Safety & Tech
Volkswagen imbues the ID.4 with a long list of advanced driver-assist technologies. These include lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Automatic headlights, blind-spot monitoring, and front and rear parking sensors are also standard.
The only extra is the adaptive headlights that pivot slightly to help you see better around corners. Or that deer about to leap directly in front of you.
Just as VW is generous with its safety features, they do likewise with technology. All trims come with a 10-inch touchscreen display, navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and navigation. Smartphone compatibility, Bluetooth, four USB ports, a 7-speaker audio system, and HD Radio also come standard.
VW ID.4 Electric Performance
Powering every ID.4 is an electric motor that turns the rear wheels. This one delivers a modest 201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque, but the power comes immediately. A single-speed transmission gets this SUV moving. Arriving later is an all-wheel-drive version. That one will utilize a second electric motor to turn the front wheels. Further, it will deliver more power too.
We did not time the ID.4’s 0-60 mph jump, but it is fast. It is fun to surprise people in gas-powered performance cars with the bursts of power delivered when needed. But keep in mind that constantly flooring it will impact vehicle range. Indeed, with approximately 250 miles between connections, the ID.4 should prove useful to most.
Notably, with DC fast-charging, this SUV can reach 80 percent capacity in about 30 minutes. If you are taking a long trip, that represents enough time to walk off your tired legs, grab a bite to eat, and tidy up in the restroom before resuming your journey.
It is not all roses with the ID.4, however. The transmission lever, located on the top right behind the steering wheel is a frustrating experience, at least initially. It is not particularly intuitive – you must grab the top part and move into gear. Just keep an eye on the panel to make sure you are moving in the direction you want to go. We think Volkswagen missed an opportunity here – to convince people to switch to EVs (already a challenging prospect). Instead, dispensing with anything that is too futuristic is the better approach. Anyway, it took a week for us to get used to the arrangement. By then, the ID.4 was on its way back to the distributor.
Our Recommendation
We give Volkswagen high marks as it delivers its first-ever, fully dedicated EV model to the North American market (The VW ID.3 debut in Europe last year, but it is not U.S. bound). The design is one of its strengths and the available power should please most people.
But it is the $40,000 price point that makes the ID.4 an attractive buy, which may help attract a new breed of buyers. Lastly, the previously mentioned $7,500 federal tax credit can lower your costs further, by reducing your tax burden accordingly.
