Summary
On UK roads in 2021, the Volkswagen ID.4 is the second model from the German giant’s electric sub-brand, and basically a crossover version of the ID.3 hatchback launched last year. It also won the 2021 World Car of the Year award.
Initial ‘1st Edition’ models are too pricey to qualify for Government plug-in grant aid, although cheaper versions (with less power and battery capacity) joined the range in Spring 2021, with a performance four-wheel-drive variant also on the way.
The ID.4 powertrain comprises an electric motor driving the rear wheels and fed by a battery pack. There are two performance levels (roughly 150hp and 200hp) and three battery options. In top-spec Pro Performance versions, Volkswagen quotes an official battery range of 310 miles – directly comparable to a petrol-powered car.
As the ID.4 has been designed as an EV from the outset, its batteries are neatly packaged – The Daily Mirror notes that it has much more interior space than rivals such as the Mercedes-Benz EQA, which is basically a petrol car converted to an electric one.
Journalists like the ID.4’s range, and its ride quality – according to Top Gear, the driving experience is smooth, silent and demanding nothing of the driver, though the 8.5-second 0-62mph time is considered tardy for an EV.
The exterior visuals have drawn both praise and indifference from reviews, but the interior styling comes in for more criticism – the white finish is described as sterile, while the touchscreen infotainment system annoys several.
As of January 2025, the Volkswagen ID.4 holds a New Car Expert Rating of A, with a score of 78%.
ID.4 highlights
- Impressive interior space
- Long range with largest 77kWh battery
- Attractive, clean styling
- Refined and silent on the road
ID.4 lowlights
- Infotainment system fiddly
- Remaining battery range hidden behind menus
- Tardy acceleration for an EV
Key specifications
Body style: Medium SUV
Motor: electric, battery-powered
Price: From £37,290 on-road
Launched: Winter 2020/21
Last updated: Spring 2021
Replacement due: TBA
Image gallery
Media reviews
Reviews, road tests and comparisons from across the UK automotive media. Click any of the boxes to view.
Auto Express
Model reviewed: Pro Style Edition (2023)
Score: 8 / 10
“Tech and software tweaks have kept the Volkswagen ID.4 EV fresh, but there are still drawbacks.”
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Model reviewed: GTX
Score: 8 / 10
“Volkswagen’s first electric performance model is a promising exercise, with snappy acceleration and impressive handling, given the weight. However, it’s likely to be priced from £50k, which makes it a less affordable model, even if it does add extra performance capability.”
Read review
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is a very good EV in a more appealing SUV body than the smaller, less practical ID.3, and as refined and composed as you’d hope from a more upmarket EV.”
Read review
Score: 8 / 10
“With the ID.3 catering for hatchback buyers and focused on Europe, the ID.4 SUV is Volkswagen’s first serious global Tesla rival. It represents an impressive yet different alternative to the longer range, flashier Model Y with its anticipated higher price tag.”
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Auto Trader
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The VW ID.4 is cheap to run and has lots of space and a quality feel.”
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Car
Model reviewed:
Score: 8 / 10
“With more conventional looks than the ID.3 and a more pleasing cabin, the Volkswagen ID.4 feels like the future has suddenly arrived in the present. This is fundamentally an excellent e-SUV that’ll make going electric even easier for British families considering taking the plunge and plugging in.”
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Car Keys
Model reviewed: GTX
Score: 8 / 10
“The GTX feels like a great addition to Volkswagen’s ID-badged line-up of cars. It’s a lot more exciting to drive than the standard ID.4 and that’s something that shouldn’t be sniffed at in this segment, where driver involvement can often be lacking.”
Read review
Model reviewed: 77kWh Pro Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“The ID.4 is another very credible model from Volkswagen, with its roomy interior, comfort and refinement and SUV styling likely to have huge appeal. While the cabin isn’t the best out there, the ID.4 feels perfectly designed to integrate into the lives of those that have never owned an EV before.”
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Carbuyer
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is a fun and practical zero-emissions SUV.” (Ben Hodges)
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Carwow
Model reviewed:
Score: 7 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID4 is a spacious electric car with a decent range and a modern, minimalist interior. It’s not the sleekest looking SUVs though and you may struggle to get near the claimed range.”
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Company Car Today
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
“The Volkswagen ID.4 has smart looks, a minimalist interior that takes a bit of getting used to and bags of space for four adults plus luggage, as well as impressive range and a pleasant driving experience.”
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Daily Mail
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is a smart, practical vehicle that sits comfortably on any driveway.”
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Daily Mirror
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 has looks, space and impressive range.”
Read review
Discover EV
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“A bigger, more practical version of the ID.3 family hatchback, the Volkswagen ID.4 boasts an impressive 310-mile range, SUV styling and is relatively cheap to buy and run.”
Read review
Green Car Guide
Model reviewed: GTX
Score: 10 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 GTX is the all-wheel drive version of the all-electric ID.4 SUV; with more grip, power and torque, it’s even better to drive, and still practical.” (Paul Clarke)
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Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
Score: 10 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is an all-electric SUV with an official driving range of 310 miles, lots of space for five plus a big boot, and it’s very refined and comfortable.”
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Honest John
Model reviewed: Range overview
“We’ve only driven the First Edition so far (with the Pure Performance battery pack) and found it to be a likeable car, with a superb ride quality. While it’s not as exciting as some alternatives, it feels safe to drive and won’t be daunting to anyone stepping out of a petrol or diesel car.”
