2021 Volkswagen ID.4

2021 ID.4 Photos
 Editors' Pick
Autoblog Rating
7.5

A fun-to-drive EV with plenty of range, lots of utility and slick styling. It's let down by unnecessarily difficult-to-use tech, but nails all the other vital aspects of an electric car.

Industry
8
With soot still on its hands from the Dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen is trying hard to wash it away by fully embracing an all-electric future. While its ID.3 hatchback was the first to make it into production in other markets, here in the USA, the model spearheading the charge is the new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, a compact crossover. In some ways, it plays it safe: it's sensibly sized and shaped, with sufficient power and range. Compact crossovers are wildly popular and the ID.4 largely satisfies what's expected of them. At the same time, it's still an electric car, which means the ID.4 benefits from the interior packaging and driving dynamics inherent to battery-powered vehicles. It also means VW gave it a hyper-modern interior design people apparently expect, which is fine in theory, but there are also some truly head-scratching controls.  The VW ID.4 currently is offered with a single powertrain configuration: a 201-horsepower rear motor driving the rear wheels and fed by an 82-kWh battery pack good for a range of 250 miles. The dual-motor AWD version with 295 horsepower arrives later in 2021. In terms of size, the ID.4 is typical for a compact crossover — although its cargo capacity falls well short of a Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and VW's own Tiguan, its back seat is gigantic. Ultimately, the ID.4's price could be one of its biggest selling points. Starting at $41,190 for RWD and $44,870 for the AWD Pro version, it's eligible for at least the $7,500 federal tax credit that massively cuts the purchase price or monthly lease payment. When you consider that electricity will cost less than 87 octane and that VW even throws in three years of free charging at Electrify America stations, its value compared to gas-only SUVs only increases. Whether you're considering a compact crossover or an electric vehicle, the ID.4 should definitely be on your list.  What's new for 2021? The ID.4 is a completely new entry for 2021. Its rounded, blob-like styling takes an opposite tack from the straight edges and square-off shapes that characterize the rest of the VW lineup. The most futuristic aspects of the ID.4’s look are its LED headlights and grille-less visage. Otherwise, this crossover blends into the sea of crossovers that fill America’s parking lots. What are the ID.4 interior and in-car technology like? The ID.4’s interior and in-car technology are the most avant-garde aspects of the entire car — for better and worse. The style is futuristic, with capacitive-touch switches, a dearth of physical knobs and buttons, and (on the 1st Edition) lots of gloss-white plastic — that’s replaced with more conventional-looking gloss black on the other trims. Behind the steering wheel is a small digital instrument cluster that’s mounted to the steering column not the dash. Sprouting to its right is a trapezoidal-shaped knob that’s the gear selector; twist one way for Drive, the other for Reverse. Push a button at the end for Park. Like other electric cars, there's no start or stop …
Full Review
With soot still on its hands from the Dieselgate scandal, Volkswagen is trying hard to wash it away by fully embracing an all-electric future. While its ID.3 hatchback was the first to make it into production in other markets, here in the USA, the model spearheading the charge is the new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, a compact crossover. In some ways, it plays it safe: it's sensibly sized and shaped, with sufficient power and range. Compact crossovers are wildly popular and the ID.4 largely satisfies what's expected of them. At the same time, it's still an electric car, which means the ID.4 benefits from the interior packaging and driving dynamics inherent to battery-powered vehicles. It also means VW gave it a hyper-modern interior design people apparently expect, which is fine in theory, but there are also some truly head-scratching controls.  The VW ID.4 currently is offered with a single powertrain configuration: a 201-horsepower rear motor driving the rear wheels and fed by an 82-kWh battery pack good for a range of 250 miles. The dual-motor AWD version with 295 horsepower arrives later in 2021. In terms of size, the ID.4 is typical for a compact crossover — although its cargo capacity falls well short of a Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 and VW's own Tiguan, its back seat is gigantic. Ultimately, the ID.4's price could be one of its biggest selling points. Starting at $41,190 for RWD and $44,870 for the AWD Pro version, it's eligible for at least the $7,500 federal tax credit that massively cuts the purchase price or monthly lease payment. When you consider that electricity will cost less than 87 octane and that VW even throws in three years of free charging at Electrify America stations, its value compared to gas-only SUVs only increases. Whether you're considering a compact crossover or an electric vehicle, the ID.4 should definitely be on your list.  What's new for 2021? The ID.4 is a completely new entry for 2021. Its rounded, blob-like styling takes an opposite tack from the straight edges and square-off shapes that characterize the rest of the VW lineup. The most futuristic aspects of the ID.4’s look are its LED headlights and grille-less visage. Otherwise, this crossover blends into the sea of crossovers that fill America’s parking lots. What are the ID.4 interior and in-car technology like? The ID.4’s interior and in-car technology are the most avant-garde aspects of the entire car — for better and worse. The style is futuristic, with capacitive-touch switches, a dearth of physical knobs and buttons, and (on the 1st Edition) lots of gloss-white plastic — that’s replaced with more conventional-looking gloss black on the other trims. Behind the steering wheel is a small digital instrument cluster that’s mounted to the steering column not the dash. Sprouting to its right is a trapezoidal-shaped knob that’s the gear selector; twist one way for Drive, the other for Reverse. Push a button at the end for Park. Like other electric cars, there's no start or stop …
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Retail Price

$39,995 - $48,175 MSRP / Window Sticker Price
Engine
MPG Up to 107 city / 91 highway
Seating 5 Passengers
Transmission 1-spd auto
Power 201 - 295 hp
Drivetrain all wheel, rear-wheel
Curb Weight 4,559 - 4,888 lbs
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