2022 Volkswagen ID.4

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 is an unusual electric vehicle in that it strives to be rather normal. It’s not a dorky economy hatchback, an exotic super sedan or a segment-bending oddity like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 or Mustang Mach-E. Nope, the ID.4 is unapologetically and quite obviously a compact SUV. It has the dimensions of one and offers comparable utility, albeit skewing a little more toward passenger than cargo space. For someone looking to make an easy transition from a gas-powered compact SUV to an electric one, an ID.4 could be a smart way to go. It may also be an extremely frustrating way to go because the interior is a constant source of frustration and irritation. We go in depth below, but in short, the touchscreen interface is a mess and the touch-sensitive controls don’t work well. For this reason, we cannot recommend the ID.4 over those options mention above (the Tesla Model Y is far more expense if you’re wondering). It really is a dealbreaker, which is a shame because Volkswagen’s electric SUV is otherwise surprisingly fun to drive, offers competitive range, is reasonably priced and has excellent safety ratings. Interior & Technology   |   Passenger & Cargo Space   |   Performance & Fuel Economy What it's like to drive   |   Pricing & Features   |   Crash Ratings & Safety Features What's new for 2022? Volkswagen says that the ID.4 will have improved EPA range estimates for 2022, but as of early March 2022, those estimates still hadn’t been published. One improved figure we do know, however, is that the ID.4’s fast-charging space increases to 135 kW from 125. In terms of equipment, Auto Hold is now standard (available in many other cars, it holds the car in place without brake application after the car is brought to a stop by you or the adaptive cruise control system). What are the ID.4 interior and in-car technology like? Although the ID.4 is appealing in all other sections of this review, its interior is so frustrating to use that we have a hard time recommending the entire car. It’s that bad. Basically, in its effort to make the interior look futuristic, Volkswagen made it difficult for those of us still used to the way things work in 2022. Capacitive-touch “buttons” replace all center stack buttons and knobs, and while it isn’t the first car to do this, it also isn’t the first to make them tolerable. In fact, they’re worse than most. Part of the reason is that they aren’t illuminated at night, so you just end up blindly pecking away at glossy plastic hoping you hit your intended control. Even formerly simple operations like operating electric windows or adjusting the side mirrors have an extra layer of complication. A regular driver would likely learn the ID.4’s quirks, but there’s really no benefit to any of this nonsense. Then there's the central touchscreen, available in 10- or 12-inch sizes with broadly the same user interface. The graphics are slick and colorful, …
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