The 2023 VW ID.4 communicates Volkswagen’s intent to make a top-quality electric SUV affordable for everyone as the switch from internal combustion continues. The SUV’s entry level has a budget-friendly starting price, but not at the expense of quality.
With clean aerodynamic lines and impressive design cues, the ID.4 can be a traffic-stopper on some days. But it is also powerful enough to help you beat the traffic on other days. The EV’s cabin is spacious and welcoming, and many features excite intending buyers. Global SUV considers the 2023 ID.4 a premium product on the mass market, and here is why.
Modern Look, Functional Shape
VW made no sacrifices while designing the exterior of the ID.4. The result is a perfect marriage of style and function. When it goes by, the ID. 4’s curvy styling and clean lines will appeal to most onlookers. But this is a compact SUV that also managed to achieve a commendable drag coefficient of 0.28. The major highlight on the broad face is the characteristic headlights with the signature light streak between them.
There’s not much happening on the sides than what appear to be clean, flowing lines. Part of what improves the SUV’s aerodynamics are the bodies of the tail light which cluster together with the large roof spoiler. The Volkswagen design team believes that the ID 4 is “complemented by many precisely executed details,” and it prioritizes aerodynamics so much that it “looks as if shaped by the wind itself.” That sounds salesy, but we couldn’t agree more.
The VW ID.4 Has Exciting Abilities
The EV’s lowest trim, ID.4 Standard, may not impress rev-heads, but VW saw that coming. While the new entry-level model offers a smaller battery option and less powerful motor configuration, there is something for intending buyers that desire more. All trims with a single rear-mounted motor pump out 201 hp and 229 lb.-ft of torque. But with an all-wheel-drive, dual-motor configuration, the SUV delivers 295 horsepower and the same torque. Regenerative braking is present to recapture energy, and the instant torque is noticeable as soon as you hit the pedal.
There are two battery options: a 62kwh pack and an 82kWh battery. While the former is estimated to offer a driving range of 208 miles, the latter bumps the estimation up to 275 miles. With spacious cargo space and a maximum towing capacity of 2700 pounds, the ID.4 can be a hauler on some days. What’s more? The ID.4 has an impressive ride quality.
Simple, Modern Cabin
Except VW makes lots of changes to the interior of the 2022 ID.4, fans of flashy interior designs will have to look elsewhere. The ID. 4’s cockpit is about simplicity, high-tech features, and a clean layout. But that does not mean that the interior didn’t meet our expectations. In addition to its modern, stylish design, the ID.4 is spacious, making it easy for people to get in and out of the cabin. There are 30.3 cubic feet of cargo space which extends to 64.3 cubic feet with folded rear seats.
The Standard features are amazing, but higher trims offer much more. For example, the Pro S model offers V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, heated front seats, and 12-way power adjustable front seats. Also, a panoramic glass roof oversees the cabin of the Pro S model, combining with the ambient lighting to improve the mood. However, the haptic buttons on the steering wheel are likely to split opinions, mainly because they can be overly sensitive.
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Intuitive Technology
The ID.4 boasts more hi-tech features than many SUVs of today. One of the most exciting is the intuitive start, which starts the car automatically when the owner gets in the driver’s seat with the key fob. The dashboard features a beautifully positioned 12-inch touchscreen. But a light bar running across the dashboard is the major highlight.
The ID.4 infotainment system has voice recognition capability and interactive navigation. The driver-assist features include travel assist, rear traffic alert, lane assist, emergency assist, etc. Since it supports Apple CarPlay and Andriod Auto, the infotainment system connects seamlessly to smartphones.
Cheapest Item In Town?
Not often do you get a well-equipped entry model of an EV crossover for less than $40,000, but the ID.4 Standard costs $37,495. With a federal tax of up to $7,500, intending buyers can get the entry-level model for as low as $29,995. The cost is the lowest entry price ever for an ID.4, thanks to the new 62kWh battery.
The impressive Ford Mustang Mach-E, Kia EV6, and the futuristic Hyundai Ioniq 5 are some of the SUVs in the same market segment as the ID.4. Of all, the ID.4 has the most budget-friendly starting price. However, we recommend the Pro trim (starting at $42,495) to maximize range, get DC fast charge, and a few other perks.
All images on the page are 2022 VW ID.4. 2023 features may vary.
Gabriel Olakunori
Gabriel likes to argue (blindly) that SUVs are a part of nature, but he seems to have a point whenever you walk in the snow, through the bone-dry desert, splendid park-like boulevard, plains, and rocky roads. He has over five years of experience writing across a broad spectrum of topics, with quite a number in the automotive industry. If he is not at the desk w̶r̶i̶t̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun, he is at the wheel d̶r̶i̶v̶i̶n̶g̶ having fun. Both activities take him to the same destination: Utopia. He loves SUVs simply because they are all-inclusive, but he cannot turn down an offer to drive or write about any vehicle.
