2021 Volkswagen ID.4 U.S. Specs and Pricing Released
By Edward A. Sanchez – March 3, 2021
Volkswagen has announced pricing and specifications for the ID.4 electric crossover coming to the U.S. market. Unlike the rest of the world, which will get the Golf-sized ID.3, hatch-hating America will only get the ID.4, for now. Still eligible for a federal tax credit, the ID.4 will start at $41,190, when including the mandatory destination charge of $1,195, before deducting the $7,500 federal tax credit. That brings the price to a hypothetical $33,690. Although as has been discussed on our podcast, EV tax credits can be somewhat tricky, so buyer beware.
The initial batch of ID.4s coming to the U.S. will come from VW’s plant in Zwickau, Germany. Production of the ID.4 is scheduled to start at VW’s Chattanooga, Tennessee plant in 2022.
At launch, the ID.4 will be offered in a single-motor rear-wheel-drive configuration with 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque. VW says all-wheel-drive models with more power will be coming later in the year starting at $48,175. U.S. spec models will come with an 82kWh (gross capacity) battery, and an EPA-rated range of 250 miles. The pack consists of 288 pouch cells arranged in 12 modules. The battery pack itself weighs a not-insubstantial 1,087 pounds.
As noted in our review of the announced specifications of the Hyundai Ioniq 5, the ID.4 is on the compact end of the crossover spectrum, with an overall length of 180.5 inches, around the same ballpark of a Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. The ID.4 will feature VW’s IQ.Drive Level 2 driver assist technology. VW describes IQ.Drive as “partially-automated hands-on” driving assist, so it is more akin to Tesla’s Autopilot that GM’s Super Cruise.
The RWD ID.4 is rated at 104 MPGe city, 89 MPGe highway, and 97 MPGe combined. For reference, the Tesla Model Y long-range all-wheel-drive model received a rating of 131 MPGe city, 117 MPGe highway, and 125 MPGe combined. The Tesla Model Y Performance, with roughly twice the output and acceleration of the ID.4, is rated at 115 MPGe city, 106 MPGe highway, and 111 MPGe combined.
For the ID.4’s motor, VW points out it employs a “hairpin” design for the stator part of the motor. The company claims this allows a tighter packing of copper in the stator, increasing power and torque for the size of the motor while optimizing cooling. VW claims the entire drive unit, including the motor, gearbox, and power electronics only weighs 200 pounds and can fit in a duffel bag.
The purchase or lease of a new ID.4 comes with three years of complimentary DC Level 3 charging at Electrify America stations.
Interestingly, Volkswagen has opted for rear drum brakes on the ID.4. Volkswagen claims the regenerative braking effect of the electric motor reduced the need for rear discs, as well as simplified manufacturing, as most vehicles equipped with rear disc brakes still employ a smaller drum mechanism in the rear disc as a parking brake. Front disc brakes are a relatively beefy 13.4 inches on rear-drive models and 14.1 inches on all-wheel-drive models.
In a subtle dig at Tesla, Volkswagen points out that the ID.4 will be available for sale in all 50 states at more than 600 dealers nationwide. Similar to Tesla, buyers can make an initial $100 refundable deposit to reserve an ID.4. An additional $400 deposit (also refundable) secures their reservation. VW assures that dealership delivery will be a “simple, transparent” process. OK.
The ID.4 should begin showing up at U.S. dealers starting this month.
(Images courtesy Volkswagen)
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