Volkswagen ID.4 Review & Prices

You love SUVs and more and more of you are loving electric cars, that makes the new Volkswagen ID4 electric SUV a case of possibly the right product at the right time. Although, with some impressive alternatives like the Tesla Model Y and Nissan Ariya also joining the fray, it doesn’t quite have things all its own way. 

The VW ID4 is about the same size as the company’s Tiguan SUV and should be just as practical – but a bit more futuristic-looking. If you and your sibling are the VW Golf and Tiguan, then the ID3 and ID4 are a bit like your posh cousins who always have the latest fashion and tech.

You get a number of engine and battery options, with power outputs spanning 146hp to 295hp, and ranges starting at 213 miles and going up to 328 miles.  Rear-wheel-drive is standard with top specs getting all-wheel-drive.

The ID4 is supposed to follow the look of the ID3 and like that car, it has slim LED headlights connected by a full-width LED light bar, while a large intake sits low on the bumper. You’ll spot that there’s no grille (electric cars don’t need them because they don’t have a hot engine to cool).

Volkswagen ID4: Electric range, battery and charging data

Range: 317-337 miles
Efficiency: 3.9-4.1 miles per kWh
Battery size: 77kWh
Max charge speed: 135kW / 175kW
Charge time AC: 12hrs 40mins, 0-100% at 7kW
Charge time DC: 28 mins, 10-80% at 135kW / 28 mins, 0-80% at 175kW
Charge port location: Right rear
Power outputs: 282hp / 335hp

And that’s about it for the front-end highlights. At the back, a wide lightbar mimics the similar element of the front of the car. But with a high bonnet and bulbous back end, the ID4 is a bit blobby and heavy-looking.

It has a simpler design inside, though. For a start, there’s no gear lever — rather, you simply twist a large knob behind the steering wheel, similar to that on a BMW i3. However, the wheel obscures the switch, so you have to crane around the rim to see it.

Speaking of that driver’s display, it gives you key information, such as speed and charge status, on a sharp display. For other functions, there’s a 10.0-inch infotainment system, or 12.0-inch on top trims.

There are comparatively few buttons, because most functions are operated through the central screen. You can also use your voice to control the infotainment settings on the move, although as with many systems of this kind it can be glitchy.

Interior quality isn’t great either – there are some scratchy plastics – but at least the ID4 is comfortable. There’s lots of adjustment for the driver’s seat and steering wheel so you should be able to find a good driving position. And there’s loads of space in the rear seat, so passengers in the back should be comfy too – even in the middle seat.

As for boot space, the Volkswagen ID4 offers 543 litres — ever so slightly more than the 510 litres in the BMW iX3’s boot. To keep with the Volkswagen Tiguan comparison, the ID4 doesn’t quite match its 615 litres, but given the size of the batteries underneath the floor in the ID4 it’s a fair effort.

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The base VW ID4 Life trim equipped with the smallest battery pack offers decent value amongst other electric SUVs, offering less power and range than a base Kia EV6 or Hyundai Ioniq 5, but also undercutting them in pricing.

The higher spec VW ID4 models with the larger 77kWh battery packs are more direct alternatives to the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and the Nissan Ariya. The top GTX Max trim is comparable in spec and pricing to a Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model 3, but falls a bit short in range and performance. This makes a mid-spec ID4 the most logical choice, preferably in Style trim and equipped with the larger 77kWh battery pack.

The VW ID4 is quiet and refined at all speeds and has a sharp turning circle. Base models aren’t particularly rapid though, and the ride can be a bit too firm on larger wheels

In town

The VW ID4 offers the usual EV benefits of smooth power delivery and brisk off-the-line performance allied with the SUV bonuses of a raised driving position and good visibility. It’s got a tight turning circle, too, making it great for town driving.

The regenerative braking is progressive, making it easier to judge if and when you need to apply the brakes at slower speeds. The view out the rear is slightly impeded by the large pillars either side of the rear window, but even the base Pure trim comes with front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera and park assistance plus as standard.

To further aid you during your commute, oncoming vehicle brake assist and dynamic road sign display are also included across all trims. The ride quality is on the firm side so we’d avoid the sportier 20-inch wheels if that’s a deal-breaker for you.

On the motorway

At motorway speeds the cabin is impressively refined, with wind, tyre and road noise well contained. The lower powered models don’t feel especially quick but won’t have you rocking back and forth in your seat as you attempt an overtake either. The ID4 is designed more as a cruiser than a sport EV anyway, and it excels in this role. You get adaptive cruise control, lane assist and a driver fatigue alert as standard on all models.

On a twisty road

The ID4 is firmly sprung and doesn’t lean too much in the corners, and grip levels out of tight corners are good too, especially in the sporty GTX and more powerful all-wheel-drive models. What the VW ID4 doesn’t do is provide an entertaining drive. It’s great at its intended role as a family-friendly electric SUV, but the BMW iX3 and Ford Mustang Mach-e are far better at putting a smile on your face down a back road.

The cabin offers loads of room four or even five adults at a push. You also get plenty of storage space front and rear, although some alternatives have even more space in the back

It’s not the largest SUV in its class, yet the ID4 makes the most of its interior space with enough head and legroom in the front for all shapes and sizes, and the steering wheel and driver’s seat offer plenty of adjustment to help you find the perfect driving position.

Storage space has been well thought out too. The centre console contains two cupholders which can be removed to create a large storage bin, and between the front seats is another storage bin with a retractable cover with a wireless charging pad and USB-C slots inside it. A pair of large door bins will take big bottles without issue and the front passenger seat comes with ISOFIX mountings if you want your toddler riding shotgun.

