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2023 VW ID.4 review: Some important updates, just not enough


Advantages: Reasonable price; more passenger and cargo space than EV rivals; three years of free charging; made in usa

Defect: Interior controls pull-you-hair-out; some cheap interior materials; Charge slower than competitors

In many important ways, 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 very meaningful. It’s bigger than EV rivals and about the same size as hybrid compact SUVs, making it the most family-friendly car at a reasonable price. Electric Car. And it’s really reasonably priced, starting at under $40,000 for the new standard the battery or about $45,000 for the larger battery, 275-mile range. Better still, 2023 ID.4 Made in Tennessee, where maybe in favor of it under the new EV tax credit requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (the final parameters of that are unknown at the time of this writing). Add in rich equipment and a surprisingly sporty driving experience, and you get a very attractive package.

But you only know there’s a “but” coming. Unfortunately, despite some welcome interior updates for 2023, Volkswagen did nothing to address the ID.4’s poorly designed touchscreen interface and touch-sensitive internal controls. Quite simply, they are difficult to use, and the sensitive touchscreen controls so many elements of the car that we can’t recommend the car as a whole. However, go ahead and give it a long, thorough try. If you can live with it, ID.4 still has a lot to offer.

Furniture & Technology | Passenger & cargo space | Performance & Range

What is it like to drive? | Rates & Cuts | Fault Ratings & Safety Features

What’s new for 2023?

There are significant changes and additions to the ID.4 lineup for 2023. First, there’s a new base model with a lower range (208 miles) and lower price ($38,790) ). Second, every ID.4 comes standard with Plug & Charge capability, meaning you can simply plug your car into an Electrify America station without worrying about using apps or tapping into credit cards. Third, there are subtle design tweaks (gloss black accents at the front, new wheel designs, and headlights). VW rear badging on S models), upgraded and faster interior materials color plans. All of the above helps combat the impression that ID.4 is a bit dull. Finally, ID.4 is now built in Chattanooga, Tenn.

How is the ID.4 interior and the technology in the car?

There are major changes to the ID.4 2023, and while welcome, they don’t address our major complaints about the car that largely prevent us from recommending it. First, though, the updates. All ID.4s now come standard with a larger 12-inch touchscreen, and the minivan-style armrests have been replaced with traditional padded center console armrests / trunk lids. Materials have also been improved and enhanced. A new “mélange and faux leather” replaces the basic upholstery and is available in either the Stone theme with black and gray accents (pictured above left) or the Nutmeg theme in brown. The S trim upgrade still comes in full faux leather, but they’re now available in a Galaxy theme with black and gray elements, or a new Universe theme that combines gray, white, and blue. It is pictured above, top.

None of the above is capable of addressing the thought that some of the plastic underneath is cheap, but there’s no denying that the ID.4 cabin could use the styling improvements it’s received. in 2023. However, some luxury plastics are not our main concern. ID.4 gets a modified tools panel screen with more information presented (a good thing, picture below left), but nothing is done to correct the system information solution. The touchscreen layout is slow and poorly organized which quite a few times prevents the ID.4 from being among our top recommended trams. It’s a nightmare to use (especially for old folks like us who still use satellite radio) and paired with another irreparable sin: climate, volume and Touch menus are difficult to locate and tap during the day and almost impossible to locate and click at night as they are not illuminated. VW also didn’t add proper rear window controls for the driver’s door – there are still just two window switches and a toggle that you use to select the front or rear windows (pictured below right). ). It’s as annoying as that sentence makes it sound. So the blue leatherette is fine and all, but we wanted to be able to raise the temperature and change the radio without pulling our hair out.

How big is ID.4?

If you look at the specs, you’ll see VW ID.4 right in the middle of the compressor intersection tighten. However, its electric architecture makes it the Granny Smith in a Galas cart. Yes, it’s not as long Honda CR-VA or Toyota RAV4, for example, but its wheelbase is significantly longer. That is best seen in the truly gigantic rear seats. We were able to fit a large rear-facing Britax Boulevard child seat behind both the passenger and driver seats for the 6-foot-3-year-old driver. That means you can fit two rear-facing car seats in the back row, a rarity, while also providing ample legroom for older children and adults. Heck, go ahead and bring a few basketball players.

Admittedly, ID.4’s main electrical competitors, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, has similarly generous passenger space due to similar architectural reasons. However, the VW is higher off the ground and like an SUV so it’s a little easier to get those kids into their car seats. VW also has a decisive advantage in cargo capacity. It has 30.2 cubic feet of space behind its rear seats, placing it in the middle of the compact SUV pack while blowing the EV pack away. In ours Check baggage ID.4 . cargo areaID.4 doesn’t have big service providers like RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson hybrid, but easier to swallow more things EV6, Ioniq 5 and Mustang Mach-E.

What are the ID.4 ranges, battery specs and performance?

For 2023, the ID.4 is available with battery options and rear- or all-wheel drive, which transforms your performance and range.

