2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Preview
A common quibble of people in the market for an EV is the lack of variety in affordable fully-electric SUVs. Most of the current electrified SUVs such as the Audi e-tron, Tesla Model Y, Jaguar I-PACE, and Tesla Model X appeal to the high-end of the market. With the upcoming ID.4 SUV that provides around 250 miles of range on a full charge, Volkswagen seeks to make a big impact in the ever-burgeoning electric vehicle market and providing the affordable all-electric compact SUV that shoppers have been waiting for.
Notably, the ID.4 comes with three years of fast charging from Electrify America at no additional cost, a major benefit compared to its competition. For further convenience, the SUV can be charged with both AC and DC fast-charging capability. In addition, the onboard 11 kW charger enables the ID.4 to get 33 miles of range after 1 hour and can charge to full in about 7 hours when connected to a Level 2 charger. At a DC fast-charging station, the battery can go from 5 to 80 percent charged within 40 minutes, providing a high amount of range in a short amount of time.
Being positioned as the go-to all-electric compact SUV, the ID.4 has dimensions that are slightly smaller than the Tiguan and has all-wheel-drive as an option. Despite being smaller than the Tiguan on the outside, the ID.4 offers interior room similar to the gas-powered sibling. Pricing is in line with current electric vehicles that offer at least 200 miles of range. Starting at $39,995 (for a rear-drive ID.4 Pro) before a potential federal tax credit of $7,500 is applied, purchasing an ID.4 is on par with getting a relatively well-equipped compact SUV. Those looking for all-wheel-drive can get the ID.4 AWD Pro, which starts at $43,675. Unlike many EVs, the ID.4 will be offered in all 50 states and customers can reserve their cars through the Volkswagen website.
Standard equipment includes roof rails, 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels, a 5.3-inch digital gauge cluster display, a 10-inch infotainment display, blind spot monitoring, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, wireless mobile phone charging, keyless access, and park distance control. The optional Statement package adds a panoramic fixed-glass roof, LED projector headlights, and power-folding side mirrors, 12-way power seats with massage lumbar and memory, upgraded 12-inch infotainment display, as well as 30-color ambient lighting. A key standard feature is the ID.Light, a light strip below the windshield that can provide visual and acoustic signals when the vehicle is locked or unlocked and needs to amplify details regarding the driver assistance systems.
All in all, with the ID.4, Volkswagen will likely shake up the electric vehicle market. The market has been looking for the all-electric compact SUV that doesn’t cost plenty of money to buy or lease and Volkswagen has listened extensively to the market. Once the ID.4 deliveries start, other automakers will likely be rushing to release their own affordable electric compact SUVs, further reducing the emissions from America’s highways.
