Name: 2024 Volkswagen ID4
Brand: motortrend
Price: 39735 USD

2024 Volkswagen ID4 Expert Review

Could it be? Is Volkswagen finally addressing some of our main complaints about the ID4 driving experience? With the 2024 Volkswagen ID4, the electric SUV takes a leap forward in usability thanks to a couple key improvements. One thing we don't think VW touched: the ID4's incredible turning radius, which lets the compact electric SUV go where competitors are forced to make three-point turns.

Speaking of competition, the ID4's main rivals include the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Nissan Ariya, Kia EV6, and yes, the Tesla Model Y.

What's New

The 2024 Volkswagen ID4 makes key improvements that will upgrade quality of life for some but not all owners. If you go for a 2024 ID4 with the 82 kWh battery pack (as compared to the more affordable models' 62 kWh packs), here's what you can expect:

Better infotainment: This is a claim we look forward to testing ourselves, but the specs are promising. The 2024 ID4 will offer a 12.9-inch touchscreen with backlit sliders to adjust volume and temperature.
Higher range and horsepower: Powertrain updates result in more power and range than last year's model. Range is up, but the actual EPA estimates aren't yet available. Horsepower is up to 282 and 330 for rear- and all-wheel-drive versions, respectively.

All 2024 Volkswagen ID4s including base models now get these updates:

Revised infotainment logic (thank goodness), which includes updated functionality for the climate control system
The shifter layout and steering wheel get updates, too
ID4 Standard models get 20-inch wheels while S Plus trims get 21s

Finally, 2024 ID4 S models with the larger battery now get ventilated seats and a nine-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

What We Think

Approachability has always been one of the Volkswagen ID4's greatest strengths. From its conventional SUV styling to the way the electric powertrain delivers power more smoothly than a Tesla at full throttle, the ID4 has a lot going for it as an everyday driver. We've also been fans of the seats and the ride comfort in general, to say nothing of its status as a 2023 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ (that's good). If you're looking for a family-friendly electric SUV, the ID4 should have been an obvious option except for a few glaring flaws.

To this point, the infotainment system on the ID4 has left a ton of room for improvement. Many MotorTrend editors are fans of physical buttons and knobs for the way you can learn to use them without taking your eyes off the road. Putting as many controls as possible on a screen changes that, and not always for better. In the ID4's case, a couple physical controls were futuristic-looking slider controls below the screen; just run your finger from left to right to turn up the volume. OK, that works fine, but at night the sliders weren't backlit. So it wasn't clear whether you were touching the temperature controls or volume.

We also wonder why the driver doesn't have four window switches for four windows. Having only two switches that double their function from front to back strikes us as an oversimplification of controls. The instrument cluster screen is also a bit small. But for a mainstream electric SUV, the ID4 drives well, and range is said to be up over the 2023 model. Is quick-charging still slower than the Hyundai Ioniq 5? We expect so, and that's another limitation for the 2024 ID4 as Volkswagen makes real improvements that should increase its appeal.

Battery, Motors, and Horsepower

The 2024 Volkswagen ID4's entry-level battery is a 62-kWh unit. All models equipped with this battery use a single motor powering the rear wheels, which is rated at 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. EPA range for 2024 is 206 miles, a few miles less than the 2023.

An 82-kWh battery is also available for 2024. ID4 models using this bigger unit can be equipped with single-motor rear-wheel drive or dual-motor all-wheel drive. RWD models produce 282 hp and AWD variants churn out 330 hp. Range here has improved compared to the 2023 model, from 275 to 291 miles with RWD and 255 to 263 miles with AWD. Based on previous tests, the ID4 can charge from 5 to 80 percent in about 40 minutes when hooked up to a DC fast charger.

Safety Ratings and Features

For 2023, the Volkswagen ID4 received excellent safety ratings. The IIHS named the 2023 ID4 a Top Safety Pick+, the highest award available. The NHTSA gave the ID4 a five-star overall rating, with five stars in the frontal crash category, five stars for side crash testing, and four stars for rollover safety. We expect these results to carry over for 2024.

Volkswagen equips every ID4 with its IQ Drive suite of active driver assistance equipment. That standard package includes automatic emergency braking with cyclist detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic monitoring, lane keeping assistance, and adaptive cruise control. Other available tech includes parking sensors, adaptive high-beams, and traffic sign recognition.

Cargo Space and Interior Room

The 2024 Volkswagen ID4 has more cargo space than its closest rivals at the cost of less legroom for passengers in the rear seat.

	Legroom (front/rear)	Cargo Space (seats up/down)
2024 Volkswagen ID4	41.1/37.6 inches	30.3/64.2 cubic feet
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E	41.7/38.1 inches	29.0/59.6 cubic feet
2023 Kia EV6	42.4/39.0 inches	24.4/50.2 cubic feet

Technology

Basic versions of the 2024 Volkswagen ID4 that use the 62-kWh battery come equipped with a standard 12.0-inch infotainment display paired. Upgrading to the 82-kWh battery adds a new 12.9-inch touchscreen with backlit sliders for volume and temperature controls. All ID4 models come equipped with a 5.3-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through VW's App-Connect, and wireless smartphone charging. Other available features include a nine-speaker premium audio system from Harman Kardon, a hands-free power liftgate, power-folding side mirrors, and an illuminated VW badge.