VW's Real Electric Journey Starts Here

Forget the disappointing ID.3 and 4; this is a chance for Volkswagen to bring some magic to the world of electric vehicles (EVS) by tapping into their funky history

- Georg Kacher

JAMIE FROM NEW JERSEY WANTS TO BUY this thing so badly that he is offering five grand in cash for an early 2023 delivery. 'Here are my contact details, bro, and, no, EU-spec is not an issue.' Do I look like a car dealer? Harald and Britta from I-forget-where bring a notepad and a folding rule to check out the exact boot size, different seating configurations, and their effect on rear leg-room.

Anna, the receptionist at the Nyhaven Hotel, begs our photographer to take a couple of flattering smartphone pics of her posing in front of the white over-sage ID. Buzz in the morning sun.

Every second person who starts a conversation with us asks the same three questions. Is it any good? What's the starting price? When can I get one? The responses make their smiles even wider. Yes, the new Volkswagen is a decent piece of kit. If you order now, European dealers are quoting a mid-2023 delivery, but come next month the waiting list may already be stretching into 2024. Prices start at £57,115 (Rs 52.5 lakh).

2022 issue was a The ID. Buzz prototype I drove for the disappointment. The partly camouflaged car just was not there yet in terms of perceived quality, chassis fine-tuning, vehicle dynamics, and software integration. Six months later, we are chuffed to discover a much more complete vehicle. Our test car is still burdened by a bunch of digital flaws, but the driving experience puts a smile on our faces from the word go.

We are in Copenhagen, a busy city which strictly enforces a 30-km/h speed limit. Cars, buses, and taxis as well as bicyclists use bespoke lanes. The limit on many bigger roads-arrow straight and as flat as a salt lake-is 80 km/h. Trying to find a photogenic corner within a 25-kilometre radius of the Danish capital is futile.