Volkswagen ID.4 2022 Review

This, literally and figuratively, is the $64,000 question. See, although Volkswagen Australia is yet to release formal pricing and specifications for the Volkswagen ID.4, the company says it is targeting the price of a similarly-sized Volkswagen Tiguan 162TSI R-Line with some options fitted when it finally goes on sale in Australia.

That means consumers can expect to pay about $65,000 plus on-road costs for the solitary Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance grade that will launch initially at the end of next year.

Volkswagen has all but confirmed a Pure Performance variant better suited to fleets will also make its way to Australia at a later date, with an anticipated starting price below $60,000.

Both offer rear-mounted electric motors, but the flagship Pro Performance is distinguished by additional standard features, greater performance and a longer EV range (522km claimed versus 345km).

At those prices, the Volkswagen ID.4 is set to undercut the likes of the Tesla Model Y (from $74,025 plus ORCs), Kia EV6 (from $72,590) and Hyundai IONIQ 5 (from $72,000). But, given some of its equipment shortfalls, it may need to…

Dimensionally, the Volkswagen ID.4 measures 75mm longer than the conventional Volkswagen Tiguan, at 4574mm long, 1852mm wide (excluding door mirrors) and 1640mm high.

Notably, it rides on a lengthy 2771mm wheelbase.

Local specifications for the Volkswagen ID.4 range will be released closer to its market launch at the end of 2023.

However, VW says equipment levels will closely align with the UK-specification examples of the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 we’ve driven on private roads in Australia.

In the case of the flagship Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance (circa $65K), standard specifications should include 19-inch alloy wheels, a head-up display, keyless entry/start, three-zone climate control, front sports seats with electric adjustment and heating, IQ.Light Matrix LED headlights with dynamic cornering function and dynamic turning signals (strobe effect), LED tail-lights, adaptive suspension, progressive steering and a Type 2 Australian charging cable.

Volkswagen is still finalising its aftersales provisions for Australia, but buyers can expect inclusion of a five-year/unlimited-kilometre factory warranty and capped-price servicing provisions stretched over lengthy 35,000km intervals (to be confirmed).

The battery is also expected to be backed by a standard eight-year/160,000km term that is fast becoming commonplace in the EV ranks.

Volkswagen is still considering its options with charging infrastructure and support.

It could follow Audi’s lead and go into a formal partnership with Chargefox public charging and Jetcharge home charging – built into the vehicle’s purchase price – but is also contemplating an ‘agnostic’ option that allows buyers to tailor their charging to their needs and save on the upfront purchase cost.

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 presents strongly where safety is concerned, especially if the UK-specification vehicles are any guide.

Initial specs suggest the ID.4’s safety suite will include front assist (AEB) with pedestrian and cyclist detection, Travel Assist with adaptive lane guidance, adaptive cruise control, speed limiter, driver fatigue detection, turn assist, lane assist, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera.

Seven airbags should also be standard, along with a variety of other safety equipment.

When it comes to child seat amenity, we can also expect three top tether points and two ISOFIX attachment points on the outboard seats.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is yet to be formally crash-tested in Australia but carries a five-star Euro NCAP rating from 2021.

Naturally for a pioneering EV, the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 sports the German car-maker’s latest infotainment and technology suites, bundling a 12-inch centre touch-screen display with digital radio, wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, voice control plus wireless phone charging.

The instrument cluster presents more like a motorcycle binnacle, perched on top of the steering column and measuring just 5.3 inches in size.

It is flanked to one side by the gear shifter, which has been moved from its traditional centre console space to liberate room for additional storage.

There are two USB ports up front, and the rear seat is likewise serviced by an additional two USB-C ports and rear air vents with their own electronic control panel.

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 employs a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle.

In flagship Pro Performance trim, the battery is rated at 82kWh (77kWh net), while the electric motor produces 150kW and 310Nm, enabling a 0-100km/h time of 8.5sec and an average energy consumption of 17.2kWh/100km.

In the Pure Performance model, the ID.4’s battery is rated at 55kWh (52kWh net), and electric motor outputs are changed to 125kW and 310Nm respectively. The official 0-100km/h dash is 9.0sec, while energy consumption is 16.7kWh/100km on the WLTP cycle.

The flagship Pro Performance offers maximum charging capacities of 11kW (AC) and 125kW (DC) respectively, while the Pure Performance manages 7.2kW (AC) and 110kW (DC).

Crucially, it means the ID.4 cannot exploit the most powerful 150kW fast-charging systems in Australia to full effect.

As such, recharging times aren’t as sharp as some competitors. In the case of the Pro Performance, VW says you can expect a 0-80 per cent charging time of 33 minutes using a 125kW DC station, 6.5 hours using an 11kW AC charger or 28.5 hours using a household connection.

In the Pure Performance, the 0-80 per cent indicated charging times are 26min for an 110kW DC system, 6.5h using a maximum 7.2kW AC connection or 19.5h with a household connection.

In terms of other hardware, the Volkswagen ID.4 is based on the group’s new MEB architecture, which is a dedicated EV platform.

Suspension comprises MacPherson struts up front and an independent four-link configuration with coil springs at the rear. Disc brakes on the front axle oddly team with drum brakes on the rear.

