our routine.

The Quietness Was Unexpectedly Wonderful

One benefit we hadn't fully appreciated beforehand was how quiet the vehicle is. As parents, this became surprisingly important. When Orchard fell asleep in the car, there was often no obvious change in sound when we arrived somewhere (home or at red lights) and stopped. The transition was much gentler than in many petrol vehicles. That meant she would often stay asleep longer rather than waking immediately when the engine noise changed.

It's a small thing. But parents know that small things can make a big difference.

It Felt Incredibly Safe

This was one of the first things we noticed. The seats were exceptionally comfortable, the cabin felt calm, and there was a reassuring sense of safety every time we drove it. There were countless little quality-of-life features that quickly became normal.

The car unlocking as you approached.

Locking it with a touch of the handle.

Subtle lighting around the vehicle at night.

Features that don't sound life-changing on paper but make everyday life calmer and easier.

And because electric vehicles deliver power instantly, the car felt incredibly responsive when pulling out into traffic or navigating busy intersections. It never felt sluggish or hesitant.

The Petrol Crisis Barely Registered

During our time with the ID.5 there were periods where fuel prices and supply became a major topic of conversation. One thing we noticed was how disconnected we felt from it all. We weren't watching fuel prices, planning petrol visits, or worrying about filling up before prices changed again. Our transport was already sitting in the garage charging.

That peace of mind was welcomed - and something we hadn't anticipated.

Was It Perfect?

Almost.

The only genuine criticism I can think of is that the windscreen wipers were noisier than I would have liked. Beyond that, it's honestly difficult to find much fault from a family-life perspective.

Would We Buy An EV?

Before this experience, I wasn't convinced.

Now?

Absolutely.

In fact, driving the ID.5 has made us aim to purchase an EV as our next car.

Not because we're EV evangelists.

Not because we think they're perfect.

And not because they're right for every household.

But because the reality turned out to be far less complicated than we expected.

The biggest lesson from four months with the Volkswagen ID.5 wasn't learning how to live with an EV.

It was realising we didn't really need to.

It simply fit into our life.

And that's probably the highest compliment we can give it.