2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Drive Review: Electrifying America

Cool, calm, and collected, Volkswagen’s first big push into the EV space seems like a lot of car for the money.

Misses

Expensive
So-so performance
Charging network issues

Hits

Retro styling
Cool interior
Spacious

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 First Edition Dusk Blue Drivebreakfixrepeat.com Jake Stumph Racing

Volkswagen claims the new ID.4 crossover drives like a GTI, has the packaging and utility of Tiguan and the purpose of the Beetle. These are big claims for the brand’s first big effort in the EV space, but they might just be on to something.

Funky and modern, ID.4 sports the sort of smoothed over jellybean aesthetic that makes many electrified vehicles stand out on the road from their gasoline-powered contemporaries, but with a uniquely Volkswagen twist.

This First Edition model, for example, is finished in a hue called dusk blue, which is contrasted by the black roof and aluminum-colored pillars. That theme is matched with the split and black-and-polished effect 20-inch wheels, making ID.4 look smart. Some Volkswagen nerds may also note a slight resemblance to the MKV Golf R32, an iconic model for the brand, very interesting.

Divergent from tradition is the interior, which is also, well, funky and thoroughly modern. Volkswagen interiors have traditionally relied on convention and solidity — with buttons and knobs falling to hand intuitively, and feeling hewn from solid oak — and ID.4 does the same, but, again, with a twist.

Shod in a two-tone black and white leatherette, ID.4 feels like a luxury item inside. The tiered dashboard with its large 12-inch screen, and elements like the door handles and driver display which appear at first glance to be floating, are accentuated by configurable mood lighting. Creature comforts, like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic glass roof, heated seats and steering wheel and wireless phone charging further sweeten the deal.

Practically speaking, the crossover form factor means it comfortably fits four adults inside, or five in a pinch as was proven by a quick family beach trip from East LA to Santa Monica.

The hardware appears to be solid, as well, with an 82 kWh battery pack delivering 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels with little more than a quiet hum, and offering a claimed 250 miles of range on a full charge, which seems quite accurate in the real world. Future ID.4 variants will offer greater potency and AWD if desired.

As it is now, ID.4 does the 0-60 dash in about 7.5 seconds, which is brisk enough for LA traffic, but nothing to brag to your friends about, however that’s far from the point.

Dynamically, ID.4 is competent on a winding road with quick, light steering and able to hustle as much as anyone in the real world will ever require from it, but, instead, ID.4 shines brightest in the day to day commute, its relaxed personality and ride easing occupants’ resting heart rates. Other than the occasional tough impact over the roughest of roads, likely attributed to the large 20-inch wheels, ID.4 is unperturbed by Los Angeles’ myriad roadways in their varying levels of decay.

Some teething issues remain, but not where you might expect.

In an effort to encourage early adopters, Volkswagen is offering three years of complementary public charging for 2021 ID.4 buyers via Electrify America, a charging infrastructure service owned by Volkswagen. Currently in “Cycle 2” of its roll out plan, Electrify America is in the process of installing 800 charging stations, with 3,500 total charging units, around the country, with a focus on major metropolitan areas where EV ownership is ramping up more quickly.

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However, despite the oldest of chargers only being a few years old, a surprising amount of them were broken or inoperable around the greater Los Angeles area. The Electrify America app is slick and easy to use, able to locate charging stations, and pair to your vehicle, but, ironically, the function to report a broken charger was seemingly broken the day the ID.4 needed a charge.

A gaggle of Porsche Taycan owners, slightly flustered at the inconvenience but benefiting from the same complementary charging service, tailed the ID.4 to the next nearest charging station, and commiserated that this experience was surprisingly common in the area.

After finding a working charger, the Electrify America charging station was quick to use and even quicker to charge the ID.4 up from a 36% state of charge (SOC) to 80% in just 20 minutes.

Electrify America states that by mid-2024 they will have charging stations on most major highways in the lower 48 states, creating multiple cross-country routes, as well as include support infrastructure for medium- and heavy-duty fleet charging, one of the most effective arenas to reduce overall vehicle emissions.

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Volkswagen is focused on this big EV push with several more vehicles slated for this ID sub-brand, and with any big effort, there are bound to be a few snags along the way. Regardless, ID.4 proved itself to be capable, charming and surprisingly inexpensive. With a base price of $39,995 this high-spec First Edition model rings in at $45,190, but as this is an electrified vehicle, several incentives are at play on both the federal and state level that can be as substantial as $10,000 depending on the circumstances. This huge benefit suddenly makes ID.4 seem much more palatable, as does the fact that VW has committed to offering a future ID.4 variant available for less than $35,000.

The purpose of the Beetle was motoring for all, in an inexpensive, reliable package, and ID.4 would appear to be taking up that some mantle, but in a thoroughly modern and appealing package.

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