Space in the back seats

The ID4 offers a generously-sized back row, and two adults will fit quite comfortably even on longer trips. The middle seat is easily accessible thanks to a lack of a hump in the floor, and while it will fit another adult, shoulder room will be at a premium. Alternatives like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 have even more rear legroom and partially reclinable rear backrests, but the ID4 should be spacious enough for most families.

ISOFIX mountings are provided in the outer two seats, and you get two large door pockets, front seatback pockets and the obligatory set of cupholders in the foldable centre armrest. Two USB-C slots and two air vents are situated low down by the feet of the middle passenger.

Boot space

There’s a total of 543 litres of space in the boot, this is better than what you get in a BMW iX3 (510 litres) as well as the Kia EV6 (466 litres), but not quite as good as the 615 litres of the petrol-powered Tiguan.

The boot offers a few hooks and straps to help secure your luggage, as well as a 12-volt socket and a small compartment under the boot floor for the charging cables. An adjustable boot floor is offered on certain trims, and the load space increases to an impressive 1,655 litres with the rear seats down although there is a pronounced step in the boot floor and there’s a bit of a load lip to deal with when packing in heavy items.

There’s enough tech in here to keep your inner geek satisfied, although the quality of the interior lags behind some alternatives

There’s nothing wrong with the way the interior of the ID4 has been put together, but some trim and material choices aren’t quite as good as you’d expect in a car at this price level. The overall design follows the minimalist approach adopted by most manufacturers for their electric cars, with a bare minimum of physical buttons and a large infotainment screen pasted onto the dashboard.

A 10.0-inch version is standard on the Life and Style trims, with the GTX versions getting a slightly larger 12.0-inch unit. There’s no difference in features, with both getting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard as well as sat nav and DAB radio. The icons and layout look sharp, but it can be a bit slow to respond to instructions and the voice control is a bit patchy sometimes. The steering wheel controls are also a bit frustrating to use, they’re touch-sensitive and respond differently depending on whether they’re pressed or swiped.

This can be difficult to get right while on the move, just like the finicky touch-sensitive controls under the screen for the fan and temperature adjustment. It all works fine once you account for these idiosyncracies, but a Tesla Model 3 and BMW iX3 have far slicker setups.

You get plenty of kit for your money though, with a digital driver display, LED headlights, heated seats and adaptive cruise control fitted even on the base trim. Mid-spec Style trims get keyless access and a panoramic sunroof which greatly enhances the feel of the cabin, while GTX models get the larger infotainment unit and a head-up display.

The Volkswagen ID4 can be had with either a 52kWh or 77kWh battery, and power outputs range from 146hp to 295hp with ranges from 220 miles to 328 miles. The various combinations are called Pure, Pro, Pro Performance, Pro Performance 4MOTION and GTX.

The Pure option comes with 146hp and a 52kWh battery pack, it will do up to 213 miles on a charge. A 0-62mph time of 10.9-seconds lags behind most other small electric SUV alternatives. Pure Performance versions get the same battery but 168hp, this cuts the 0-62mph time down to 9.0 seconds without affecting the range. Charging from 0-100% will take seven and a half hours using a 7.4kW home wall box, and if you can find a 110kW public charger it will take just 38 minutes to get from 0% to 80%. 

Pro models get a larger 77kWh battery and 171hp, which pushes the range up to 328 miles. Pro Performance versions get 201hp with the same battery pack, getting you from 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds while the range remains unchanged. With a 7.4kw wall box it will take 12 hours to get you from zero to fully charged. These two combinations offer the longest range for the ID4.

Both Life Edition and Style Edition trims can be had with any of these power options, however, the Life Edition trim is also available with the Pro Performance 4MOTION combo which uses the same 77kWh battery but adds an additional electric motor to the front axle making it all-wheel drive and boosting power to 261hp. Acceleration is markedly better with a 6.9-second 0-62mph time, and the range drops slightly to 317 miles.

The range-topping GTX and GTX Max trims use the same 77kWh battery but get another power boost, this time to 295hp and manage up to 308 miles on a charge. The all-wheel-drive setup helps them launch from 0-62mph in 6.2 seconds, slightly quicker than the BMW iX3, but no match for the Tesla Model Y (4.8 seconds) or 325hp Hyundai Ioniq 5 (5.1 seconds). 

In terms of range, the smaller 52kWh battery pack offers slightly less range than what you get out of a Nissan Ariya with a 63kWh battery. 77kWh ID4 equipped cars are comparable to the Tesla Model 3 and go further than a BMW iX3. The VW ID4 does not incur any road tax and is also exempt from all ULEZ and congestion charges.

The ID4 received a full five-star rating in the more stringent 2021 Euro NCAP rating system, and performed particularly very well in the adult occupant (93%) and safety assist (85%) categories. 

Standard passive and safety equipment includes adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rearview camera and park assistance plus as standard. Autonomous emergency braking for pedestrians and cyclists and a proactive passenger protection system are also part of the standard package.

The  Volkswagen ID4 is a relatively new model and as such has not built up much of a history regarding reliability, however, recent reliability surveys have placed Volkswagen as a brand in the lower third of auto manufacturers. Hopefully, the lower complexity of the ID4 EV will see it perform better than this in the years to come.

A standard three-year/60,000-mile warranty is pretty average fare, as is the eight-year/100,000-mile battery pack warranty. Many alternatives offer unlimited mileage as part of their standard warranties, with Kia leading the pack with its seven-year/100,000-mile offering.