The new ID.4 standard powertrain features a 62 kilowatt-hour battery with an estimated VW of 208 miles. Its single rear motor makes 201 hp.

The ID.4 Pro versions have the same motor and rear output, but feature a larger 82 kWh battery, giving an estimated 275 miles of EPA range for the base Pro and 262 miles for the Pro S. You can expect a 0- 60 mph time between 8 seconds, maybe a bit slow by EV standards, but completely normal for a compact SUV.

The ID.4 Pro AWD equipment adds a motor to the front axle for all-terrain four-wheel drive. Total power rises to 295 hp and the 0-60 estimate plummets to 5.7 seconds. That’s fast for a compact SUV, albeit slower than the more powerful AWD versions EV6 and the Ioniq 5. The range drops to 255 miles which is still competitive for the base AWD Pro and 245 for the AWD Pro S.

For charging, the maximum charge rate of ID.4 is 135 kW, which is less than the charging speed Mustang Mach-E (150 kW) and slower than the EV6 and Ioniq 5 (240 kW). The ID.4, on the other hand, comes standard with three years of free charging at Electrify America stations, plus the convenience of simply plugging in the car without worrying about refering to the EA app or using a credit card. at the station.

What is ID.4 like to drive?

We haven’t driven the new base ID yet. that big of a difference. Stay tuned, though!

On the other hand, Volkswagen’s growth performance with the ID.4 is more about compact SUVs than classic, high-performance EVs. You still get the instant, smooth, and utterly quiet power delivery of an EV, delivering a much stronger driving feel than this world’s Honda CR-V. But if you hit the highway, you’ll find its horsepower limitations lead to eventual acceleration best described as “enough”. Upgrading to a more powerful all-wheel drive model improves things, but not to the extent Kia EV6 GT or one of the more powerful Mustang Mach-E Models. To be clear, it’s more of a factual statement than a complaint.

As for ride and handling, the ID.4 quite clearly arose from the European branch of the Volkswagen family tree, which spawned Golf rather than the American one that has larger, cushioned cars like Tiguan and Jetta. The ride is firmer and more controlled, and the steering is more immediate and connected in its responses (though still horribly numb). When combined with the extremely low center of gravity and rear-wheel drive architecture, it all becomes a crossover that’s surprisingly fun to drive. We actually enjoyed throwing it around a mountain more than the Mustang Mach-E, a result that surprised us.

That said, the ride allows you to feel more impact from the poor pavement, so some may lament the ID.4’s European feel. There is also quite a bit of road noise, and although brake The pedal has a natural feel to it, we wish we didn’t have to use it so much. The ID.4 does not offer heavy regenerative braking that allows so-called single-pedal driving. It has a “B” mode that results in braking when you hit the gas, but the amount is comparable to the “low” modes of other EVs.

What other VW ID.4 reviews can I read?

Check baggage Volkswagen ID.4 | How much cargo space?

Sure, it’s an EV, but it’s also an SUV. How does it work with SUV things?

Comparison test of Mustang Mach-E 2021 vs Volkswagen ID.4 2021

We put two long-range rear-wheel drive EVs head-to-head.

Volkswagen ID.4 2021 first drive review | A new electrical insulator for VW

The orthodox approach seems correct, but does it get lost in the shuffle?

What is the price of 2023 VW ID.4?

The ID.4 is available in seven trim levels, featuring different combinations of battery, powertrain and equipment. If it has “Pro” in the name, it has a big battery. If it has “S”, it has more devices, and if it has “S Plus”, it has even more devices.

The basic equipment is actually pretty robust, including 19-inch wheels, automatic LED headlights, automatic rain-sensing wipers, roof rails, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, fabric / upholstery. leatherette, faux leather steering wheel, wireless phone charger, 12-inch touchscreen, integrated navigation and six-speaker sound system.

The main upgrades on the S version include 20-inch wheels, upgraded headlights, illuminated exterior icons, fixed glass roof, power lift doors, full leather seats, eight-way power front seats. and heated steering wheel. The Plus trim really just adds silver exterior accents, upgraded audio system, rear climate control and heated rear seats.

All prices below include a $1,295 destination fee. They do not include the $7,500 federal tax credit that will apply to ID.4 for 2023.

Standard: $38,790
Pro: $43,790
S: $43,790
Pro S: $48,790
AWD Pro S: $52,590
Pro S Plus: $51,490
AWD Pro S Plus: $55,290

2021 VW ID.4 crash test

What are the ID.4 safety ratings and driver assistance features?

The ID.4 has a full complement of standard active safety features. These include forward collision warning with pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot warning, and lane-keeping assist. rear cross-section, road sign recognition and parking sensors.

NHTSA gave the ID.4 a perfect five-star rating for overall, front and side protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named it a Top Safety Pick of 2022+ for its best-possible crash ratings and high enough ratings for its automatic headlights and emergency situations. brake system.

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