The Volkswagen ID.4 sucks, or more accurately, it used to. For 2024, the German car company has made some huge changes and impactful refinements to this all-electric SUV that have transformed the ID.4 from an also-ran into what is arguably the most improved EV available in the U.S. today.
One upgrade every driver will feel is the new, higher-performance drive unit. It comes with the larger battery pack and increases the horsepower and range of both rear- and all-wheel-drive models. Inside, some of the vehicle’s controls have been redesigned and more importantly, ID.4s fitted with that optional battery also gain a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen that runs an improved infotainment system. And thanks to manufacturing changes, this venerable Volkswagen is now eligible for federal tax credits, which makes its already affordable price even more appealing.
Before this update, the ID.4 was hit or miss; it did some things extremely well and fell short in other areas. As for this vehicle’s core strengths, its clean exterior styling is timeless, the interior is spacious and build quality exemplary. This VW is also extremely comfortable; the front seats are soft yet supportive. These buckets are also heated and ventilated, plus there are 12 adjustment directions and a memory function. The rear bench is excellent, too, roomy in all dimensions and the backrest is comfortable angled.
The ID.4 is also a great tool for hauling cargo. You get 30.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat and 64.2 if you fold the 60/40 split backrest down. Unfortunately, unlike some competitors, there is no front trunk. Pop the hood and you’re greeted by a pile of expensive drivetrain components.
Underscoring its value, even the most basic versions of this Vee Dub come with loads of standard equipment. You get heated front seats, 10-color interior ambient lighting, keyless entry and rain-sensing windshield wiper. There are also LED headlamps, dual-zone climate control and wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. But more importantly, ID.4s fitted with the optional 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack gain a new 12.9-inch touchscreen and an improved infotainment system that is far, far better than before. This multimedia array offers loads of functionality and there’s a lot going on, but the system is intuitive enough and – thankfully – very responsive, which wasn’t the case before. Additionally, the touch sliders for audio volume and temperature are now backlit, so you can actually see them at night. Overall, there are still better infotainment systems out there, but this one is so dramatically improved it’s no longer a dealbreaker.
Another change VW engineers made for 2024 is to the gear selector. They’ve repositioned it from the side of the digital instrument cluster down to the steering column where it replaces the windshield wiper stalk. I’m mixed on this change. I generally prefer having a separate wiper stalk (these controls have migrated over to the turn signal stalk) and there was nothing wrong with the original location of the shifter, though this new setup does work.
For 2024, other tweaks were made to the touch controls on the steering wheel. These buttons are more intuitively laid out, with clearer labeling, a lovely upgrade. As before, however, the power window switches are still unnecessarily weird, with two switches for controlling four windows. You have to press a touch-sensitive button to change between the front and rear windows, which is an unnecessary step for something so simple.
As for that new performance drive unit VW developed, it features a permanent magnet electric motor that pumps out some impressive numbers, 282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque to be precise, a nice upgrade for rear-drive models. Of course, ID.4s with four-corner traction, like the one tested here, are significantly more potent, gaining an additional 53 horses and 99 pounds of twist, bringing the totals to 335 hp and 501 lb-ft. That’s enough to get you 60 mph in around 5 seconds flat, meaning you’ve got plenty of performance in this SUV. Seriously, it scoots.
Dynamically, all-wheel-drive models are also graced with a 0.7-inch taller ride height, firmer springs and thicker stabilizer bars. Overall, the ID.4’s ride is well controlled and smooth on all but the roughest roads. The vehicle feels more settled than the rear-drive example I tested a few months back, which tended to bounce and bobble over irregular surfaces. The steering is unusually light to the touch; it’s effective but by no means engaging. This ID.4 does seem a touch less agile than the one I drove last, but the difference is probably negligible.
The ID.4 is pleasant to drive and it’s comfortable, but this is not the quietest EV out there. A fair amount of tire noise can be heard inside and there’s pronounced wind rush around the A-pillars at highway speeds. This racket is noticeable, but not objectionable.
When it comes to range, the available 82-kWh battery provides an EPA-estimated 263 miles in all-wheel-drive ID.4s, which isn’t too shabby. Rear-drive examples top out at 291 miles, just short of the 300 we typically like to see. The battery in entry-level models is only 62-kWh and provides just 206 miles of range; DC fast charging is also not particularly impressive, topping out at 140 kilowatts. The larger pack DC charges at up to 175 kW, which can get you from 10 to 80% in around 30 minutes. Unfortunately, if you want a portable charger for use at home or to keep in the trunk for emergencies, the ID.4 does not come with one. You have to buy it separately.
Another feature that’s missing is a proper one-pedal drive mode. You can shift from D to B with the gear selector, which does provide extra regenerative braking. There’s also a brake hold feature, but the vehicle will not roll itself to a stop like it would with a true one-pedal mode.
When it comes to safety and convenience features, Volkswagen’s IQ.Drive suite of assistance technologies is standard across the ID.4 range. This includes amenities like automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. You also get Travel Assist, which is adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane centering. This system isn’t quite the best I’ve ever tested, the vehicle will hunt in its lane a tiny bit, particularly on secondary roads, but Travel Assist is still exceptionally good. And if you don’t like lane centering or even adaptive cruise, VW has made it dead simple to switch between various modes, just press a button on the steering wheel and you can cycle between adaptive cruise control with lane centering, conventional adaptive cruise or even regular old cruise that just maintains a set vehicle speed.
Volkswagen made a range of meaningful improvements to the ID.4 for 2024, transforming it from an EV to avoid into one worth purchasing, especially when you consider the price. This high-end, all-wheel-drive Pro S model checks out for $55,695 including $395 for Aurora Red Metallic paint and $1,425 in delivery fees, but since the ID.4 has an eligible battery pack and is now assembled in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the vehicle is eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit, which makes it a damn good value, especially the base model, which kicks off at right around $41,000… before any discount.
For 2024, Volkswagen did a great job refining the ID.4, and the vehicle has finally earned my respect. In the past, it was tough to recommend this SUV, but thanks to the improved infotainment system, strong performance, faster charging enhanced range and tax credit availability, this vehicle is now a smart buy, even if it’s not quite as appealing as some rival models like Hyundai’s E-GMP-based vehicles and the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
At a glance
- Year: 2024
- Make: Volkswagen
- Model:4
- Trim: AWD Pro S
- Type: All-electric SUV
- Horsepower: 335
- Torque: 402 pound-feet
- MPGe ratings (city/highway/combined): 108/96/102
- Range: 263 miles
- Pros: Improved infotainment system and secondary controls, comfortable seats, good performance, faster DC charging, longer range, full eligibility for U.S. federal tax credits
- Cons: Weird window switches, at-home charger not included, some interior noise
- Estimated Base price: $41,160
- As-tested price: $55,695 including $1,425 in destination fees
