2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Single Motor

　　

2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Review

byAlex NishimotoCorrespondent

　　Alex Nishimoto has worked in the automotive industry since 2007. He was a staff writer for MotorTrend for 10 years and since then has contributed to CNET, PRI, AutoWise and other publications.

　　Introduced in 2021, the Volkswagen ID.4 is an all-electric SUV that's about the size of the German brand's compact Tiguan. But thanks to a platform designed from the ground up for electrification, the ID.4 is noticeably more spacious than its conventionally powered sibling. There's a lot to like about the ID.4, including its long list of standard convenience and technology features.

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Volkswagen ID.4 EV Insights

Trim:ID.4 Standard

　　Standard 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $38,995 MSRPPro 4dr SUV w/LG Energy Solution Battery, 135kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $43,995 MSRPS 4dr SUV (electric DD) - $43,995 MSRPPro 4dr SUV w/SK On Battery, 170kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $43,995 MSRPPro S 4dr SUV w/LG Energy Solution Battery, 135kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) (Most Popular) - $48,995 MSRPPro S 4dr SUV w/SK On Battery, 170kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $48,995 MSRPPro S Plus 4dr SUV w/LG Energy Solution Battery, 135kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $51,445 MSRPPro S Plus 4dr SUV w/SK On Battery, 170kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $51,445 MSRPPro S Plus 4dr SUV w/VW Sound, SK On Battery, 170kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $51,695 MSRPPro S Plus 4dr SUV w/VW Sound, LG Energy Solution Battery, 135kW DC Fast Charging Capability (electric DD) - $51,695 MSRP

　　

Range

 zzdcar TESTED

　　269 miles

　　zzdcar Tested Rangezzdcar begins with a full battery charge and drives the vehicle on a mix of city and highway roads (approximately 60% city, 40% highway) until the battery is almost entirely empty. (We target 10 miles of remaining range for safety.) The miles traveled and the indicated remaining range are added together for the zzdcar Tested Range figure.

　　EV batteries lose 1-2% of range per year. Est. range for this car is 229 miles after 8 years.Electric cars typically experience 1-2% of range loss per year with slightly faster degradation over the first 50,000 miles as the car settles into its long term state, according to Recurrent's study of 15,000 EVs.

　　Estimated range mapThis map is a visual representation of the possible one-way and round-trips by this vehicle (on a full charge) from the geometric center of Rutland, North Dakota. The depicted ranges are based on the estimated new vehicle range value provided by the EPA, rounded down to miles for one-way and miles for round-trip. Actual range will vary depending on the condition of this vehicle’s battery pack, how you drive, driving conditions and other factors.Map display generated using: © openrouteservice.org by HeiGIT | Map data © Recurrent contributors | Recurrent

　　from 58067

　　

EV Battery Warranty

　　8 yrs or 100,000 milesThe federal government requires that EV batteries be warrantied for a minimum of eight years or 100,000 miles. The EV battery warranty includes replacement if your battery capacity drops below a certain percentage of the original capacity.

　　

Charging at Home

　　6 hours

　　Total Charging Time (240V outlet)

　　SAE ComboStandard port for most electric models. Supports Level 1, Level 2, and DC Fast charging.

　　Plug Type

　　

EV Tax Credits & Rebates

　　$400

　　Available Rebates. Restrictions apply.

　　Utility EV Charger Offer

　　$400

　　Restrictions: Otter Tail Power offers EV owners a rebate of up to $400 towards the installation of a Level 2 charging station. To qualify for this rebate, the customer and/or charging station must meet the following requirements: Receive electricity from Otter Tail Power.

　　To learn more, visit Recurrent

　　Complimentary Charging Offer

　　Restrictions: This program is a charging agreement between Volkswagen of America and Electrify America. Customers who purchase a new ID.4 will receive 3 years of complimentary 30 minutes of DC fast charging (CCS) or 60 minutes of Level 2 charging on the Electrify America network. Complimentary charging expires 3 years from the date of vehicle purchase. Offer is non-transferable. See your participating dealer for details.

　　

Cost to Drive

　　$67/mo

　　ID.4

　　vs

　　$183/mo

　　SUV Avg.

　　Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　

Am I Ready for an EV?

