Quick Overview: Here's What You Need to Know About the New Volkswagen ID.4

author: Manish Kharinta   

The fully-electric ID.4 crossover is the first of many new battery-powered vehicles coming from Volkswagen.

German automaker Volkswagen (VW) introduced its all-new Golf eHybrid and GTE models last month. The company has confirmed however, that it does not intend on producing a battery-electric version of the popular Golf model. This means that just two hybrid variants might be the only electrified models to join the iconic hot hatch nameplate for the foreseeable future. 

But following that announcement, VW has officially launched its new fully-electric ID.4 crossover, its first mass-market electric vehicle poised to compete with models from Tesla and BMW. Here's what you need to know about this highly anticipated EV, the first of many from the automaker as VW prepares to electrify its entire model lineup.

Design

First off, the ID.4 does not look like a typical gas-powered VW model. The electric crossover sports a curvaceous design, which has been formulated to enhance the vehicle's aerodynamics. In addition, the rear spoiler and full-width tail light cluster have also been designed to enhance the electric crossovers efficiency.

The D.4 crossover shares the same design language as the automaker's new ID.3 hatchback and ditches a faux grille in favor of a seamless front-end. Instead, we find a light bar that runs across the entire width of the vehicle, only to be interrupted by the bold VW badge on the front. 

The ID.4 rides on 20-inch alloy wheels, which come standard. Like Tesla's Aero Wheels, the ID.4's wheels have been specially designed to enhance aerodynamics. 

The VW ID.4 is built on the automaker's Modular Electric Drive (MEB) electric vehicle architecture, which also underpins the smaller ID.3 hatchback and Enyaq crossover from VW's Skoda brand. Volkswagen's goal is to build approximately 20 million EVs on the MEB platform by 2029.

Interior

Like segment leader Tesla, Volkswagen adopted a minimalist approach to the overall interior design of the electric ID.4. Customers will get the option of selecting between a single tone or dual-tone interior color scheme. 

Volkswagen's ID.4 also gets a dual-screen infotainment system, which is split between a standard multi-information display unit that sits behind the steering wheel and a larger touch screen display that sits in the middle of the dashboard.

Volkswagen will offer a 10-inch central touchscreen display standard for the less-expensive variants. Whereas the top-of-the-range models will receive a larger 12-inch unit that comes with VW's "Discover Pro Max" navigation and infotainment system. The infotainment system also supports voice commands.

The Volkswagen ID.4 offers 19 cubic feet of cargo space. A flat floor layout above the battery pack and tall roof ensures there is plenty of head and legroom for passengers. The seats in the top of the range ID.4 variants have been designed to offer pneumatic lumbar support.

Performance

The electric ID.4 is not designed to be overly powerful. Rather it's being marketed as a mainstream vehicle with roughly the same performance of a similar gas-powered compact crossover. 

The EV is powered by a 82 kWh lithium-ion battery pack mated to a single electric motor that sits between the rear axle. The electric SUV shares its battery pack with the long-range ID.3 models.

The electric powertrain in the ID.4 produces a maximum output of 203 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of peak torque. Accelerating from 0 to 60 MPH takes 8.5 seconds. A more powerful dual-motor version will join the ID.4 lineup sometime next year.

The available all-wheel-drive setup adds a second electric motor at the front wheels, providing quicker acceleration and intelligent torque vectoring that distributes power to each wheel individually.

VW's electric SUV will offer an EPA estimated driving range of 250 miles, which doesn't quite measure up to Tesla, but its still an adequate range figure for most drivers. 

The crossover is capable of fast charging as well, which means customers can recharge the EV using one of Electrify America's 125 KW DC chargers. The company is a subsidiary of VW and is building a nationwide EV charging network in the U.S. for drivers of future electrified VW models. 

Replenishing a completely discharged ID.4 battery pack to 100% capacity using a home outlet will take 7.5 hours, whereas the EV can be recharged up to 80% capacity in 38 minutes using Electrify America's rapid chargers. For drivers with less time to spare, 60 miles of range can be added in just ten minutes.

The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 comes with 3 years of unlimited charging at Electrify America DC Fast Chargers for no additional cost.

To improve the car's overall efficiency, Volkswagen has limited the ID.4's top speed to 100 mph.

Safety

Volkswagen offers a comprehensive list of safety features such as adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking (AEB), and lane-keeping assist as standard for the ID.4. The EV also features an emergency system that brings the car to a complete halt if it detects the driver has fallen asleep. 

Price

Volkswagen is offering a limited number of the 1st Edition ID.4 models priced at $43,995 in the U.S. However Volkswagen USA announced that all of the 1st Edition models have already been sold. 

Interested buyers will have to wait unitl next year when the company will introduce the lower-priced ID.4 "Pro" with a $39,995 price tag. In the U.S. the ID.4 qualifies for the federal EV tax credit of $7,500 which brings the price down to $32,495.

Manish Kharinta

Manish Kharinta is a automotive writer based in the Los Angeles area. He has worked for automotive industry websites TheSmokingClutch.com, CarDekho.com and CarBikeindia.com. His experience ranges from covering auto shows, to car reviews and breaking automotive news. Manish aims to bring forth his unique perspective on automotive design and technological innovations in the automotive industry.