Range will make Tesla buyers think twice
Spacious enough to be your main family car
Excellent ride quality for a heavy electric vehicle
Skoda Enyaq iV does more for less
VW's been a bit tight with standard kit in the First Edition model
Alternatives are a bit more exciting to drive
You might have thought that last year’s ID.3 was the most important new Volkswagen of a generation, but you’d have been wrong. That was just a little amuse-bouche, a precursor to the ID.4 – an all-electric SUV with a range of up to 323 miles and a price tag starting from around £32,000.
That means it’s pitched against a rapidly expanding line-up of electric cars, ranging from the Tesla Model 3 and Polestar 2 to more practical SUVs like the Kia e-Niro and the upcoming Nissan Ariya. You may also have your head turned by the Skoda Enyaq iV which, in true Skoda form, is essentially a Volkswagen ID.4 in a slightly less attractive (but more affordable) package.
Just like the ID.3, the ID.4 range is set to expand quite considerably over the coming months and years. Even while we've been writing this review, a smaller 52kWh battery pack has been added to the line-up (the model we're testing here comes with a 77kWh battery), and there's a hot twin-motor GTX model to follow (think GTI but for electric cars).
The First Edition derivative sits in the middle of the range (it's not, surprisingly, a range-topping car with a price tag to match). You'll pay a smidgen over £40,000 for one of these – or a smidgen under if you buy a nearly-new example on heycar.
It’s certainly very comfortable. You don’t sit particularly high up – with the driver’s seat in its lowest position, you could easily be in a Tesla Model 3 or a Volkswagen ID.3. Even with it cranked as high as it’ll go, you’re hardly going to be towering over other motorists.
Manual seat adjustment feels a bit old school in the fancy launch edition model of a car like this, but you do at least get armrests which add to the relaxed vibe. We quite like the Art Velours microfleece seat trim (it's kind of a faux-Alcantara), although the dog-poo-like colour of the side bolsters won't appeal to everyone.
There's no electrical adjustment for the steering wheel, either, although there's plenty of movement so finding a comfortable seating position should be a piece of cake. There's a cute little instrument cluster that moves in and out (and up and down) with the steering wheel. This doesn’t do a great deal but we like its minimalist approach – just providing key information like how fast you're going and how many miles you'll cover before you run out of electricity.
In terms of infotainment, the Volkswagen ID.4 First Edition gets the same 10-inch touchscreen media system that we’re getting used to seeing across a range of VW models. We’re not getting any better at operating it, though – everything seems a bit of a faff, while the touch-pad climate control buttons are a prime example of technology for technology’s sake. Would a button be too much to ask for – especially when it’s dark and you just want to turn the heating up?
There’s loads of space, though. You get chunky door bins with enough space for a water bottle or two, while there’s a huge storage area in the centre console (along with a couple of cup holders in front of it). The sloped windscreen and fairly long dashboard add to the feeling of space, while there’s no chance you’re going to be bashing your head on the roof or clashing arms with your passenger. You don't get a panoramic sunroof in the First Edition ID.4, but it feels airy enough in the cabin.
Things are good for those in the back, too. Tall rear-seat passengers will find their knees sitting ever so slightly higher than is ideal, but that’s pretty standard and there’s certainly no shortage of space. You’ll squeeze three adults side by side, but whoever sits in the middle seat will have drawn the short straw – it’s significantly narrower than the outer seats.
The boot’s a pretty decent size (543 litres) but there is a bit of a lip for lifting items over – there’s no adjustable boot floor to reduce this on the First Edition model, nor is there a powered tailgate (each are available on Style and Max models respectively). The cables for charging the car have to go in a bag in the boot with your shopping, which seems a bit of an oversight somehow.
It feels a bit like an appliance to drive. You might expect that of any car with an electric motor rather than an engine, but most EVs have their own little quirks that give them an element of personality. The Tesla Model 3 will shove you back in your seat as soon as you even glance at the accelerator pedal, while the Mustang Mach-E will defy physics when you reach a bendy section of road. Even the ID.3 feels surprisingly lithe and energetic.
Not that there’s a great deal wrong with how the ID.4 drives. It’s supremely comfortable (it does an incredible job of hiding its two-tonne kerb weight, in fact), and also very refined. If you wish to cover the commute in serenity, with nothing more than Radio 4 taking your attention, the ID.4 is very good at that.
There are a variety of drive modes but there’s little point in using anything other than eco or comfort. There are two different regenerative braking settings, too – D for drive and B for brake. In their most severe regen setting, other EVs will lose speed quite dramatically as soon as you lift off the accelerator – great for one-pedal driving around town. The ID.4 doesn’t, but that's not necessarily a bad thing if you're coming from a petrol or diesel car and don't want anything that feels too weird to drive.
And that kinda sums up what’s so good about the ID.4. It’s not trying to be quirky – EV buyers who want something gimmicky already have a wide range of cars to choose from. But it’s comfortable, easy to drive and will slot into your life very nicely indeed.
Model tested: Volkswagen ID.4 First Edition Pro Performance
Battery capacity: 77kWh
Transmission: single speed, rear-wheel drive
Power/torque: 204PS/310Nm
Electric consumption: 3.5 miles/kWh
Range: 310 miles (ID.4 Life 323 miles)
Price from: £32,150
As tested: £40,800
The most affordable Volkswagen ID.4 you can currently buy is the City model with the Pure 52kWh battery pack. This is eligible for the Government's plug-in car grant, meaning a new one will currently cost you £32,150.
The range of the Volkswagen ID.4 depends on which trim level and battery pack you go for. The smaller Pure 52kWh battery pack can travel up to 213 miles between charges, while the 77kWh Pro Performance model can cover up to 323 miles.
Both the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4 share the same platform (along with models like the Skoda Enyaq iV and Audi Q4 e-tron), but the ID.4 is slightly larger than the ID.3. It has a more SUV-like body, with more interior space.