Volkswagen claims a total EV range of 522km for the flagship 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance, and 345km for the Volkswagen ID.4 Pure Performance – both on the WLTP cycle.

On test, the ID.4 Pro Performance had an indicated range of 256km with a 73 per cent charge – indicating a real range of about 340km, far less than its 522km claim.

It’s worth noting our test car was subject to aggressive stop-start driving away from public roads, so we’ll reserve judgment on the ID.4’s real-world driving range for now.

Based on a short closed-circuit drive with little to no undulations, we reckon the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 feels sound on-road.

There’s an element of novelty in its operation: the vehicle uses a combination of weight sensors in the driver’s seat, plus the depressing of the brake to turn itself ‘on’, and the gear shifter is located next to the instrument binnacle to liberate cabin space.

That said, the key controls are typically well modulated – in keeping with Volkswagen’s combustion models – and it feels nippy and planted during our short 10km simulated road drive experience.

A 10.5-metre turning circle teams with a low-slung driving position and open forward glasshouse to cultivate driver feel and confidence.

Less inspiring is the rearward view, with its bulky C-pillar and narrow rear window.

There’s a telling rear-drive bias in either ID.4 model tested, but we preferred the weightier steering of the flagship and its poised body control – the result of progressive steering and adaptive suspension respectively.

The rear-drive bias may sound insignificant, but it endows the ID.4 with a planted and confident demeanour that enthusiasts or A-to-B drivers alike will appreciate.

With the electronic reins loosened, the ID.4 also has the propensity to break those rear wheels free – without getting too carried away.

Progress is spritely rather than all-out explosive from either drivetrain, plying their power confidently out of the blocks and segueing neatly to around-town speeds.

The ID.4 never really feels wanting for power all the way up to highway speeds, whereupon the body feels stable and surefooted on the road underneath it.

Arguably the biggest consideration for the ID.4 dynamically is its weight. At 2200kg in flagship Pro Performance form (and 1900kg in Pure Performance trim), the ID.4 feels its heft through faster changes in direction and heavier acceleration.

Of course, this is not a new phenomenon in the bourgeoning EV ranks; rather, it is the reality of weighty batteries and electric motors.

The jury is also out on bump compliance, but body control and overall refinement feels promising based on our initial first taste test.

Ideally, we’d prefer the fitment of steering-wheel-mounted paddles to meter the amount of regen braking on the fly.

We’d hazard a guess, not really. The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 is relatively low-slung, with an approximate 210mm ground clearance and no spare wheel (inflation kit only).

In the same vein, its towing capacity is quite limited, rated at 1000kg braked.

In a word, the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 feels spacious inside.

Irrespective of battery size, the ID.4 offers identical interior and boot space across both models, maximising the much-vaunted skateboard electric architecture to full effect with a flat floor, great incidental storage solutions and roomy proportions.

The second row in particular enamours with its cavernous legroom, shoulder-room and headroom respectively. It rightly feels more comparable to the larger Volkswagen Touareg than the Tiguan in terms of passenger amenity.

The window line is relatively low too, making the Volkswagen ID.4 suitable for adults and little ones alike.

It’s a similar story with the 543-litre boot area, which offers ample room for a couple of full-size suitcases or a designer pram. A luggage net and underfloor space for charging cables are both noteworthy features, but we really wish it had a spare wheel of some description.

All told, the panels feel well put together and the build quality appears sound on our UK-spec test cars.

Perhaps the one exception is the scratchy plastics adorning the touch-points of the rear door cards, and the clunkiness of the doors upon closing; they certainly don’t ‘thunk’ shut reassuringly like a Golf’s.

We also take issue with the minimalist dashboard centre fascia, which is completely devoid of physical buttons and switchgear dials.

VW argues there are shortcut buttons within the touch-screen and its touch-buttons underneath, but sometimes it’s simply easier to press a button.

The new Volkswagen ID.4 deserves to be on any EV shortlist: it feels well-acquitted based on our short closed-road drive, is strongly packaged and offers the Euro refinement and finish commensurate with the VW badge.

However, there are some caveats to consider.

Foremost, the ID.4 will not land on Aussie shores until late 2023, and when it does, it is likely to miss out on some key ingredients already found on its peers.

They include over-the-air (OTA) updates and connected services (though there is talk VW Australia is readying something on this front), vehicle-to-load (V2L) charging or multi-stage regenerative brake paddles.

Additionally, the ID.4 misses out on 150kW DC charging capability – meaning it won’t recharge as fast as other vehicles and perhaps isn’t as future-proofed as other EVs.

It means the ID.4 will begin to feel its age by the time it actually arrives Down Under.

However, if Volkswagen Australia can price it to suit, they will still have a very compelling first EV.

2022 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro Performance at a glance:
Price: $65,000 estimated (plus on-road costs)
Available: Final quarter 2023
Powertrain: Single permanent magnet synchronous motor
Output: 150kW/310Nm
Transmission: Single-speed reduction gear
Battery: 82kWh (77kWh net) lithium-ion
Range: 522km (WLTP)
Energy consumption: 17.2kWh/100km (WLTP)
Safety rating: Five-star (Euro NCAP 2021)