The 2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 5X is the first all-electric model of the ID. ERA family, built by SAIC Volkswagen, Volkswagen's joint venture with SAIC in China. It is also the first VW production car on the China Main Platform (CMP). The 4,560 mm five-seat SUV goes on sale in China on 12 November with a 155 kW motor and up to 520 km of CLTC range; the price has not been announced.
Key facts
- Launch: China, 12 November 2026; blind orders open since 15 September; price not yet announced
- Power: single motor, 155 kW peak (211 PS / 208 hp), top speed 175 km/h
- Battery and range (CLTC): 45.8 kWh for 415 km, 58.5 kWh for 520 km, LFP cells from CATL
- Size: 4,560 mm long, 2,815 mm wheelbase, five seats, 1,685 kg kerb weight (MIIT filing)
- Tech: 192-line roof LiDAR on higher trims, 4 nm MTK 8676 cockpit chip, CEA architecture co-developed with XPeng
- Catch: no charging speed, 0-100 km/h time or boot volume published yet; Europe is not confirmed
Performance & Specs
A single electric motor makes 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) at peak, with a 63 kW rated output, and limits the car to 175 km/h. The MIIT filing lists a kerb weight of 1,685 kg. One Chinese report of the same filing quotes 150 kW peak, but Autohome's launch report, CnEVPost and most other outlets use 155 kW.
Torque and 0-100 km/h time have not been published. Chinese outlets, including Autohome's car channel and Sohu, and Wikipedia describe a single rear-mounted motor driving the rear wheels, but SAIC Volkswagen's launch material does not state the layout. The 5X is the only pure EV in the ID. ERA range; the ID. ERA 5S sedan is a plug-in hybrid, and the 8X and 9X SUVs are range-extender models.
| Powertrain | Single-motor BEV (rear drive reported) |
|---|---|
| Power | 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) |
| Top speed | 175 km/h |
| Battery | 45.8 / 58.5 kWh LFP (CATL) |
| Range | 415 / 520 km (CLTC) |
| Kerb weight | 1,685 kg (MIIT) |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | BEV (single motor) |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 155 kW (211 PS / 208 hp) peak |
| TOP SPEED | 175 km/h |
| BATTERY | 45.8 kWh or 58.5 kWh LFP |
| ELECTRIC RANGE | 415 km or 520 km (CLTC) |
| KERB WEIGHT | 1,685 kg (MIIT filing) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 4,560 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,896 mm |
| Height | 1,630 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,815 mm |
| Seats | 5 |
At 4,560 mm the 5X is a compact SUV with a long 2,815 mm wheelbase; track is 1,619 mm front and 1,630 mm rear, with 875 mm and 870 mm overhangs. Boot volume has not been published, and Sohu notes there is no front trunk.
| LENGTH | 4,560 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,896 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,630 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,815 mm |
| TRACK (F / R) | 1,619 / 1,630 mm |
| SEATING | 5 |
Charging & Battery
Two CATL lithium iron phosphate packs are offered: 45.8 kWh with 415 km of CLTC range and 58.5 kWh with 520 km. SAIC Volkswagen has not published DC charging power or a 10-80% time as of 4 November 2026, so no charging figure is quoted here.
| BATTERY | 45.8 kWh LFP / 58.5 kWh LFP (CATL) |
|---|---|
| RANGE (CLTC) | 415 km / 520 km |
| DC FAST CHARGING | Not published |
Design & Interior
The press renders show a slim full-width light bar at the front, a clean tailgate with the VW logo and "ID. ERA 5X" lettering, and a black roof on the orange car. Inside, the cabin has a floating central screen, a fully digital instrument cluster and a column-mounted electronic gear selector, plus a panoramic roof and roof rails as options.
Technology & Features
The 4 nm MTK 8676 chip runs the cockpit. The car pairs the new CMP platform with the CEA electronic architecture that Volkswagen developed with XPeng; Autohome calls it Volkswagen's first production car with that combination. IT Home reports a Horizon Robotics Journey 6H driver-assistance chip with 420 TOPS and a claimed L2++ urban navigation function; SAIC Volkswagen has not published a full ADAS spec sheet.
Safety & ADAS
The Xingyun Zhixing system covers city roads, highways and automated parking, and higher trims add the 192-line roof LiDAR. The base car's sensor set has not been detailed.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (Xingyun Zhixing) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Urban and highway assistance, automated parking, 192-line LiDAR on higher trims |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45.8 kWh | 208 hp | 175 km/h | Single motor, RWD (reported) | 45.8 kWh | 415 km | TBA | Smaller LFP pack; final trim names and equipment due at launch |
| 58.5 kWh | 208 hp | 175 km/h | Single motor, RWD (reported) | 58.5 kWh | 520 km | TBA | Larger LFP pack; LiDAR is offered on higher trims |
Pricing & Availability
SAIC Volkswagen opened blind orders on 15 September with a CNY 100 (~$15) deposit, which Chinese outlets report counts as CNY 5,000 (~$750) off the final payment; lock-in terms differ between reports. The first production car left the line in October, and the launch date is 12 November. No list price has been announced; rates here use ECB 28 October 2026 (USD 1 = CNY 6.6664).
The 5X is a China-first car. New Mobility wrote in August that it will come to Europe, but Volkswagen has not confirmed an export plan.
How It Compares
The ID. ERA 5X matches the Jaecoo J5 EV on 208 hp, but the J5's 402 km is on the stricter WLTP cycle, so the two ranges are not directly comparable. On the same CLTC cycle, the latest BYD Yuan Plus offers up to 322 hp and 630 km from about $17,800, ahead of the 5X on both. Price will decide this contest, and VW has not named one.
- Up to 520 km CLTC range from a 58.5 kWh LFP pack
- 208 hp and 175 km/h from a single 155 kW motor
- 192-line LiDAR and a 4 nm cockpit chip on a compact VW
- No price, charging speed or 0-100 km/h time published
- LiDAR is not standard on every trim
- No front trunk, and no confirmed launch outside China
The ID. ERA 5X looks like a credible new EV for Volkswagen in China, with up to 520 km of CLTC range, 208 hp and a LiDAR option. Wait for the 12 November price before judging it, because the missing charging speed and 0-100 km/h figures leave the performance story unfinished.
