Volkswagen ID.6 - is the electric car worth the money

The electrification of cars is going around the planet by leaps and bounds. Western Europe generally forces all its manufacturers to transfer cars to start with hybrid power stops, and then completely abandon internal combustion engines.


One of the leaders among European brands for the production of electric cars is Volkswagen. Their ID line is known all over the world.
Interestingly, the German manufacturer sells the bulk of its cars not in Europe or the USA, as one might think, but in the Asian region. The most profitable market for Volkswagen electric cars is China.

Yes, it is in the Celestial Empire, where communism is rumored to work for a bowl of rice a day, that residents have the opportunity to buy new cars. Maybe the population size plays a role, but car prices in China are really pleasing compared to Russian ones.


Therefore, major world manufacturers are beginning to give preference to China. The premieres of the most luxurious cars take place here, and some models are generally made only for the local market.

Take, for example, the Volkswagen ID.6. This electric car is officially sold only in China. But in connection with the economic sanctions imposed by the EU countries and the USA against the Russian Federation, these models began to be brought to our market. Of course, not officially, because Volkswagen does not approve of this, but privately - by small firms or even independently.

The minimum price for the new ID.6 crossover in Russia starts at 4,2 million rubles. Not to say that it is very expensive for a full-fledged electric car with an average power reserve of about 550 km. And if you consider that a car with three more rows of seats and a German one, even though it was assembled in China, is a good candidate for the role of a family model.


Volkswagen ID.6 is available in two versions - Crozz and X. They have differences in the design of the body and interior, although, in fact, they are the same. At first glance, it is not clear why it was necessary to make different versions of one model, but the explanation is rather banal. Electric cars are assembled at two Sino-German joint ventures. Perhaps everyone has their own vision of a family crossover.

Appearance

The design of the electric car is quite specific - most of all it looks like the Touareg, but with some characteristic Asian flavor. The front of the model is especially strange - as if it was artificially inflated. It is not entirely clear why this was done, there is only an assumption - maybe this turns the Volkswagen ID.6 into a more family, “home” car.

But the illumination attracts attention. Emblems, headlights / lanterns are, as it were, interconnected by an LED frame. The front is white, the back is red. In the dark, it looks stylish and interesting.

Hint to sellers - show Volkswagen ID.6 better in the evening or in dark rooms. Then he will definitely attract attention.


On the side and behind, the electric car does not cause any serious claims to the appearance. Here the crossover seeks to show its sportiness. Judging by the sales statistics in China, the move was the right one. Customers are pleased with the opportunity to purchase not a dull family car, but a sporty and beautiful model.

Differences Volkswagen ID.6 Crozz from version X in terms of bodywork:

✅ Bumpers
✅ Headlights and taillights
✅ Decorative elements

If you do not put two electric cars side by side, they seem the same. But when you have the opportunity to look closely, the differences are visible.

Interestingly, in terms of overall dimensions, the Volkswagen ID.6 is slightly smaller than the Touareg model, but its wheelbase is 61 mm longer.

Salon

Inside, the interior of a Volkswagen electric car can be described in a few words - simple, but technologically advanced. Compared to other Chinese crossovers, the Volkswagen ID.6 interior looks frankly poor in its price category.


But this is a real Volkswagen, not a brand from China. In this regard, drivers from China resemble Russians - they prefer foreign cars, they are more prestigious.

Interior design Volkswagen ID.6 is made in the same style as the rest of the models in this line. There are differences between Crozz and X - the front panels have different vents. There are almost no physical buttons inside - fans of the classics will not like it.

In the basic configuration of the Volkswagen ID.6, no matter Crozz or X, the electric car comes with seven seats. The second row is represented by a solid sofa. If you choose the optional six-seater version, there will be two separate seats. They are "captain's", that is, comfortable.

The third row, regardless of the double version, is designed more for children. Adults will be uncomfortable there - with a height of 180 cm, the head begins to touch the ceiling, and the knees rest against the backs of the second row seats.

Technical features

Volkswagen ID.6 is made on the MEB platform. Recall that it is used for other cars of this series.


The front suspension will definitely be McPherson, the rear is a standard multi-link. Optionally, you can install an adaptive DCC instead - in Russia, by the way, there are many such electric cars. But you need to understand that the complexity of the suspension is an additional cost for its maintenance and repair in the future.

Strangely, Volkswagen decided to install drum brakes at the rear on a large family crossover. Why this is justified is not clear. Perhaps they decided that this is enough for a family crossover. Moreover, the maximum speed in any, even the most expensive configuration, is limited at around 160 km / h.

Volkswagen ID.6, whether Crozz or X, is offered in four versions:

✅ Pure - basic version with rear wheel drive. The power of a single electric motor is 180 hp. With. The battery allows you to drive 439 km
✅ Pure + is also a rear-wheel drive electric car. Motor with increased up to 204 liters. With. power. Power reserve - 565 km
✅ Pro - differs from the previous modification only in a rich package and a number of additional options
✅ Prime - the "top" version of the crossover. Has all-wheel drive. Total power - 331 liters. With. Power reserve - 516 km

Even the "top" modification has a speed limit of 160 km. Apparently, the family crossover is no longer supposed to accelerate. On the other hand, this is such a kind of overload protection - the engine will not work at the limit of its capabilities, which will favorably affect its resource.

In Russia, basic modifications of 180 liters. With. are rare, mostly versions for 204 and 313 liters. With. And in general, electric cars are not popular in our country - this is due to the underdeveloped infrastructure for them. To operate such a car, you need to at least live in a big city, and preferably in a private house.

Is it worth buying?

There are few Russian reviews about the Volkswagen ID.6. These cars are too "fresh", and they are rare in the domestic market. Since sales in China began only in 2021, there can’t be any serious problems with the model yet. Electric motors are structurally much simpler than modern internal combustion engines.


The main problems that may await Volkswagen ID.6 buyers in the future are the repair of the adaptive rear suspension, if any, and the failure of the running battery. By the way, if you use climate control while traveling, the power reserve is reduced by as much as 10%. The Russians who bought the Volkswagen ID.6 note the softness of its suspension, even with the rear multi-link.

So is it worth taking a Chinese-made German electric car? If the future owner lives in a private house, then yes. In other cases, owning a Volkswagen ID.6 and other electric cars in Russia is rather inconvenient, at least for now. You see, in a couple of years everything will change ...