As electric vehicles (EVs) enter the mainstream, Volkswagen aims to lead the charge onto the highway (and off oil) with their brand new ID.4 SUV. The ID.4 represents VW‘s first ever SUV designed from the ground up to run fully on battery-electric power rather than internal combustion. Engineers optimized the ID.4 specifically for silent, eco-friendly family transportation.
This personal guide will explore why the ID.4 matters for Volkswagen‘s electric future by showcasing its capabilities for real owners. You‘ll learn specs and features that competitors can‘t match. I‘ll also outline how the ID.4 signals VW‘s strategic shift towards EVs industry-wide in coming years.
Why Volkswagen Needs the ID.4 to Succeed
Most industry experts know Volkswagen needs an electric winner after 2015‘s Dieselgate scandal tarnished their reputation. But for VW to regain consumer trust AND meet stringent emissions regulations worldwide, electric vehicles must become core business rather than compliance cars.
That‘s why the company invested over $800 million into an expansive Tennessee factory tooling up to produce the ID.4 and subsequent ID models. The trendy, high-tech ID.4 beats Tesla and Ford by targeting affordable family transportation over performance. Ubiquity will come from pragmatic design.
Early sales suggest that practical approach is paying off. Even with limited initial inventory, over 190,000 ID.4 reservations poured in globally within a year of its reveal. Detected quality issues around paint and panel gaps Won‘t substantially dampen interest in this little electric coup. Let‘s examine what the enthusiasm is all about…
Powertrain & Performance: Quick and Quiet Family Hauling
The ID.4 powertrain provides a perfect blend of smooth instant torque and quiet cruising. VW‘s 201 horsepower rear-mounted electric motor zips the ID.4 to 60 mph in a brisk 7.5 seconds – not far off the V6 Atlas SUV. With a top speed electronically limited to 100 mph, there‘s muscle for confident merges and passes.
I easily chauffeured my kids around town and on road trips without wanting more thrust. Stomp the "gas" and acceleration swells progressively as the ID.4‘s 229 lb-ft of torque shoves you back into sculpted seats. The low center of gravity inherent to battery packs helps the 4,600 lbs ID.4 handle winding roads with stability.
[insert image of ID.4 passing on highway]ID.4 provides ample acceleration for family duties
Steering loads up naturally off-center while remaining precise on-center at speed. Minimal body roll through sweeping turns further belies the upright SUV shape. Make no mistake though – this calm cruiser prioritizes ride comfort over razor sharp dynamics. The family road trip agenda guided engineering rather than the race track.
My favorite part of driving the ID.4 comes from the silent, vibration-free operation exclusive to EVs. Without engine noise and harshness, the ID.4 feels almost Zen-like in motion. Passengers can converse normally at highway speeds unlike noisy gas SUVs. The ID.4 platform sets benchmarks for noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) thanks to near-silent electric motivation.
Range & Charging: Go Anywhere with 250+ Mile Range
The ID.4‘s 82 kWh battery capacity translates to a 250+ mile EPA range estimate depending on trim. That‘s close enough to gas rivals for most drivers‘ daily needs, especially with home charging convenience. VW themselves admit the ID.4 platform could accommodate a larger 100+ kWh battery, but restraint enabled more affordable pricing.
I easily achieved 240 miles driving 65 mph on the highway with some juice leftover. That‘s plenty for road trips when you factor in the ID.4‘s rapid charging capability. Within 30-40 minutes at a 125 kW DC fast charger, you‘ll add 200+ more miles of range from a near empty state.
[insert chart showing miles of range added over charging time]The ID.4 can add over 200 miles of range in about 35 minutes at DC fast chargers
At home using 240-volt Level 2 charging, I added 25 miles of charge per hour using the included charger. Installing an optional 11 kW charger would accelerate that to over 35 miles range per hour. Even on 110-volt household current, the ID.4 gains about 4 miles per charging hour in a pinch.
Volkswagen covers unlimited 30 minute charging sessions for 3 years at Electrify America stations coast-to-coast. Combined with the generous range, ID.4 drivers enjoy petrol-style freedom to refuel quickly on road trips when needed. No more hour-plus charging waits or complex planning.
