The 2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 8X is SAIC Volkswagen's second extended-range SUV, a five-seat, 5,020 mm-long model that sits alongside the six-seat ID. ERA 9X in the same family. Pre-orders opened in China on September 28, 2026 with four trims — Pro, Max, Max Long Range and Ultra Long Range — and the official launch, together with final prices, is set for October 12. The headline numbers are a 1.5-litre turbo range extender paired with a 51.1 kWh or 65.2 kWh battery, up to 451 km of CLTC electric range and up to 1,602 km of combined range, all on an 800-volt architecture. Even the entry Pro comes with a 192-line LiDAR and Momenta's R7 driver-assistance system as standard equipment. Prices have not been announced, so this article treats price as TBA until the October launch.
Performance & Specs
Every ID. ERA 8X uses the same generator: a 1.5-litre turbocharged EA211 petrol engine (1,498 cc in the regulatory filing) rated at 105 kW (141 hp) that feeds the electric drive rather than turning the wheels directly. Volkswagen claims a peak thermal efficiency of 43 percent and quotes a measured 5.85 L/100 km with the battery depleted, running on 92-octane petrol. The entry Pro is rear-wheel drive with a single motor rated at 220 kW (295 hp). From the Max upward the car switches to dual-motor all-wheel drive: the Max, with the 51.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack, pairs 150 kW and 220 kW motors for 370 kW (496 hp), while the Max Long Range and Ultra Long Range pair 160 kW and 220 kW motors for 380 kW (about 510 hp) and 660 N·m of torque. Volkswagen quotes a best 0–100 km/h time of 4.6 seconds for the fastest version. Power figures here are converted from kW at 1.341 hp per kW, so they are slightly lower than the metric-horsepower numbers some Chinese outlets print for the same motors. Torque for the other trims and an official top speed have not been published.
| Powertrain | EREV, 1.5T range extender + dual-motor AWD |
|---|---|
| Power | 380 kW (510 hp) |
| Torque | 660 N·m |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.6 s (fastest version) |
| Battery | 65.2 kWh (NMC) |
| Range | 451 km CLTC EV / 1,602 km combined |
| POWERTRAIN TYPE | Extended-range EV (EREV), 1.5T range extender |
|---|---|
| HORSEPOWER | 220 kW (295 hp) Pro; 370 kW (496 hp) Max; 380 kW (510 hp) Max Long Range / Ultra Long Range |
| TORQUE | 660 N·m (380 kW versions) |
| ACCELERATION | 0–100 km/h in 4.6 s (fastest version) |
| TOP SPEED | Not officially published |
| DRIVETRAIN | RWD (Pro); AWD (Max, Max Long Range, Ultra Long Range) |
| BATTERY | 51.1 kWh LFP (Pro, Max); 65.2 kWh NMC (Max Long Range, Ultra Long Range) |
| ELECTRIC RANGE (CLTC) | 373 km / 340 km / 451 km |
| COMBINED RANGE | Up to 1,602 km (65.2 kWh); 1,567 km (Pro) |
Dimensions & Practicality
| Length | 5,020 mm |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,997 mm |
| Height | 1,750 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,970 mm |
| Curb weight | 2,485–2,590 kg |
At 5,020 mm long, 1,997 mm wide and 1,750 mm tall on a 2,970 mm wheelbase, the ID. ERA 8X is a genuinely large five-seater rather than a compact family SUV. The regulatory filing lists a curb weight of 2,485 to 2,590 kg depending on configuration, and tyre sizes of 255/50 R20 or 255/45 R21. Pre-launch hands-on reports put the boot at 519 litres with the rear seats up and 1,939 litres with them folded, plus a 67-litre under-floor storage box, and a rear row that folds electrically to a nearly flat load floor. Reports count 34 storage compartments in the cabin, and every trim gets a 12-litre dual-door smart cooler and warmer. The rear doors open to a maximum of 80 degrees, and the top trim adds an electrically adjustable right-rear legrest.
