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2024 VW ID.4: What is the Range of ID.4 in 2024? – Just a few short years ago, Volkswagen introduced the ID.4 and immediately established itself as a capable performer in the market. We were so pleased with the preliminary evaluation that we decided to include one of these electric vehicles in our fleet of long-term test vehicles to see how well it holds up after being driven tens of thousands of miles on a variety of different types of excursions. The ID.4 has proven to be a reliable everyday transport because of its roomy interior, silky ride, and respectable real-world range; nevertheless, much of its luster has been dulled as a result of the fact that other car manufacturers have started to produce their very own all-electric SUVs.
Volkswagen is well aware that it must work to maintain the ID.4’s modern vibe. Just the year before, Volkswagen released an upgrade for the ID.4 that included an increase in the number of standard amenities, such as a touchscreen display measuring 12 inches, an automatic parking system, and a new basic trim that is priced lower. It also updated some of the materials used inside, which is a huge advantage for the ID.4, as we had previously considered that the interior seemed to be less expensive than that of other EVs in this class. Because of these shifts, we do not anticipate any substantial developments in 2024. Having said that, we have high hopes that Volkswagen is actively trying to improve some of the ID.4’s most problematic characteristics, including the interior’s ergonomics and control arrangement. Especially when it’s dark out, it might be difficult to see the buttons and controls for items like the media player and the temperature control system.
Review
The ID.4 lineup for 2024 will have several substantial alterations as well as new additions. To begin, there is a new entry-level model that has a shorter driving range (208 miles) and a lower price point ($38,790). Second, each and every ID.4 is equipped with Plug&Charge functionality as standard, which means that you can charge your vehicle by just plugging it into an Electrify America station without having to worry about using an app or tapping a credit card. Third, there are enhanced interior materials and color schemes, as well as modest aesthetic adjustments (such as gloss black highlights up front, new wheel designs, and an illuminated VW emblem on the back of S variants). The aforementioned factors contribute to dispelling the widespread belief that ID.4 was somewhat boring. At long last, the ID.4 is being constructed in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Big modifications are coming for the 2024 VW ID.4, and although they are welcome, they do not address our key issues with the vehicle, which are the primary reason why we are unable to recommend it. However, first, I’ll go through the changes. The seat-mounted armrests in the form of a minivan have been replaced with a classic cushioned center console bin lid/armrest, and the bigger touchscreen measuring 12 inches in diameter is now standard equipment on every ID.4 model. The materials have also been upgraded and made to seem more presentable.
The basic fabric upholstery has been replaced with a new “mélange and leatherette” material, which comes in either a Stone motif, which is characterized by black and gray accents (shown on the left above), or a Nutmeg motif, which contains brown tones. The upgraded S trims still have complete leatherette, but they are now offered in two new color schemes: the Galaxy theme, which combines aspects of black and gray, and the Cosmic theme, which combines components of gray, white, and blue. Both color schemes are available. You can see it in the top photo above.
Although none of the aforementioned likely answers concerns that some of the underlying plastic elements are on the cheap side, it cannot be denied that the ID.4 cabin might benefit from the stylistic changes that it gets for 2023. However, the primary worry that we had was not with the cheap plastics. The ID.4 gets a revised instrument panel display with more information presented, which is a good thing (pictured below left). However, nothing was done to correct the slow and poorly organized touchscreen infotainment system. This is the main reason why the ID.4 is not one of our top-recommended electric vehicles. It is a nightmare to use (especially for those old fogies like us who are still using satellite radio), and it is paired with another sin that has not been addressed: the touch-sensitive climate, volume, and menu controls. These controls are difficult to identify and press during the day, and it is practically impossible to identify and press them at night because they are not illuminated. There are still just two window switches and a toggle that you use to pick the front or rear windows (shown below right). VW did not install suitable controls for the rear window to the driver’s door, which is also why there are only two window switches. It’s just as frustrating as the last line made it seem. It’s true that the blue leatherette upholstery looks great, but we’d much prefer to have the ability to adjust the temperature and change the station on the radio without tearing out our hair.
If you look at the technical specifications, you’ll discover that the Volkswagen ID.4 is somewhere in the center of the pack when it comes to small crossovers. On the other hand, due to its electric construction, it stands out among the Galas like a Granny Smith. Although it’s not quite as long as, say, a Honda CR-V or a Toyota RAV4, for example, the wheelbase of this vehicle is somewhat greater. That may be appreciated to its fullest extent from the extremely enormous rear seat. For a driver who is 6 feet 3 inches tall, we were able to install a gigantic kid seat that faces backward and is rear-facing and is made by Britax and called the Boulevard model. This implies that you can accommodate two car seats with the rear-facing position, which is rare, in the back seat, while also equal to palatial legroom for both large children and adults. Bring some basketball players with you, I won’t say anything if you do.
