The Volkswagen ID.4 is an all-round all-electric SUV with good range and a comfortable interior.
It's also enough to attract buyers who are buying electric cars for the first time.
ID.4 starts at $40,000. The all-wheel drive version I tested cost just over $50,000.
Tesla has dominated the sales of electric cars for years — not only because it has been a major choice in the market, but also because the suffocating acceleration it promises, a TV-sized touchscreen and a simple buttonless cab have attracted a large number of tech-savvy consumers.
But what about those who don't want that? What about buyers who are curious about electric cars but don't need smartphones with wheels and don't want to revolutionize the way they interact with vehicles?
What about those who want a mostly regular, reasonably priced SUV?
The new Volkswagen ID.4 covers them.
It's an approachable electric SUV that offers healthy range, plenty of space for people and belongings, some EV quirks, and minimal drawbacks — all starting at $40,000. A weekend with a great ID.4 showed me a great option for those looking to switch from gasoline power but aren't interested in making too much of a leap from a traditional SUV.
Volkswagen barrier-free electric SUV
With its first electric SUV for the U.S. market, Volkswagen is targeting the heart of U.S. car purchases: crossover SUVs. People buy more of these compact, high-sreadmills than anything else, and Volkswagen intends to be the id.4 rival the most popular in the market. Online, Volkswagen lists the ID.4's competitors as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, rather than the Tesla Model Y, Ford Mustang Mach-E or Hyundai Kona Electric.
In terms of size and horsepower, the Base ID.4 is almost perfectly matched to the two kings of crossovers, RAV4 and CR-V. Volkswagen clearly wants buyers to jump out of their gasoline crossover and move into ID.4 and won't find anything offensive about making the conversion.
In addition to the sold-out first edition, the ID.4 is available in two variants: the $39,995 Pro and the $44,495 Pro S, which adds features such as a panoramic sunroof, faux leather seats and a larger touchscreen. Around $3,700 can be purchased for all-wheel drive, which also adds about 100 horsepower through a second motor. The AWD Pro S model that Volkswagen lent me was just over $50,000.
What stands out: Comfortable, functional interiors and some electric style
The goal of ID.4 may be mainstream, but that doesn't mean it's bland. It offers many advantages that make electric vehicles attractive, such as a spacious interior, a striking exterior, and a quiet, powerful ride.
Even after a few days of using ID.4, I couldn't be sure for the rest of my life whether it was futuristic or conservative. After much deliberation, I decided to do both. The car's enclosed grille and unique light strips at the front and rear exude the air of an electric car, but its jelly bean shape and familiar proportions mean it complements the ocean of other crossovers. It's not exactly hard data, but ID.4 has really caught some people's attention.
Walking into ID.4 isn't like walking into an Apple store—it feels like a car. The interior of pro SI is decorated in black and brown synthetic leather, feeling well-constructed, high-end and comfortable. There's plenty of head and legroom at the front and rear, and my tester's massive skylight gives comfort to the cabin. Even more airy feel. The standard wireless charging pad on the center console came in handy more than once.
Compared to teslas and mustang Mach-E in the world, the ID.4 comes with a modest 10-inch touchscreen, which is increased to 12 inches in the Pro S trim. In addition, the ID.4 screen handles less basic tasks than some other electric vehicle displays, and some buyers will definitely like it. In ID.4, you can use buttons to adjust the cabin temperature or volume – defective buttons, but more on that later.
An ingenious trick: between the windshield and the dashboard is a strip of lights as wide as ID.4 that can send out various clues about the situation inside the car. It flashes green as the SUV charges, flashes to tell you it's listening to voice commands, and swipes left or right to reflect upcoming turns in the navigation system.
It's definitely a bit of a gimmick, but it's a fun touch.
As you sit down to drive, you'll notice another quirk. To start moving, you don't need to press the "On" button, let alone turn the key. Instead, you can simply slam on the brakes to wake up ID.4, hook it into gear, and set off. After driving, you can simply park your car in the parking lot and get out of the car – no need to close it. It made me feel like I was doing something wrong, but after a few trips I got used to it. Still, Volkswagen installed a concealed start/stop button on the steering column for those who couldn't stand not turning off the car.
Driver ID.4
When you step on the throttle, the ID.4 doesn't jump forward as violently as some other electric cars do, as they essentially send power to the wheels almost immediately. Still, with 295 horsepower and 339 pound-feet of torque, the AWD Pro S delivers all the acceleration you need to quickly complete a merge or pass through a truck at high speed.
It glides comfortably and quietly on the highway, and if you press the "throttle" hard enough, it will put a smile on your face, especially if you turn on sport mode first. I haven't driven it, but people say the rear-wheel drive ID.4 feels underpowered.
The ID.4 has not disappointed in terms of range, a long-standing problem with having electric vehicles in countries where charging infrastructure is still a long way off. According to the EPA, the Pro S AWD can travel up to 240 miles when fully charged. This is quite competitive with other electric vehicles at the same price point, but there are certainly electric vehicles that can go further. This includes each Tesla and a base ID.4 rated at 260 miles.
ID.4 doesn't have some unique features that make electric cars fun, which can disappoint EV enthusiasts.
The front trunk of some electric vehicles can take advantage of the space normally occupied by gas engines. But under the hood of Volkswagen, you'll find mechanical parts instead of nice extra storage space.
Most electric vehicles offer single-pedal driving, a simple setup that allows the driver to stop the vehicle simply by lifting their foot off the accelerator – without the need for a brake pedal. You won't find it in ID.4 either. Volkswagen said it was important that the crossover drove like a regular SUV so as not to "confuse the driver of a traditional internal combustion engine car."
The interior of the ID.4 relies heavily on touch-sensitive buttons that I find difficult to use while driving. Perfectly smooth climate control and volume buttons blend into the piano's black background and don't provide feedback, so it's hard to tell what you're tapping without looking. Curiously, the driver only had two window switches instead of the usual four. If you want to operate the rear window, you need to click a button labeled "Back", which feels a bit of a design flaw.
In the long run, it's too early to tell if ID.4 will play a major role in RAV4 and CR-V sales. But this quirky crossover undoubtedly offers what the EV market desperately needs: the ones that people really want to buy.
Americans are fascinated by crossovers, but until recently, none of the non-luxury electric cars on the market were suitable for this model. Now, you can finally choose from several models, such as the Chevy Bolt EUV, Mustang Mach-E, and Kia Niro EV. Volkswagen's ID.4 brings another attractive option — it can check a lot of boxes for SUV buyers, and has a lot of potential to convince skeptics of electric cars to switch to electric ones.