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Motoring Research
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is a capable electric SUV that could fit seamlessly into family life. However, we’d favour the more desirable and dynamic Ford Mustang Mach-E if shopping towards the upper end of the range.”
Read review
Parkers
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 8 / 10
“The VW ID.4’s 310-mile range is well ahead of all rivals. It’s good to drive, both nippy and comfortable, and with a spacious interior and boot making it family-friendly.”
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The Sun
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
“I quite like it. It’s a Volkswagen. Which means it’s well built. It’s got a Tardis-like cabin with trendy brown and grey upholstery. On point. It’s also calm, clean, quiet, airy and tech-rich.”
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The Sunday Times
Model reviewed: 1st Edition Pro Performance
Score: 8 / 10
“While the interior may not be to everyone’s tastes, I really like the Volkswagen ID.4’s unfussy minimalism. There are better-looking electric cars to drive, more advanced ones and faster ones, but VW’s everyman EV is likely to steal sales away from the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric.”
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The Telegraph
Model reviewed: GTX
Score: 6 / 10
“The problems with the GTX don’t stem from its sporting bent, but more from the ID.4 on which it is based. It’s let down by a penny-pinching interior, niggling electronic glitches and some frankly bizarre switchgear and user interface decisions.”
Read review
Model reviewed:
Score: 6 / 10
“Big, comfortable and superficially interesting, the Volkswagen ID.4 has quite a lot going for it, but some of its interior feels built to a price and that infuriating touchscreen needs a radical rethink, fast.”
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Top Gear
Score: 8 / 10
“Crossovers are family transit pods. And judged through that lens, the Volkswagen ID.4 is right on target.”
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Which EV?
Model reviewed: Range overview
Score: 9 / 10
“The Volkswagen ID.4 is a brilliant electric SUV. Its key benefit is class-leading battery range, but it also has plenty of space for passengers and cargo. The standard equipment includes a few very welcome items like heated seats and adaptive cruise control. It may not have even vaguely Tesla-beating performance, but for a family SUV it ticks most of the boxes – at least until the Tesla Model Y and Skoda Enyaq iV come along.” (James Morris)
Read review
Safety rating
Independent crash test and safety ratings from Euro NCAP
Overall score: 5 stars
Date tested: April 2021
Read the full Euro NCAP review
Adult protection: 93%
Child protection: 89%
Vulnerable road users: 76%
Safety assist: 85%
The Volkswagen ID.4 was tested in 2021 by Euro NCAP and gained a top five-star rating under the latest more stringent protocols, including an award for its Local Hazard Warning system. This transmits warnings of upcoming road safety risks to similarly-equipped cars and emergency vehicles.
Eco rating
Independent economy and emissions ratings from Green NCAP
No eco rating
As of January 2025, the Volkswagen ID.4 has not been lab tested by Green NCAP.
The Green NCAP programme measures exhaust pollution (which is zero for an electric car) and energy efficiency. Electric cars are much more energy-efficient than combustion cars, so the ID.4 is likely to score very highly in Green NCAP testing whenever it ever takes place. Check back again soon.
Reliability rating
Reliability data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by MotorEasy
No reliability rating
As of January 2025, we don’t have enough reliability data on the Volkswagen ID.4 to generate a reliability rating.
The Car Expert’s reliability information is provided exclusive from extended warranty data from our partner, MotorEasy. As soon as we have sufficient data on the ID.4, we’ll publish the score here.
Running cost rating
Monthly cost of ownership data provided exclusively for The Car Expert by Clear Vehicle Data
| Battery range | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 280 miles | B | 211 – 325 miles | A – B |
| Electrical efficiency | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| EV models | 4.2 m/KWh | B | 3.7 – 4.3 m/KWh | B – D |
| Insurance group | Average | Score | Variation | Score |
| All models | 26 | B | 22 – 50 | A – F |
| Service and maintenance | Cost | Score |
| Year 1 | £201 | B |
| Year 2 | £414 | A |
| Year 3 | £691 | A |
| Year 4 | £860 | A |
| Year 5 | £1,156 | A |
| Overall | £3,322 | A |
The Volkswagen ID.4 is a relatively affordable car to own and run, according to whole-life cost numbers provided exclusively to The Car Expert by our data partner, Clear Vehicle Data.
The SUV offers a competitive battery range and electrical efficiency, and its insurance premiums are cheaper than the market average too. In addition, the car’s service and maintenance costs over the course of five years of ownership are predicted to be excellent.
Awards
Trophies, prizes and awards that the Volkswagen ID.4 has received
2022
- Company Car Today CCT100 Awards – Best Family EV
2021
- World Car of the Year
Similar cars
If you’re looking at the Volkswagen ID.4, you might also be interested in these alternatives
Audi Q4 e-tron | BMW iX3 | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | Kia e-Niro | Kia EV6 | Mercedes-Benz EQA | Polestar 2 | Skoda Enyaq iV | Tesla Model Y | Volvo XC40 Recharge
Electric crossovers are currently few but increasing in number, and currently the ID.4 sits between a number of potential rivals that are slightly cheaper or slightly more expensive, or slightly smaller or slightly larger.
‘In-house’ competition from the Skoda Enyaq and Audi Q4 is strong, while the pioneering Hyundai Kona Electric and Kia e-Niro still offer good value. The Ford Mustang Mach E is more fun to drive, with top-spec models also offering comparable range, while the Mercedes-Benz EQA is based on an existing non-electric car and its batteries eat into the bootspace.
Buy a new or used Volkswagen ID.4
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