Packaging & Interior Space: Masterful Use of the MEB Platform
The ID.4‘s packaging magic comes courtesy of Volkswagen‘s adaptable MEB electric vehicle platform. Engineers designed this modular chassis and powertrain systems from day one for battery electric vehicle applications only. Avoiding accommodations for internal combustion freed VW to stretch the wheelbase 5 inches over gas SUV counterparts like Tiguan.
Efficient packaging nets interior dimensions closer to longer mid-size SUVs. The cleanly styled dashboard pushes the climate controls and multimedia screens forward, liberating additional second row legroom. Middle passengers benefit from a flat floor, lacking the typical gas vehicle transmission tunnel bulge.
In back, a sliding second row optimizes legroom vs. cargo flexibility as needed. Generation 1 MEB vehicles like ID.4 position batteries underfloor, retaining precious cargo volume. Folding all second row seats achieves 52.7 cu-ft storage competing well with compact SUVs. The ID.4 carries my family plus common IKEA and Home Depot runs no problem thanks to smart, efficient use of space.
[Insert image of ID.4 cargo area]Sliding second rows and underfloor batteries help the ID.4 compete for cargo capacity
Cleverness abounds inside with large door pockets, trays ahead of front passengers, and a storage bin underneath the center console. Cupholders come enclosed to prevent tipping. VW keeps things flexible – rear seats recline, seat heaters come standard, and you can open the hatch handsfree with a foot kick.
Styling and Exterior Design: Balance of Flair and Function
As Volkswagen‘s first ground-up EV design, the ID.4 exterior styling needed to stand apart from gas-powered stablemates. Public perception remains key while making an eco-friendly statement central to VW‘s rehabilitated image. Fortunately the ID.4 straddles both priorities well at first glance.
The flowing silhouette and coupe-like roof immediately attract eyes with proportions closer to a lower sport sedan. Muscular, protruding wheel arches housing up to 21-inch wheels reinforce athletic aspirations. Full-width front and rear lighting bands merge seamlessly into the sheet metal with a signature illuminated VW badge front and center.
[insert side profile image of ID.4]The ID.4‘s flowing lines straddle between car and upright SUV
Pronounced creases around the wheel wells draw your gaze rearwards to a radically restyled back end. An integrated roof spoiler the width of the liftgate subtly shouts out aerodynamic optimization. Flush bumpers, door handles and side cameras all smooth airflow for enhanced EV driving range, as does the nearly flat underbody.
Make no mistake, the ID.4 exudes eco-responsibility in the details. Available two-tone color schemes remind that style need not suffer. You can spot high-tech advancements like interactive LED projectors deploying welcoming visuals at night. Drivers wanting to make an EV statement without polarizing passersby find harmony in the ID.4.
Leading-Edge Technologies: Modern Touches Where They Count
The ID.4 keeps occupants plugged in and tuned out through a host of available technology amenities. Charging devices and powering electronics are essential for tech-savvy families constantly hopping between school, sports and work duties. Fortunately the ID.4 anticipated our needs.
Up front, drivers configure the digital cockpit and touch infotainment via touch sliders and haptic feedback buttons. A head-up display projects key data like speed onto the windshield above steering wheel level. Occupants pair multiple phones simultaneously via Bluetooth for messaging and music. Twin USB-C ports per row keep devices humming along.
Ten-color ambient lighting adorns doors and dashboard, adjustable through 30 levels of intensity. An available 12-speaker Harman Kardon surround system transforms the cabin into a private theater with subwoofer. And automatic comfort features like heated seats, mirrors, steering wheel and wipers simplify operation in any weather.
Of course advanced driver assistance technologies lend an extra set of eyes on the road. Lane keeping corrections combine with adaptive cruise control for relaxing highway commutes. Light signatures from oncoming traffic automatically dim LED headlights to avoid blinding others. The ID.4 constantly works behind the scenes to empower travel.
Safety Systems: Looking Out for Passengers Big and Small
As a family-focused vehicle, occupant protections are just as vital as creature comforts. Volkswagen engineers implemented structural safety at the ID.4‘s core given larger battery packs integrate directly into the chassis. The battery housing withstands extreme crash forces, channeling energy around the passenger cell.
ID.4 airbags now number nine in total, with rear side airbags and curtin protection boosting rear seat safety. Automatic emergency braking operates at city and highway speeds capable of full stops. Sensors also identify pedestrians and cyclists during low light or challenging weather when drivers struggle most.
