Volkswagen to Drop ID.4 and ID.5 Crossovers, Replacing Them With the New Electric ID. Tiguan

Volkswagen has announced a strategy shift for its electric lineup. On October 9, 2026, the German group will officially unveil the ID. Tiguan, a new battery-electric crossover that will fully replace the ID.4 and the coupe-styled ID.5 on the assembly line. Sales of the new model will begin in early 2027. The classic Tiguan with internal combustion engines and hybrid powertrains will not go anywhere — the vehicles will be sold side by side.

For the auto giant, this is not just a scheduled update but a retreat from naming experiments. Volkswagen is steadily moving away from faceless numeric badges in favor of its most recognizable historic names. The group has already announced the electric ID. Polo and ID. Cross. The decision is backed by numbers: while the ID.4 and ID.5 family has sold just over 950,000 units since 2021, total sales of the original Tiguan since 2007 exceed 8.3 million.

Physical buttons return, along with classic design

Despite its positioning, the ID. Tiguan is not simply a rebadged version of the “four.” Engineers reworked both the exterior and the interior ergonomics. The body of pre-production prototypes has a more angular, classic SUV silhouette, and the doors now have traditional grab handles instead of the previous flush sensors.

The main lessons-learned exercise happened inside the cabin. Journalists at British outlet Auto Express, who have already tested early prototypes, confirm that Volkswagen listened to driver criticism. The awkward touch sliders are gone from the interior: the ID. Tiguan brings back proper physical buttons on the steering wheel and gets a dedicated block of conventional keys for climate control. The infotainment system moves to a large 15-inch central display.

MEB+ platform and entry-level LFP batteries

The new model is built on an upgraded MEB+ modular platform. The automaker is holding back exact specs, including range, peak charging power and acceleration, until the official presentation announced in Volkswagen’s corporate press center.

Even so, the preliminary configuration is already clear. According to CarExpert, the crossover will come in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions with at least two battery sizes. Entry-level trims are expected to get a more affordable and more durable lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery with a capacity of around 58 kWh, which should keep the car’s starting price at an acceptable level amid a price war with Chinese auto brands.