| LENGTH | 5,020 mm |
|---|---|
| WIDTH | 1,997 mm |
| HEIGHT | 1,750 mm |
| WHEELBASE | 2,970 mm |
| CURB WEIGHT | 2,485–2,590 kg |
| CARGO VOLUME | 519 L (1,939 L seats folded) |
| UNDER-FLOOR STORAGE | 67 L |
Charging & Battery
Two battery packs are offered. The Pro and Max use a 51.1 kWh lithium iron phosphate pack rated at 373 km (Pro) and 340 km (Max) of CLTC electric range, while the Max Long Range and Ultra Long Range use a 65.2 kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt pack from CATL, marketed as the Xiaoyao battery, rated at 451 km. Combined range with a full tank and a full battery is 1,567 km for the 51.1 kWh Pro and 1,602 km for the 65.2 kWh trims. The whole range runs on an 800-volt platform with a silicon-carbide drive, and Volkswagen claims a 10–80% DC fast charge in 16 minutes. The battery is said to withstand a 2,000 J impact to its underside and carries a seven-layer thermal-runaway protection scheme. Vehicle-to-load output is 3.5 kW. A June regulatory filing listed lower electric-range figures of 260 to 345 km for the same two packs, so treat the CLTC numbers as the manufacturer's best-case claims and expect real-world electric range to be shorter, especially on the highway and in winter.
| BATTERY | 51.1 kWh LFP / 65.2 kWh NMC (CATL Xiaoyao) |
|---|---|
| ARCHITECTURE | 800 V |
| DC FAST CHARGING | 10–80% in 16 min (claimed) |
| EXTERNAL DISCHARGE (V2L) | 3.5 kW |
| RANGE EXTENDER | 1.5T EA211, 105 kW (141 hp), 92-octane petrol |
Design & Interior
Outside, the ID. ERA 8X wears the family look introduced on the ID. ERA 9X: a full-width light bar that Volkswagen calls the Cosmic Light Wing, L-shaped daytime running lights, vertical lamp clusters set low in the bumper, and a black lower fascia. The roofline is boxy and upright with a black roof and a wing-style spoiler, the overhangs are short, and Volkswagen says the window-to-body ratio approaches one to two. A LiDAR pod sits above the windshield, and at the rear a full-width red light bar carries an illuminated VW badge. Press images show red brake calipers and 20- or 21-inch wheels. Inside, the cabin uses a dual-spoke steering wheel, a digital instrument display, and a pair of linked 15.6-inch 2.5K screens. A feature Volkswagen calls Smart Surface turns the door panels into touch controls: the surface looks like wood veneer when switched off, then lights up as a control panel for seats and climate. The seats are trimmed in mother-and-baby-grade Nappa full-grain leather, and the front row gets zero-gravity reclining and ten-point massage, with heating and ventilation for both the front and rear seats.
Technology & Features
The cockpit runs VW.OS on a Snapdragon 8295P chip with a 15.6-inch central touchscreen, a passenger-side screen of the same size and a windshield head-up display, all standard from the entry Pro. The front suspension is a double wishbone and the rear a five-link design, under an intelligent chassis system that Volkswagen describes as offering millisecond-level control. From the Max trim upward the car adds dual-chamber air suspension with 150 mm of stroke, continuously variable damping and a preview system, marketed as the magic carpet, that reads the road about 15 metres ahead and adjusts the suspension in advance. The Ultra Long Range tops the line with a 23-speaker 7.1.4 surround sound system, adaptive matrix headlights, a co-driver folding table and 21-inch wheels. The Max and above also add full electric door operation.
Safety & ADAS
Driver assistance is the ID. ERA 8X's strongest argument against rivals in its bracket, because it is not reserved for the top trim. Every version carries Momenta's R7 reinforcement-learning world model, a 192-line LiDAR and 26 sensing hardware units in total, including six millimetre-wave radars. The system supports navigation-assisted driving on highways and in cities, and debuts a parking-space-to-parking-space function that Volkswagen calls D2D, covering 29 driving scenarios such as narrow-road avoidance and kerb parking. Nine airbags are standard. This is a supervised Level 2-plus system; the driver remains responsible at all times, and independent crash-test results for the model have not been published.
