2024 VW ID4 82 kWh Pro S Review: More Power and Range is Better

The 2024 Volkswagen ID4 is the fifth best-selling EV in the U.S., and the German automaker managed to move a quarter-million of the electric SUVs (and ID5 sibling) globally last year. It may not set the world on fire, but it's a sure enough hit for VW to keep it updated with fresh tech, and that's exactly what's happened for the 2024 model year on the ID4, at least for the version with the bigger battery pack. Here's what's new, and what it's like to use in the real world: are the changes to the drive unit and infotainment system a big improvement?

From the outside, both the 62- and 82-kWh battery pack options available on the 2024 ID4 electric SUV are mostly unchanged, though Pro S models now get 21-inch wheels, and those light-up front and rear VW badges from a previous update carry over to the new model year. The same basic setup and trim configurations are available going into the 2024 model year, but the bigger-battery cars have seen some updates to their motor drive units and interior screens that should be welcome to new owners.

Power To the 82 kWh Pack

The 82-kWh-pack ID4 gets increased magnet strength and improved friction management in the motor unit, which won't apply to the 62 kWh pack cars. The changes also include an improved stator with a greater number of windings, a new combined oil and water cooling system with a water heat sink outside of the stator, and higher thermal load capacity from a revised inverter design.

The rear-wheel drive ID4 with the 82 kWh pack now makes 282 horsepower and 402 lb-ft of torque, and the all-wheel drive model makes 335 hp. That also means the RWD models now get from 0-60 mph in a claimed 5.9 seconds instead of 7.7 seconds, and the AWD models are said to scoot to 60 in 4.9 seconds, much better than the old 5.7 second figure. Range has also improved, with RWD models good for up to 291 miles of claimed range, and AWD models now good for 263 miles, improvements of 16 and 8 miles respectively.

Driving the 2024 ID4 Pro S 82 kWh

On a quick drive up California's Angeles Crest in the updated the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive 82 kWh Pro S trim model, we discovered the improved acceleration is indeed there, with straight-line shooting much improved and immediately noticeable. That translates well into the corners, where the ID4 handles flat and is consistent in its power delivery, holding speed better than the previous, less-powered models, and catching back up to speed quicker in the straights when the corners do slow you down. Driving in B mode (where regeneration is at its most powerful), we were able to recover significant mileage on our short journey coming back through the hills. Those improved estimated range figures mean you'll be able to go further, which is always nice.

The new motor unit and improved specs are a subtle but welcome improvement to the drive experience, but nothing that dramatically alters the character of the ID4 from before, even in spirited driving. We sadly did not have a chance to test the new drivetrain configuration with the various safety and driver-assistance systems like adaptive cruise control, which we look forward to testing soon. We also noted that we could not hear a helicopter hovering maybe a few hundred feet from our windows as it dropped equipment off to a electrical crew in the valley, to give credit to the apparently excellent noice insulation of the ID4's cabin.

It's the Inside That Counts

More of the welcome changes for future owners will likely come from the interior of the new ID4, where there's now a bigger screen and a newly available premium audio setup on the 82 kWh pack cars. The new 12.9-inch screen setup also offers backlit slider controls for volume and dual-zone climate functions, of which the lighting is new for 82 kWh pack cars for this model year after owner complaints, but not coming to the smaller battery models.

The greater screen real estate doesn't translate to much more functionality, but VW has now introduced three more elements of customization to the screen layout for personalization and maximization of the space that's there. Route planning is said to have improved with more battery conditioning options and up to 10 waypoints available, and the infotainment system now features the full ID4 owner's manual in digital form, which you can search through the screen.

Options and Pricing

The gear selector location has also slightly moved, but we hardly noticed and didn't have much of an issue figuring out where it was in original car. Our test ID4 for this trip sadly did not feature the upgraded Harmon Kardon audio setup, but that includes nine speakers, a subwoofer, and a 16-channel amplifier.

VW is proud of the fact that the ID4 is currently the only EV eligible for the full Federal Tax Credit of up to $7,500 in the U.S. from a foreign automaker, thanks to its homegrown manufacturing at the brand's factory and battery facility in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Our 2024 82 kWh ID4 Pro S model starts at $49,995, but was optioned with a $395 Arctic Blue Metallic paint job and suffers a $1,425 destination fee, coming out to a final MSRP of $51,815 before any local or federal incentives are applied. You can also check out our yearlong verdict after spending 12 months with an older ID4 here.