2021 Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen builds the ID.4 SUV in two equipment levels: Pro and Pro S. Customers can upgrade the standard rear-wheel drivetrain to all-wheel-drive, increasing the vehicle's power and year-round performance for about $4,000 extra. All ID.4s come with IQ.Drive, a suite of driver safety technology to help avoid collisions while out on the road. This package includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high beams. Pricing starts around $40,000 for the Pro trim, which has exterior features like alloy wheels, rain-sensing wipers, and heated side mirrors. All-wheel-drive models include a heated windshield. The cabin comes with cloth upholstery, heated front seats, a folding rear bench, keyless entry/ignition, dual-zone climate control, a heated leather steering wheel, a 10-inch infotainment touchscreen, a WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The Pro S costs roughly $44,500, adding amenities like a 12-inch touchscreen, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, power-folding mirrors, a sunroof, fog lamps, a hands-free power liftgate, leatherette upholstery, and driver's seat memory. Shoppers can select from a black or gray interior. The $1,500 Gradient Package adds a black roof, silver-anodized roof rails, silver exterior accents, and unique 20-inch machined alloy wheels.

The ID.4 comes standard with rear-wheel-drive, a single electric motor producing 201 hp, and a single-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive versions of the ID.4 have dual electric motors, together producing 302 hp. A lithium-ion traction battery sits under the passenger compartment, which helps the vehicle have a low center of gravity and stable handling on the road. Its 82-kWh capacity offers up to 250 miles of driving range, and it is rechargeable at home or a roadside charging station. Volkswagen includes three-years of complimentary high-speed charging at the participating network of Electrify America vehicle charging stations located around the country. Charging at home takes about 7.5 hours on a 240-volt charger, and Volkswagen says a DC fast-charger can replenish 75 percent of the battery's energy in as little as 38 minutes. The ID.4 is quick and agile on the road, thanks to instant electric power and a four-corner independent suspension. It's fairly versatile, too, with a 2,700-lb maximum trailering capacity when properly equipped.

The ID. 4's interior does an excellent job blending in futuristic style and features without going too far out of the comfort zone of those new to electric driving. Its multifunction steering wheel, many in-cabin bins and cupholders, and fairly standard-looking air vents give the cabin a practical appeal. One can get into the vehicle and have a reasonable idea of where all of the vehicle's functions and settings are. There are some nice features you won't find on other Volkswagens, though. There is a sleek strip of LED lights at the bottom of the windshield that register a variety of vehicle functions, subtly lighting when the vehicle is turned on, and working in concert with the infotainment system's voice controls when the user makes requests by saying, "Hey, ID." A small digital gauge cluster is located behind the steering wheel that handles all of the vital driving information like speed and electric range. A short stalk connected to it operates the vehicle's transmission. There is very good passenger space inside the ID.4, with good headroom in both rows. Some competitors offer more rear legroom, but tall adults won't feel cramped here. Standard features are very competitive, and the Pro S model adds amenities like a panoramic glass roof. There is a large rear cargo area that is expandable by folding down the rear seats. There is also a pass-through in the center seat that lets you transport longer items like skis or wood boards without putting down the entire row.