Volkswagen ID.5 discontinued in Australia after short run

Volkswagen has ended ID.5 production for Australia after just 18 months, leaving the ID.4 as its remaining electric medium SUV.

Megan C

Megan C

October 19, 2026

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4 mins read

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Megan C
Megan C

19 October, 2026

Access Time

4 mins read

The Volkswagen ID.5 is being discontinued in Australia after a relatively short stint on sale, with the coupe-styled electric SUV set to leave local showrooms once remaining stock is sold.

Volkswagen Australia has confirmed production for the local market has ended, with the ID.5 finishing its Australian lifecycle with the current Model Year 2026 (MY26). It will not continue into MY27, although examples already in dealer stock remain available.

The decision comes as Volkswagen prepares to reshape its electric vehicle (EV) range globally. The ID.5 is also approaching the end of its international run, following the unveiling of the new ID. Tiguan electric SUV, which is set to replace the ID.4 in overseas markets.

For Australian buyers, however, the immediate impact is straightforward. Anyone specifically after Volkswagen’s coupe-shaped electric SUV will need to find an available MY26 example before dealer stocks run out.

Why is Volkswagen discontinuing the ID.5?

The ID.5 arrived in Australian showrooms in early 2025, several years after its European debut in September 2021. It shares its underpinnings with the ID.4 but uses a more sloping roofline to give it a sportier profile.

That design distinction came at a higher price. At launch in Australia, the ID.5 was positioned above the equivalent ID.4, with prices ranging from $62,990 to $72,990 before on-road costs. It carried a $3000 premium over comparable ID.4 variants.

However, Australian sales figures suggest the coupe-styled model struggled to match its more conventional sibling.

New-car sales data published in October 2026 recorded 459 Volkswagen ID.5 sales year-to-date, compared with 1360 ID.4s. That leaves the ID.5 901 sales behind the ID.4, highlighting the difference in demand between the two electric SUVs.

Volkswagen has not attributed the discontinuation directly to sales performance. Instead, the company described it as part of its usual product planning and lifecycle management.

The ID.5’s departure also follows the discontinuation of the Volkswagen Touareg large SUV, which has been dropped globally.

Volkswagen ID.4 remains on sale in Australia

Despite the ID.5’s exit, Volkswagen’s electric medium SUV offering will continue through the ID.4.

The current Australian line-up includes the ID.4 Pro, which uses rear-wheel drive (RWD), and the ID.4 GTX, which features all-wheel drive (AWD). The distinction gives buyers a choice between a rear-driven configuration and one that sends power to all four wheels.

Volkswagen Australia has also introduced an upgraded MY27 ID.4 locally, signalling that the company intends to keep investing in its existing electric SUV while the ID.5 is phased out.

The ID.4’s continued availability means buyers who liked the ID.5’s electric SUV package but are willing to forgo its coupe-like styling still have an option within the Volkswagen range.

The two models share a vehicle family, so the ID.5’s discontinuation does not mean Volkswagen is abandoning this segment in Australia.

More Volkswagen electric cars could be coming

Volkswagen’s electric vehicle range could expand again from 2027, with the ID. Polo hatchback, ID. Cross small SUV and ID. Tiguan among the models expected to be considered for Australia. However, none of these additions has been confirmed for local launch.

The ID. Tiguan is particularly significant in the context of the ID.5’s departure. It is a heavily updated electric family SUV related to the ID.4, with the new model expected to take over from the latter in overseas markets.

For Australian buyers, the timing and positioning of any future arrivals will determine how Volkswagen fills out its electric range. Until further details are announced, the ID.4 remains the brand’s established electric medium SUV option locally.

The ID.5’s exit also reflects a broader challenge for carmakers offering multiple body styles within the same electric vehicle family. A coupe-inspired design can attract buyers looking for something different, but a price premium may be harder to justify when a more conventional SUV offers a similar overall package.

For now, buyers interested in the Volkswagen ID.5 will need to check with local dealers for remaining MY26 stock and availability. Once those vehicles are sold, the model will no longer be part of Volkswagen’s Australian new-car line-up.

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