It is true that the ID.4’s primary electric rivals, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6, both provide a considerable amount of passenger room for reasons that are related to the architecture of their vehicles. On the other hand, the Volkswagen is elevated from the ground and resembles an SUV, which makes it somewhat simpler to place children in car seats. Volkswagen also has a significant edge over its competitors in terms of cargo capacity. It has a space of 30.2 cubic feet behind its rear seat, which places it in the center of the pack for small SUVs while blowing away the pack for electric vehicles. The ID.4 fell short of mega-carriers like the RAV4 and Hyundai Tucson hybrids in our cargo area baggage test, but it comfortably swallowed more things than the EV6, Ioniq 5, and Mustang Mach-E.
Aside from that, Volkswagen’s performance target with the ID.4 was more on small SUVs than it was on neck-snapping, high-performance electric vehicles. You still have the instantaneous, smooth, and completely silent power delivery of an electric vehicle, which makes it seem much more powerful in around-town driving than vehicles like Honda CR-Vs that are out there in the world. If you do decide to join onto the highway, however, you will discover that the restrictions of its horsepower result in eventual acceleration that may at most be regarded as “sufficient.” It is true that upgrading to the more powerful all-wheel-drive model helps improve matters, but not to the same amount as a Kia EV6 GT or one of the more powerful Mustang Mach-E variants. To eliminate any confusion, it is more of a statement of fact than it is a criticism.
When it comes to its ride and handling, it is abundantly evident that the Volkswagen ID.4 descended from the European branch of the Volkswagen family tree that gave birth to the Golf rather than the American branch, which is comprised of larger, more plush vehicles such as the Tiguan and the Jetta. The ride is now more controlled and strong, and the steering has a more direct and connected feel to it, despite the fact that it is still shockingly lifeless. It all adds up to a surprising amount of enjoyment behind the wheel of a crossover vehicle thanks to its very low center of gravity and its design that features rear-wheel drive. This conclusion came as just as much of a surprise to us as the fact that we liked throwing it around a mountain more than we did the Mustang Mach-E.
Having said that, the ride does make it such that you feel more of the impacts caused by bad pavement, and this may cause some people to be disappointed by the ID.4’s European feel. Additionally, there is a fair amount of noise from the road, and despite the fact that the brake pedal has a natural feel to it, we wish we didn’t have to use it quite as often. Because it lacks a setting for significant regenerative braking, the ID.4 does not support the driving technique known as “one-pedal driving.” It does include a “B” mode that brakes the vehicle when the accelerator pedal is released, however, the degree of braking is equivalent to the “low” modes of other electric vehicles.
Specs
The ID.4 will be available in 2024 with a selection of batteries and either rear- or all-wheel drive, both of which may change the amount of performance and range that the vehicle provides.
Volkswagen estimates that the new ID.4 Standard powertrain, which comes equipped with a 62-kilowatt-hour battery, is capable of traveling 208 miles. The lone engine located in the back provides 201 horsepower.
Both of the ID.4 Pro trims share the same output and rear motor, but the basic Pro model receives a larger 82-kWh battery, which results in a range that is assessed by the EPA to be 275 miles for the base model and 262 miles for the Pro S. The time it takes to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour should be somewhere in the middle of eight seconds, which may be considered sluggish in comparison to electric vehicles but is quite typical for a small SUV.
The ID.4 Pro AWD trims have an additional motor mounted on the front axle, which provides all-wheel drive capability regardless of the terrain. The estimated time to get from 0 to 60 miles per hour drops to 5.7 seconds while the total output jumps to 295 horsepower. For a tiny SUV, it is lightning fast, but it is slower than the all-wheel-drive versions of the more powerful EV6 and Ioniq 5. The range drops to 255 miles for the standard AWD Pro and 245 miles for the AWD Pro S, both of which are still respectable numbers.
In terms of charging, the maximum charge speed of the ID.4 Standard is 135 kW, which is much slower than the EV6 and the Ioniq 5 (all of which have a maximum charge speed of 240 kW). The maximum charge speed of the Mustang Mach-E is 150 kW. The Pro can reach its maximum charging capacity of 170 kW in 2023, making the process much faster. The simplicity of just plugging in the vehicle without having to check the Electrify America app or use a credit card at a station is one of the basic features included with the ID.4. Additionally, the ID.4 comes standard with three years of free charging at Electrify America stations.