Volkswagen has lofty ambitions for its battery electric vehicles. With an extensive model lineup, the plan is to have a substantial share of the global EV market. The strategy includes partnering with Chinese state-owned manufacturers, with China being the current biggest automobile market.
The range includes a small affordable hatchback, a crossover, a van, and an SUV. The latter, the ID.6, is built and sold exclusively in China where VW has joint ventures with two of the ‘big four’ state-owned Chinese car manufacturers, SAIC and FAW. Silverstern Motors has been importing this model in various configurations, along with other VAG electric vehicles like the Audi Q-tron. What we have for review is the rear-driven single motor version Pro Crozz made at the SAIC plant.
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Styling
Exterior proportions don’t make it an obvious EV. The hood is visually long as if it has an internal combustion engine under it with all its ancillaries. Parked beside the current Hyundai Santa Fe, it appears to be the same size. Where the Santa Fe has masculine squared panels, the ID.6 has feminine flowing curves and sharp creases. Both have their own charisma. Twenty-inch, machine-face wheels look a bit small even with 265/45 Hankook EV-specific tires. Visually that might be due to the black fender molding and black side sills. The LED matrix headlamps and taillights, the lit VW logos, all are in harmony with the prevailing VAG design language.
Interior
Simple yet luxurious. There are only a few buttons, as the 12-inch touchscreen serves as an all-in-one interface. Piano black accents with soft touch surfaces dominate the interior. Heated vegan leather seats also have a massage function, a welcome indulgence. It’s a spacious 5-seater with a lot of storage space if the two extra rear seats were folded. Those who find themselves sitting in the third row may find it cramped, unless they’re petite. The huge moonroof extends all the way to the back row and is made of heat rejecting tinted glass. Material technology has progressed from when glass roofs were way heavier than a metal roof with headliners. This expansive glass roof is only a few pounds heavier than a steel roof.
The infotainment system has seven speakers which are appreciable even for the folded-seat passengers. A tonneau cover can be stored conveniently under the trunk floor or used to cover the rear storage space when the third row seats are folded down.
In addition to the high efficiency particulate filter for the dual-zone aircon, the system can also ionize the circulating air to clump smaller particles together and make filtration more efficient.
Performance
The entire ID lineup uses the same 310Nm permanent-magnet synchronous motor. The horsepower output is tuned for the particular vehicle and its battery efficiency design. An all-wheel drive ID.6 is available with dual motors, one for each axle. This ID.6’s rear drive motor was tuned for 204hp, giving it 588km of range. They also share the same liquid-cooled ternary lithium battery, an 80.4 kWh capacity in this SUV. Since they are meant for the Chinese market, this came with GB/T charging ports which the dealer can optionally convert to CSS2 ports if you want to charge via public charging stations.
Peak torque is instantaneous but with the added heft, acceleration to 100kph is down to 9.1sec. That’s still fast considering that it has a real-world range of 100km from just 14-15kWh. At P12 per kWh, that’s driving all the way from Quezon City to Tagaytay and back for less than P300 worth of electricity.
Ride and handling
Softly sprung for comfort but doesn’t roll much due to a low center of gravity. It handles great mostly because of that and also due to the rear wheel drive layout.
In traffic, it’s not too cumbersome to maneuver, and with plenty of driver aids, it’s easy to forget you’re in gridlock.
Extra features
The 30 different colors for interior lighting aren’t just there for ambiance, it also indicates changes in drive mode, drive settings, and may be configured to indicate other features. LED matrix headlights work intuitively in automatic mode. It adaptively illuminates road signs and the road as far ahead as possible while the bright beam dodges oncoming cars from the opposite lane.
The ID Travel Assist 2.0 combines lane keeping assistance, parallel parking assist, and adaptive cruise control. In this later version, it comes closer to full automated driving. With the use of 12 radars, five external cameras, capacitive sensors on the steering wheel and even the internet if the vehicle is connected, it can detect other cars ahead and how far away they are. All that info will be on the augmented reality heads up display. You can indicate a lane change and it will change lanes and adapt to the speed of the vehicle ahead, according to how you set it up.
Needless to say, it can also look for a parking spot and self-park all with a touch of a dedicated capacitive dash button. When connected to the internet, it’s “aware” of local traffic speed limits, and recognises other connected cars. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to test that last feature.
Verdict
At this price range, that is a great deal for the quality and features you’re getting. As it’s an imported model, concerns include dealer aftermarket support, parts availability and maintenance costs. Silverstern has two service locations in Quezon City and Santa Rosa, Laguna. They are a growing company with a stellar reputation for servicing Volkswagen AG vehicles. Original equipment manufacturers for its components are all located in China and are readily available, and reasonably priced.
SPECS: Volkswagen ID.6 Pro Crozz 2025
Price: P2,990,000 (includes wall charger + installation and a portable AC charger)
Motor: Permanent-magnet synchronous motor
Transmission: Single-speed gearbox
Battery: 80.4kWh
Horsepower: 204hp
Torque: 310Nm
Seating: 7
Score: 9/10
