Volkswagen has unveiled its first all-electric SUV called the ID.4. The brand is taking reservations for the vehicle now. It’s Volkswagen’s first long-range EV to be sold here in the United States. Volkswagen says the compact SUV will offer all the best features of Volkswagen’s current lineup, along with long-range EV capability and three years of fast charging for no additional cost.
“The ID.4 was engineered, loaded and priced to win the hearts of SUV owners who are simply ready to go electric—and fall in love with Volkswagen again,” said Scott Keogh, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “It drives like a GTI, it has the packaging of a Tiguan and the purpose of the Beetle. All the best things about VW in one package.”
Volkswagen has experienced success with the rest of its SUV lineup including the Atlas and Tiguan. Its new Atlas Cross Sport has also been positively received. Considering the success it has had with it SUVs so far, Volkswagen is hoping its new ID.4 will be a big hit. It’ll be priced from $39,995 for a rear-wheel-drive ID.4 Pro. That’s before the potential $7,500 federal tax credit.
At launch, the vehicle will be offered with an 82 kWh battery in the rear-wheel-drive configuration. It produces 201 horsepower. An all-wheel-drive variant with 302 hp will come after.
To continue learning more about the all-new Volkswagen ID.4, be sure to keep reading below!
Exterior
“Like the platform, the design of the ID.4 represents a move towards the future with a nod to the past,” writes Volkswagen on its website. There’s no radiator grille, so the Volkswagen logo is able to be positioned centrally. Large LED headlights flow backwards, hinting at the aerodynamic nature of the car.
Volkswagen says that size-wise, the ID.4 sits squarely in the middle of the compact SUV segment. It’s 4.6 inches shorter than the Tiguan.
The ID.4 will be available in six exterior colors. The Statement package is worth opting for as it adds a panoramic fixed-glass roof and premium LED projector headlights. The Gradient package upgrades to 20-inch wheels, a black roof, and silver roof rails and accents.
Interior
Despite being compact, Volkswagen says its first fully-electric SUV’s interior features an ample amount of space and a modern design. Passenger volume is similar to the Tiguan, despite the overall smaller footprint. There’s up to 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space in the back with the seats folded.
There’s a 5.3” digital driver display that replaces the traditional instrument cluster and is operated with touch-sensitive controls on the leather-wrapped multifunction heated steering wheel. The traditional gearshift is replaced by a large rocker switch on the right of the ID.Cockpit.
There’s a 10” Discover Pro touch infotainment display that’s located in the middle of the dash and it’s angled slightly towards the driver. It features navigation, voice control, and wireless charging as standard, but you can upgrade to an even larger 12” Discover Pro Max infotainment display with the Statement package.
Seats in the ID.4 are finished in black cloth on entry-level models and Lunar Gray or Galaxy Black leatherette on models with the Statement package. The Statement package also adds 30-color ambient lighting, in addition to other nice features.
Performance/Safety
The ID.4 electric compact SUV is based on the modular electric drive architecture known as MEB. While it’s the brand’s newest platform, Volkswagen says it also represents a return to its roots as the electric motor is located at the rear, just like the original Beetle.
At launch, the all-electric vehicle will be offered with an 82 kWh battery and a rear-wheel drive configuration with 201 horsepower and 228 lb.-ft. of torque. Volkswagen estimates that the ID.4 rear-wheel-drive 1st Edition models will have a range of 250 miles with a full charge on the EPA cycle. A powerful electric all-wheel-drive variant with 302 hp will follow later in 2021.
What’s nice is the ID.4 also comes with three years of fast charging with Electrify America at no additional cost, helping reduce range anxiety. At a DC fast-charging station, the vehicle can go from five to 80 percent charged in about 38 minutes.
To help protect occupants, the all-electric ID.4 provides a combination of both passive and active safety systems. It features six airbags as standard. There are also a number of electronic safety systems. With the standard IQ.DRIVE advanced driver assistance technology, all ID.4 models include Forward Collision Warning and Autonomous Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Monitoring, Blind Spot Monitor, Rear Traffic Alert, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping System, Travel Assist, and Emergency Assist.
Our Take
Pricing for the ID.4 starts at $39,994 for the rear-wheel drive ID.4 Pro, which will be available in the first quarter of 2021. That pricing is before the potential federal tax credit of up to $7,500 is applied. Starting later in 2021, the ID.4 AWD Pro will be available for a starting price of $43,695. Adding the Statement or Gradient package will drive up the price further. There’s also a limited-run ID.4 1st Edition model. Customers can reserve the ID.4 electric SUV now for a fully refundable $100 reservation fee.
Since Volkswagen’s SUV lineup isn’t that extensive, this new addition is a big deal! It’s also the first vehicle from Volkswagen to use the new MEB engineering platform, which will be used by many Volkswagen vehicles of the future. We love the design of the ID.4 and also the solid range it offers.
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