　　EV ownership works best if you can charge (240V) at home or at work This typically means a 240V home installation, but you could also have a similar setup at your office or other places your car is already parked for several hours each day. Don't expect a regular household outlet (120V) to suffice unless you've got a plug-in hybrid, in which case overnight charging at home is feasible.

　　If you can’t charge at home, charging at a charging station could take at least 10x longer than at a gas station With public charging infrastructure still in its infancy, the user experience can be maddeningly inconsistent. Tesla owners tend to rave about the reliability and speed of the company's proprietary Supercharger stations, but rival DC fast options have thus far been plagued by technical issues and overcrowding. It's an evolving landscape and our best advice is to do your research on the available options for the EV you want to buy.

　　Adding a 240V home charging system could cost up to $1,600 or more If your existing electrical service can handle the additional demands of EV charging, you may be able to add Level 2 charging at home for less than a grand, including installation. But your costs will multiply if you need to upgrade your electrical panel or add a dedicated circuit.

　　For 2023, the ID.4 also gains a new lower-priced base Standard trim that further helps the ID.4 stand out as one of the lowest-priced EVs in its class. However, the Standard trim has a smaller capacity battery, and that results in less range on a full charge: a VW-estimated 208 miles. Many rival EVs, including the ID.4's Pro trim that has the bigger battery, can go a lot farther. Check out our page for the latest Recurrent, but we think the ID.4 Standard should have enough range to satisfy many EV buyers.

　　There are also a few other changes this year. Volkswagen added a few new standard features, such as a 12-inch center touchscreen, an automatic parking system, and enhanced capability to make it more convenient to charge at Electrify America DC fast-charging stations. Inside, the ID.4 gains some new seat upholstery and color choices to help liven up the cabin a bit. New wheels are part of the 2023 changes too.

　　Overall, the ID.4 is a respectable choice for an electric SUV. But it's also one of many recent additions to the growing electric SUV segment, which includes the Chevrolet Bolt EUV, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, Nissan Ariya and Tesla Model Y.

　　

What's it like to live with?

We added a Volkswagen ID.4 to our long-term review fleet for a year, and we've been driving Volkswagen's latest electric SUV all over town to find out what we like, what we don't like, and what might be deal-breakers for potential EV shoppers. Recurrent Note that while we tested a 2021 model, most of our observations apply to this year's ID.4 too.

　　zzdcar Expert Rating

　　Our VerdictThe zzdcar Vehicle Testing Team evaluates a fresh batch of vehicles every week, pairing objective assessments at our test track with real-world driving on city streets, freeways and winding roads. The data we gather results in our Expert Ratings. They’re based on 30-plus scores that cover every aspect of the automotive experience.

　　Good

　　8.0

　　out of 10

　　zzdcar TESTED

　　Rated for you by America's best test team.

　　

Performance

8.0/10

　　How does the ID.4 drive? The all-wheel-drive ID.4 features an additional electric motor that powers the front wheels. In addition to enhanced traction, it makes the ID.4 2 seconds quicker than the single-motor rear-wheel-drive ID.4 to 60 mph. At our test track, our test vehicle accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in just 5.7 seconds. That's a significant jump, but 5.7 seconds is off the mark for dual-motor EVs at this price point. That said, there's more than enough power, and most of it is available at lower speeds, making the ID.4 feel peppy around town.

　　The ID.4 might feel quick, but it's far from the sportiest EV we've driven. That's not to say it's sloppy, but Volkswagen's engineers focused more on comfort than out-and-out handling. The brakes are solid, with a firm, confident pedal and a reasonable amount of regenerative braking, though the ID.4, disappointingly, doesn't allow for true one-pedal driving like most of its direct competition. The steering is light and accurate, and the turn radius is impressively tight. It's an easy EV to park.

　　

Comfort

7.5/10

　　How comfortable is the ID.4? The ID.4 generally rides comfortably on the highway, though hitting bigger bumps can cause some noticeable up-and-down motions. That's not to say it's uncomfortable; it just meets the status quo in this class. The front seats are cushy but lack support and adjustment, though the four-way lumbar adjustment is a plus. The rear, too, is adequate but nothing outstanding.

　　The climate control system works well and is operated mostly through the touchscreen. There are the typical temperature and fan adjustments, and Volkswagen included some special commands such as "warm feet" or "fresh air" that automatically adjust the settings.

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