| ADAS LEVEL | L2+ (Momenta R7 world model, 192-line LiDAR standard) |
|---|---|
| ADAS FEATURES | Highway and urban navigation-assisted driving, parking-space-to-parking-space (D2D), 26 sensing units, 9 airbags |
Available Versions
| VERSION | POWER | TORQUE | 0-100 | TOP SPEED | DRIVETRAIN | BATTERY | EV RANGE | COMBINED RANGE | PRICE | KEY DIFFERENCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pro | 295 hp | — | — | — | RWD | 51.1 kWh | 373 km | 1,567 km | TBA | Single 220 kW rear motor; LiDAR, R7, 800V, W-HUD, dual 15.6-inch screens, fridge and Nappa seats all standard |
| Max | 496 hp | — | — | — | AWD | 51.1 kWh | 340 km | — | TBA | Adds dual-motor AWD (370 kW), dual-chamber air suspension, variable damping and road preview |
| Max Long Range | 510 hp | 660 Nm | — | — | AWD | 65.2 kWh | 451 km | 1,602 km | TBA | Larger CATL pack, 380 kW dual motors, longest range in the line-up |
| Ultra Long Range | 510 hp | 660 Nm | — | — | AWD | 65.2 kWh | 451 km | 1,602 km | TBA | 23-speaker 7.1.4 audio, matrix headlights, 21-inch wheels, co-driver folding table, rear-right power legrest |
Pricing & Availability
Volkswagen has not announced prices for the ID. ERA 8X. Pre-orders opened on September 28, 2026 and the official market launch, with final prices, is scheduled for October 12, 2026. During the pre-order window, an 888 yuan deposit (about $130 at 6.85 yuan per dollar) is credited as 5,888 yuan (about $860) toward the final payment, a limited run of 10,000 luxury delivery gift sets is on offer, and pre-order customers get priority in production and delivery scheduling. CnEVPost describes the expected target as China's 250,000 to 350,000 yuan segment, which is an outlet's read of the market and not a Volkswagen price. For reference, the larger six-seat ID. ERA 9X launched at 309,800 yuan (about $45,315) for its entry version. The ID. ERA 8X was first filed with China's industry ministry in June 2026 and made its public debut at the Chengdu Auto Show in August 2026. It is a China-market model at this stage, and no export plans have been confirmed.
How It Compares
Because the ID. ERA 8X has no announced price, the comparison here is a specification contrast rather than a value verdict. The Li Auto L6 in our catalog lists 402 hp, 1,250 km of total range and a $36,900 price, and the XPENG G7 lists 276 hp, 1,300 km and $36,891. On paper the top ID. ERA 8X trims out-power both at up to 510 hp and quote the longest total range of the three at 1,602 km, while adding a 192-line LiDAR to every trim, but whether it undercuts or overshoots those price points will only be known on October 12. The closer comparison is inside the family. The six-seat ID. ERA 9X, priced from about $45,315 with 496 hp and 1,611 km of total range, is 5,207 mm long on a 3,070 mm wheelbase, so the 8X is 187 mm shorter with a 100 mm shorter wheelbase and trades the six-seat layout for five seats. Its 380 kW top trims out-power the 9X's entry version on paper, so shoppers who do not need three rows may find the 8X the more focused choice.
- LiDAR, Momenta R7 driver assistance, 800V charging and a head-up display are standard even on the entry Pro
- Up to 1,602 km combined range and up to 510 hp, with a claimed 4.6 s 0–100 km/h on the fastest version
- Large 5,020 mm body with a 2,970 mm wheelbase, a 519-litre boot and a built-in 12-litre fridge
- No official price yet, and the electric range of the 51.1 kWh trims is only 340–373 km CLTC
- Top speed, torque for the lower trims and independent crash-test results are unpublished, and the car is China-only for now
The 2026 Volkswagen ID. ERA 8X looks like a well-judged answer to China's crowded five-seat EREV market: a large body, a proven 1.5T generator, 800-volt charging and, unusually for a joint-venture brand, LiDAR-based driver assistance on every trim. The Max Long Range, with 380 kW, 660 N·m and 451 km of CLTC electric range, is the version to watch. The unknown is the price, which Volkswagen will only reveal on October 12, and the lower trims give up a lot of electric range for the sake of a cheaper LFP pack. Until the sticker is public, it is a strong specification sheet rather than a proven bargain.
