This week I'm behind the wheel of the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD S Pro - the ID badge designating it part of VW's all-electric lineup. It's full of cool features and innovative surprises where you least expect, starting from when you sit in the driver's seat. The S Pro slots just below the top trim.
Exterior
My test vehicle wears Arctic Blue Metallic ($395) and rides on sharp-looking 20" 5-spoke two tone alloy wheels.
Up front you'll find a slim grill flanked by VW's LED headlights w/Adaptive Front Lighting System, along with Light Assist (High Beam Control for headlights.) It's also equipped with LED daytime running lights and in the back, LED tail lights.
Heated side mirrors are standard, and all-wheel drive ID.4 models are equipped with a heated windshield.
Also on the exterior you'll also find Volkswagen etching, badging, a tail light strip and black roof rails.
Powertrain
The ID.4 Pro S AWD's battery powered engine delivers 295-horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque. (That's a much needed horsepower boost over the 201-horsepower RWD model. ) Acceleration didn't feel as quick off the line as I'd expected.
Also note, there is no one-pedal driving mode in here, but you do get non-adjustable regenerative braking that you control through the gear selector.
Interior
VW did a great job on the well-crafted, thoughtfully designed and well-built interior. It features soft-touch materials along with glossy black, silver trim and nice stitching throughout.
My test model's Gray and Blue multi-hued leatherette interior works is stylishly appealing. The V-Tex leatherette seats are comfortable. The 12-way power and massage driver's seat gets my thumbs up for its design and cushiony comfort as does the headrest. Both front seats are both heated.
I also love the look and feel of the leather-wrapped flat-bottomed steering wheel. It's heated in the Pro S.
The first surprise comes when you don't see a stop/start button (I later discovered it's integrated into the side of the steering wheel.) To start the vehicle, you simply sit in the driver's seat with the key fob and press down on the brake pedal.
There are other unique features to note in here:
One is the unusual gear selector. It's a twist knob that's connected to the digital driver display. It actually works quite well.
Another surprise: the power window controls. You get a front and rear window switch - fewer buttons on the door panel that way.
For me the real scene stealer in here is what's above. A massive panoramic glass roof with an electric sunshade really just takes your breath away. The view is tremendous.
A simple center console features cupholders, USB ports and you slide your smartphone into a wireless charging compartment behind the cupholders. You'll see your charging status on the multimedia screen.
VW does not go subtle on the lighting. The VW ID.4 has ambient mood lighting - which lights up the interior like you're at a light show.
Stadium seating in the 60/40 split 2nd row means you loose some head room so you can't be terribly tall to sit back there. But I found there to be plenty of legroom. Passengers get a nice center console and the soft-touch seat backs have cell phone pockets, a thoughtful design feature. The floorboard is very flat back there and the S Pro has nice floor mats.
Utility
There's a ski-pass through area to the cargo area and the seats are easy to fold down. The Easy Open Close kick sensor lift gate operates at a nice speed. It's a simple, but nice storage area with a cargo cover.
Range and Charging
This particular ID.4 model has a 275-mile range, so I didn't deal with any range anxiety. (For comparison, the base model offers 209-miles of range and that WOULD give me range anxiety.)
When you're charging, a light strip, called the ID. Light system, lights up in green across the dash. Charging info looks terrific in the touchscreen display.
For a charging snapshot, at 102 miles I was 43% charged. My home outlet estimated charging at 2 miles each hour at 1.0 kW. I left it charged up from 1:23 PM one afternoon to the following morning at 8:11 AM and it had charged to 159 mi - at 63%.
I checked out Level 2 charging at the local mall, and it cites 31 miles each hour using 8.5 kW. So you can see a Level 2 is the way to go.
VW cites a 10-80% charge in about 30 to 36 minutes using DC Fast Charging. ID.4 owners receive three years of unlimited 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America DC Fast Chargers.
Technology
If complaining about small font's in vehicles is something you're prone to do(as I am), you certainly won't do that here. The graphics and fonts are BIG. You will not miss them, trust me.
Digital Driver Display
VW's unique 5-inch ID. Cockpit digital driver display floats above the steering wheel, protruding up out of the dash. Everything is bright and easy to read and I even like the font type. I also like the driver assist tech display on the left.
Multimedia
VW's standard Discover Pro Max infotainment display looks fantastic, too, with wonderful graphics. It's compatible with wireless Apple CarPlay and AndroidAuto. I found the system intuitive and easy to operate for the most part, though a tad bit slow. You'll also control the heated seats and steering wheel via the touchscreen. Below it you can adjust the volume and cabin temp using sliders. Pinch and zoom navigation looks great and the screen also houses a nice backup camera view, though you'll have to step up to the top trim for the overhead camera.
Ride and Drive
The VW ID.4 AWD is a great daily driver with a confident, quiet and comfortable ride. The suspension feels nice and it's easy to maneuver. Acceleration is no issue when you're merging onto the highway or in commute traffic, I just wish it had more off-the-line performance. Depending on how you feel about steering, you'll find the VW ID.4's is on the looser, not sporty side.
Safety
This ID.4 lineup comes standard with VW's IQ.DRIVE driver assistance suite with a long list of features. They include Travel Assist that enables semi-automated hands-on driving capability from 0 to 95 mph. New for 2023, an assisted lane change function allows the vehicle to complete a lane change maneuver with Travel Assist activated. Also new for 2023, ID.4 also adds standard Park Assist Plus with Memory Parking.
Verdict
The ID.4 is a terrific all-electric crossover with great style, comfort and cool, functional features that make it an enjoyable vehicle to drive. In this variant, the range hits the right mark, too. It would be a great way to ease into EV ownership if you're looking for a comfortable ride but not necessarily a drastically different, performance-oriented EV driving experience.
- What I liked most: Cool Features, Panoramic glass roof, comfy seats, and technology.
- What I would change: More off the line acceleration, would love adjustable re-gen braking.
- MSRP: Base Price: $54,090. As equipped: $54,485.
- Fuel Economy: 115 MPGe city, 98MPGe highway 107 MPGe combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 468 miles.
- Weight: 4,877 pounds.
- Spare Tire: N/A.
- Length-Width-Height: 180.5" long, 72.9" wide, 65.1" high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: N/A.
- Official Color: Arctic Blue Metallic. ($395)
- Towing Capacity: 2,700 pounds (AWD with trailer brakes.)
- 2023 VW ID.4 in a few words: This is one cool electric crossover with a long list of surprises.
- Warranty: 4-year/50,000 mile bumper-to-bumper, 8-year/100,000 mile battery warranty with roadside assistance, and 3-years/36,000 miles of free maintenance.
- Final Assembly Location: Chattanooga, TN.
- Manufacturer's website: VW
