What're the pros and cons of the VW ID.4. I discuss price, range, interior, room, styling, efficiency, and why you may want to buy this over the Tesla Model Y. VW introduced the highly anticipated ID4 electric SUV. It’s a compact SUV which will compete with the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Tesla Model Y, and the Nissan Ariya. The ID4 will be available in early 2021. Pros
Cost -- The ID4 will start at $39,995 which undercuts the Tesla Model Y by $10,000. Of course they are not close in performance but many people find the $50,000 starting price tag too steep for the Model Y. Plus, federal tax credits of $7500 will lower the cost of the ID4 to $32,500 for those that qualify. Tesla ran out of the credit while back since they’ve sold well over 200,000 vehicles.
Free EV charging for 3 years. That’s a big deal as you can use Electrify America’s over 2000 DC fast chargers for free. Electrify America promises over 3500 DC fast chargers by the end of 2021. Tesla used to offer something similar for early Tesla owners but have since discontinued this program.
Platform - The ID4 is based on a rear wheel drive platform which should make it handle better than the Nissan Ariya which is a front wheel drive platform. The ID4 is based on the MEB electric drive architecture which means it was designed from the ground up as an electric vehicle. The main advantage of this is that VW was able to maximize space for passengers and cargo.
Styling - I’m probably biased but I’ve always liked VW’s conservative designs since they tend to age well. The ID4 looks simple and clean and less frumpy looking than the Tesla Model Y.
Size -- The ID4 is almost 5 inches shorter in length and 2 inches shorter in height than the VW’s own compact SUV the Tiguan. Yet, the interior is pretty much the same size inside as the Tiguan. There’s plenty of leg room in the rear at 37.6 inches. Cargo volume is a good size at 30.3 cubic feet with the seats up and 64.2 cubic feet with the rear seats down. Those are very good numbers and comparable to many gasoline compact SUVs.
Interior - The interior looks to be very user friendly with a speedometer in front of the steering wheel and a touchscreen infotainment that doesn’t look much different than those in other VWs. There will be Apple Carplay and Android Auto. To me that’s a big positive for the regular consumer as they’ll be able to adjust to the EV SUV quicker than the ultra high tech Tesla.
Traditional Automaker -- This goes back to the same thing as the interior. Some people may prefer to go to the dealer for parts and service rather than the Tesla’s no dealer model. VW also has been making cars for many decades so issues like panel gaps and paint quality shouldn’t be problems. To me this is a positive as there’s probably a VW dealer near where you live.
Cons
Performance - The ID4 will not win a drag race with the Tesla Model Y. The launch vehicle will have a 82kWh battery and provide 201hp and 228 pound-feet of torque. VW says the AWD version will have 302 hp but won’t be available until later in 2021. The standard rear wheel drive model will go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.5 seconds and the awd model will do that in less than 6 seconds. Those are pretty good numbers but not close to the performance you get in the Model Y. That’s understandable since the ID4 will be significantly cheaper than the Model Y.
Efficiency - The ID4 will have a 82kWh battery with usable capacity of 77kWhs. The Tesla Model Y has a 75 kWh battery with 72.5KWh usable capacity. The range for the ID4 is 250 miles and the Model Y is 316 miles. The efficiency difference is staggering. The ID4 gets 3.24 miles per kWh and the Model Y gets 4.36 miles per kWh. This is not surprising as Tesla has had a few year headstart vs VW in building EVs.
Conclusion: VW is going for the masses with its ID4 SUV and it’s got a lot of what people want. It may not perform like a Tesla but the affordability and practicality are what the mainstream consumer is looking for. The range is adequate at 250 miles. Would you consider this over a gasoline compact SUV like a Tiguan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments. Please subscribe to get more videos with the latest info on new electric vehicles and hybrids.
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