I was excited to test drive Volkswagen's first truly mainstream electric vehicle, the VW ID.4 SUV, as someone who has owned and operated a number of electric vehicles. I had the opportunity to drive the VW ID.4 for a few days as part of a #vwpartner cooperation with Volkswagen. What I discovered was a mass-market SUV that is simple to get used to if you're coming from a regular gas-powered vehicle.
Wireless CarPlay on a huge possible 12-inch display, as well as available wireless charging, are all available on the VW ID.4
Wake up and go
One of the most attractive aspects of owning an electric vehicle is the ability to wake up with a fully charged battery. That means you won't have to question how much gas is left in the tank, and you won't have to take any unnecessary diversions to the gas station. You simply get out of bed, unplug, and head to your destination. It's difficult to go back after you've become used to this feature of owning an electric vehicle.
Speed and driving
One of the things that surprised me as surprising about the VW ID.4 is how simple it is to move from a gas-powered vehicle to an electric SUV. VW has resisted the need to make the ID.4 strange or eccentric simply because it is electric. First and foremost, this is an SUV, and it drives similarly to gas-powered vehicles.
The VW ID.4 offers enough power for everyday routine like merging on the highway and passing in traffic, while not being a performance vehicle. If you're seeking for more power, Volkswagen will have various options, including the AWD version of the ID.4.
The vehicle's speed, especially when turning, was what surprised me the most. The turning radius is excellent for a vehicle of this size, making u-turns a breeze. This was a major difference from my daily driver, which is comparable to operating a small boat.
Regenerative braking, which slows acceleration while simultaneously recharging the battery, is another important feature of electric vehicles. While the ID.4 lacks so-called "one-pedal driving," you can easily enable enhanced regenerative braking, which reduces the amount of time you spend using the brakes.
Storage
The VW ID.4 is a true SUV that can easily seat five people. VW claims that it has more passenger space than the Toyota RAV 4 in 2021.
The split rear folding seats provide number of storage space at the back of the vehicle. With the automatic lift gate, getting to the back storage is a simple. In the back, there are two hidden storage compartments, which are great for storing valuables or less-often-used items.
Car Play
Car Play links your iPhone into your vehicle's primary display, allowing for safer interaction with your phone as well as Siri voice control and text-to-speech. Car Play makes it simple and safe to use Apple Maps, Apple Music, Podcasts, and even third-party apps on the VW ID.4 Of course, you may use your voice to make phone calls or listen to and answer to text messages.
I didn't know how much I missed Car Play until I drove the ID.4 because I drive an electric vehicle that would almost certainly never have it. The convenience of Car Play for an iPhone user (the vehicle also supports Android Auto) cannot be emphasized, and the VW ID.4's available 12-inch screen enhances the Car Play experience.
Apple Music is one of my favorite features of Car Play, and one that I miss the most in my everyday driving, as an Apple Music subscriber. Car Play gives you access to Apple's entire music collection of over 75 million songs and lets you request any of them with a simple voice command. Even better, your whole curated music library is immediately accessible, including all of your playlists and albums.
Car Play is a feature I've appreciated in previous vehicles, but having it on the VW ID is a first.
The iPhone 4's 12-inch display makes apps like Apple Maps even more accessible. Third-party mapping apps such as Google Maps and Waze are also compatible with CarPlay.
The VW ID.4 comes with a few of additional tech choices that improve CarPlay even more. For starters, there's wireless CarPlay connectivity, which means you don't need to plug in any cords to get connected – just get in the car and it connects to your iPhone instantly. Second, the VW ID.4 comes with a wireless charger, allowing you to keep your phone charged even when it isn't attached to a physical cable.
Additional standout features
Other from CarPlay, there are a few more outstanding features that I really liked:
- There's a panoramic roof, but there's also a retractable sunshade to keep the interior cool.
- The driver's and passenger's chairs are massaging.
- The foot well, doors, and dash have RGB ambient lighting that may be customized.
America must be electrified.
I stopped at an Electrify America charging station near my home, one of over 600 across the country (with another 100 on the way).
The charging process is simple, and the charging state can be seen on the 12-inch display. Further, Plug and Charge is on the way, making charging even more convenient than pumping gas. When compared to a typical gas car, the VW ID.4 electric SUV can save up to $4000 in expected fuel costs over the course of five years.
The all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 produces no direct emissions, which is good for the environment. While it may make you happy, the car must also be practical and functional in order for you to be truly tenable. That is why I believe the VW ID.4 and similar vehicles will play a major role in the growth of electrification both locally and internationally.
The Volkswagen ID.4 is not only practical, but it also has the technology, storage, and a simple design language. When you add in the familiar features, it's simple to understand why this electric SUV will make switching from a gas-powered car a breeze.
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