2021 Volkswagen ID.4

Although the auto industry is betting electric vehicles will replace gas cars, the big switch won’t happen until consumers believe they will get something better by giving up fossil fuel engines. Better is different depending on the shopper. Going green has been the big driver for early EV adopters. Tesla has since proven that others will value the instant acceleration and handling electric vehicles offer. Pricing still remains a significant barrier to adoption; electric vehicles need to cost less to purchase and fuel, and offer the same space and amenities as internal combustion counterparts. 

Volkswagen is targeting “better” with the launch of the 2021 ID.4 electric crossover. The German automaker is doing all it can to avoid comparisons to the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E SUVs—both electric and more expensive—and instead attack the meat of the crossover market by making the case that the ID.4 compares well to the gas-powered Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. 

That’s a big challenge. In 2020 the Toyota and Honda crossovers account for 5% of new car sales total. The RAV4 is the No. 1 best-selling vehicle that isn’t a pickup truck, and the CR-V follows at No. 2. VW knows that electric vehicles will only become mainstream when they can compete with the mainstream. 

Before the federal tax credit, the ID.4 model will retail for $39,995 (not including the $1,195 destination fee). The $7,500 credit reduces that to $32,495. State incentives and sales tax exemptions in about a dozen states slash the cost to about $30,000. A RAV4 or CR-V in a comparable trim—not the stripped-down models—retail in the mid-$27,000 range. 

Buyers will recover much of that price gap from fuel savings. According to the EPA cost-to-drive estimates, filling a RAV4 and CR-V with gas will cost about $550 more annually than charging the VW. That assumes 15,000 miles a year. The more one drives, the more one saves. Volkswagen intends to sweeten the deal by offering three years of free, fast charging at Electrify America’s network of 555 charging stations. The network is growing quickly and will have about 800 nationwide by the end of this year. According to VW, fast charging juices the ID.4 battery pack, which can travel an estimated 260 miles on a full charge, from 5% to 80% in 38 minutes. 

The next challenge is driving. After several hundred miles in the ID.4, it’s clear the electric crossover compares well to its gas rivals. The acceleration is about the same as the RAV4 and better than the CR-V. It’s also more satisfying as the electric motor provides instant torque. There is no spooling. All the power is there when the driver depresses the accelerator.  

The ID.4 also has a sportier feel. Although crossovers and SUVs are popular with consumers, they don’t handle as well as sedans. That’s because there’s a lot more weight higher up, raising the center of gravity. The ID.4’s batteries are mounted flat across its bottom, which lowers the center of gravity and distributes the weight more evenly across the length of the vehicle. It’s also configured with a rear-wheel drivetrain, another plus. Cars drive better when the steering function is in the front of the vehicle and propulsion comes from the back. Just about every other mainstream compact crossover is a front-wheel-drive vehicle. An all-wheel-drive ID.4 will launch later this year with a starting price point of $48,175. 

The ID.4 really comes alive when driven in Sport, one of 3 preset modes. Sport mode gives the driver firmer, more direct steering, a faster accelerator pedal response and adjusts the adaptive cruise control to reach the preset maximum speed more quickly. It also uses more electricity, reducing the range. Owners can play with the variables to design their custom drive setting. 

For now, VW is powering the ID.4 with one electric motor that produces up to 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque. That easily matches the gas offerings in the segment. The all-wheel-drive version is expected to offer more juice with a second electric motor located at the front of the SUV, which will have 295 horsepower. 

As one would expect from an electric vehicle, the ID.4 has plenty of technology. A 10-inch touchscreen is standard with an optional upgrade to a larger 12-inch screen. It has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to ease phone connectivity as well as wireless device charging. Both visual and audio alerts let the driver know about driver assistance warnings, incoming calls and the vehicle’s charge status (a light bar across the bottom of the windshield signals remaining battery power much like what we see on smartphones). 

The ID.4 has a comprehensive suite of advanced driver assistance system features, called IQ.Drive, that includes forward collision alert with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, a lane-centering feature and adaptive cruise control. Also included is Travel Assist (a combination of adaptive cruise and lane keeping) and emergency assist, which brings the car to a stop if the car can’t summon a response from the driver after several warnings. Road sign recognition, park distance control and automatic high beams also are standard. Buyers don’t have to shell out extra money or upgrade to the highest trim to get the latest safety features. 

Most drivers will have to acclimate themselves to the ID.4’s controls. VW’s minimalist approach eliminated a gear shift lever in the center console. Instead, the driver toggles a knob on the steering column’s right side to shift from park to reverse or drive. The dash is clean, devoid of almost any buttons. There are no dials. Most controls run through the standard 10-inch touchscreen or four small buttons at its base. 

Although VW is pitching the ID.4 as an SUV, it is like the Subaru Outback and sits halfway between an SUV and a station wagon. Buyers shouldn’t see that as a knock. The Outback is one of the most capable vehicles in the segment when it comes to driving off-road, and like the ID.4, it has the same cargo space and utility as the typical compact crossover. Although these small SUVs are marketed as adventure vehicles, almost none ever leave the pavement. A typical driver will find that despite a slightly lower roofline, the ID.4 has more front headroom, the same comfort and utility, and drives better than a Toyota RAV4 or Honda CR-V. 

VW has limited configurations to just two trims, the ID.4 Pro and the ID.4 Pro S, although it is launching sales with a briefly available First Edition configuration.