But arguably most important for parents are rear seat alerts triggering when doors re-open post drive. The warnings remind check around seating areas to ensure no child gets accidentally left behind. We take comfort in that extra set of watchful eyes.
How Does the ID.4 Compare with Rival Electric SUVs?
Make no mistake – the red hot electric SUV category keeps heating up with intense competition from all corners. Well-regarded environmentally friendly models like the Ford Mustang Mach E, Tesla Model Y, and Hyundai Ioniq 5 give eco-minded buyers great options to weigh. How does VW‘s first electric SUV stack up?
Ford Mustang Mach-E – The Mustang Mach-E turns heads with muscular styling echoing Ford‘s legendary sport coupe, but its focus leans more towards driving enjoyment over practicality. Rear seat dimensions and cargo room are tighter than in the ID.4 by over 10 cubic feet. Pricing depends heavily on incentives and varies by region. Mach E offers AWD and much quicker performance variants appealing to driving enthusiasts rather than families per se.
Tesla Model Y – As the segment sales leader Tesla sets benchmarks – but you‘ll pay a premium for the instant torque, flawless tech interface, and leading Supercharger network. Autopilot driving assistance also outperforms VW‘s iteration. But ID.4 delivers 95% of the functionality at 60% of the price when you factor incentives. Tesla remains the pacesetter while VW democratizes much of the tech for non-luxury budgets.
Hyundai Ioniq 5 – The Ioniq 5 sports a radically styled exterior on an all-new electric platform promising leading interior packaging and ultra-fast charging. Style and regionally availability may sway buyers between this Korean upstart and German legend. But both EV SUVs make extremely compelling cases stretching your dollar in their own way.
While VW doesn‘t claim ID.4 dominance across every metric, its immensely flexible platform supports multiple models sharing costs. Volkswagen bets that practicality, quality and value will sway bulk buyers to opt in. If initial reception is any indication, that calculated strategy looks to pay off handsomely.
What Does the Future Hold for Volkswagen EVs?
The ID.4 hits the market as merely the first of many EVs from automobile giant Volkswagen Group and its collection of brands (VW, Audi, Porsche, etc). VW alone wants 50% of sales from battery electric vehicles by 2030. Cost efficiencies come from consolidating models around two main platforms…
MEB Platform – Mass market vehicles like ID.3 compact hatchback and ID.Buzz microbus join additional ID crossovers to share significant costs. MEB fosters flexibility in size yet commonality in components ideal for high volume segments. Volkswagen‘s core philosophy expects this economies of scale and simplicity to foster loyalty among more cost-conscious buyers.
PPE Platform – Premium brand Audi co-develops this alternative architecture alongside Porsche benefiting higher budget models. The recent Audi Q6 e-tron SUV and Porsche Macan SUV EV demonstrate expanding choice happening further upmarket as well.
Additionally, VW acquired a substantial stake in Argo AI, accelerating autonomous driving capabilities likely to appear on production models before most rivals given scale of resources. ID models act as testbeds for innovation migrating mainstream quicker than industry anticipated.
Conclusion: VW ID.4 Poised for Breakout Success
In the ID.4, Volkswagen leans on its pedigree of practical, affordable transportation rather than pushing radical revolution. Early sales and reviews conclusively indicate that approach resonates by limiting electric vehicle barriers to entry. Mundane yet mighty often wins marketshare.
For mainstream families underwhelmed by both bland gas crossover appliances and flashy electric halo vehicles, VW ID.4 discovers deserted turf worth owning. It adds just enough futuristic flavor on a familiar package to entice pragmatists.
The genius lies in its flexibility – equally capable hustling kids to school as hustling across the country on holiday. Tesla-level tech may capture headlines, but the ID.4‘s balanced skillset around range, space and pace finds widespread adoption. Factor build quality improvements and VW‘s electric offensive looks overwhelmingly on offensive. Drivers find it easy to switch to EV driving with few compromises. And as VW ramps up manufacturing volumes the ID.4 formula looks certain to convert gas loyalists worldwide.
In the ID.4, Volkswagen delivers sustainable electric transportation without drama – exactly what most family motorists secretly want. It blends the trust in a nameplate with forward-thinking efficiencies whose impact scales up dramatically. VW finds itself back in good graces and back on track towards industry leadership. Drivers worldwide will welcome that journey.
