Does the software live up to VW’s promises?

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“Wolfsburg, we have a problem!” In early December 2022, that was our headline in the interim report of the long-term test with the now-ending VW ID.4 GTX. What happened? Our test car should have received a software update to the latest version 3.0 by early November. Instead, the operating system can only be updated to the overdue version 2.4. Officially, it was said that software 3.0 was not “100 percent ready” and would not be risked. We had to return the ID.4 GTX a few weeks later, which meant we could no longer test the improvements in the new software in daily life.

That’s why Amag has now made a VW ID.5 GTX available to us. The SUV coupé also makes 299 electric horsepower and is visually separated from the ID.4 GTX by a more rearward sloping roofline and an attached spoiler. More importantly: The test car has new software. And we want to know: Does it deliver on what VW promises in everyday life?

E-route planning is significantly better

One point of criticism on long-distance routes was route planning via the navigation system. At the suggested charging stops, the ID.4 always wanted to fill the battery up to 100 percent, thus charging for an unnecessarily long time. Sometimes he even wanted to steer us off the highway to slow AC charging stations. Drive like Tesla and rely on the intelligence of the software, this was not possible with ID.4. ID.5 looks different. We set the target imaginary in satellite navigation: the Harz mountains in northern Germany, about 700 kilometers from Zurich. The navigation system neatly and clearly lists the charging stations and calculates only the time really needed to reach the destination as quickly as possible.

DC charging power up to 135 kW

Software 3.0 for DC fast charging power should bring further improvements – now 135 kW instead of the previous maximum of 125 – important for long highways with a few charging stops. In testing, we managed a maximum of 110 kW, due to the battery being very full, probably around 20 percent (less than 10 percent ideal for fast charging) and low temperatures around freezing point. But the ID.4 GTX has achieved more with 130 kW than VW has officially stated.

better speech recognition

The update makes further adjustments to the presentation of the infotainment menu, which is now more clearly structured, for example reflecting the navigation arrows on the optional augmented reality head-up display directly into the field of view. In addition, VW has improved voice control: the system not only responds more quickly, but also understands everyday language commands more reliably.

Source: Blick