Volkswagen, along with other automakers like Toyota and BMW, seemed to have come late to the EV party (VW may want to forget its first EV, the eGolf). But hold on, BMW has been busy completely re-imagining the X5 (and it’s fleet) with the introduction of the electric iX; Toyota has introduced an entire generation of new EVs, all coming soon.
And Volkswagen — the world’s second-largest automaker — is going full-bore with its EV plans, introducing the world to its new 2022 ID.4 — a sleek, compact crossover with an exceptionally spacious, comfortable cabin, and more power than its predecessors. To be clear, theID..4 isn’t a supercar. It is a reliable, well built, peppy SUV with surprisingly tight handling. An easy transition to electric for the mid-size SUV market. That’s the ID.4. If you’re interested in neck-snapping acceleration, the ID.4 falls short. But if an electric vehicle for everyday commutes and reliable performance is what you’re looking for — the ID.4 may be the best value in the EV market today. With a starting price of $41,120, it’s $3,000 cheaper than class competitors such as the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Tesla Model Y, and Ford Mustang Mach-E. With a range of about 250 miles to a charge, the ID4 has enough energy on board for most folks’ daily driving, plugging in every night or two.
A refined ID.4
With a motor at each axle, the ID.4 AWD makes 295 hp and 339 lb-ft of torque total, versus 201 hp and 229 lb-ft in the single-motor RWD model. Range drops to 249 miles, and the 0-60 mph time drops two seconds with two motors, down to about 5.5 seconds and giving the ID.4 the quickness off the line characteristic of rival EVs. The Mach-E and Model Y move quicker, but the ID.4’s wide and low proportions provide solid, responsive handling — it’s not too soft or too firm.
Inside, the ID.4 outshines its rivals. An airy, fixed-glass roof spans the cabin with clever storage spaces throughout. Exceptionally comfortable front seats, roomy back seats, plenty of leg and head room, broad sight lines for good outward vision and a huge hatch that expands from 30.3 to 64.4 cubic feet of space with the 60/40-split rear seats folded down.
Standard features on the ID.4 Pro include cloth seats, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats, heated mirrors, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, wireless smartphone charging, and a 10-inch center touchscreen with wireless CarPlay and Android Auto. The home button and climate portion require some getting used to, but the lagginess that plagued earlier iterations has been improved with over-the-air updates. And there’s a 4-year/50,000-mile vehicle warranty
Three years of free Electrify America fast charging help charge the ID.4’s 82-kwh battery pack to 80% in less than 40 minutes. A full charge amounts to an EPA range of up to 260 miles.
