Volkswagen's New ID. Aura L5 Is Bigger Than A Jetta And Packs 416 HP

Volkswagen is learning the hard way that its badge alone doesn’t guarantee success in China anymore. Local carmakers are winning buyers over with clever tech and electric cars built around what Chinese customers actually want. So VW is changing tack. Its latest move is the ID. Aura L5, a sleek electric sedan developed with local partner FAW.

First, forget the usual three-box sedan shape. The ID. Aura L5 has a sloping roof, frameless doors, slim headlights joined by an LED strip, and a small ducktail at the rear. More importantly, it’s technically a liftback, so the entire rear hatch opens wide to make loading bulky bags and boxes easier. That’s the kind of everyday detail that can matter more than another fancy design flourish.

At 192.2 inches long, the L5 is bigger than the Jetta sold in America and close in size to VW’s larger sedans. FAW-Volkswagen says the cabin takes up 84.4% of the car’s footprint, leaving plenty of room for passengers. Buyers will also get six paint choices, including purple and gold, because apparently white, black, and gray don’t cut it for everyone.

The powertrain lineup has two options. The rear-wheel-drive version makes 208 hp, while the all-wheel-drive model gets two motors producing a combined 416 hp. Both have an LFP battery, and top speed is capped at 109 mph. Selected versions will also use lidar sensors to support advanced driver-assistance features. VW hasn’t revealed the driving range yet, so that’s one big question still hanging in the air.

The ID. Aura L5 is expected to reach Chinese dealerships in early 2027. There’s no US launch on the cards for now. And that makes sense: this car is part of VW’s push to win back Chinese buyers on their own turf.