2023 Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 electric crossover SUV has received a mixed reception since its first release in the USA in 2021. While it has always been competent across a broad front, there was very little to set it apart from a growing stream of mainstream-brand opponents, leading to a fiercely average perception among testers and the buying public alike. Even our own recent Volkswagen ID.4 review found it to be entirely adequate but also unremarkable.

But, now that the ID.4 is being built in Volkswagen's Chattanooga, TN facility, there is a bit of scope to improve the overall package without bumping its price into the stratosphere. For 2023, the ID.4 receives more standard equipment and a new entry-level model to reduce its starting price. This, combined with the updated infotainment software announced in 2022, should address many of the shortcomings thus far leveled at the ID.4, and hopefully lead to broader market acceptance as well.

New for 2023 is a smaller battery pack for the RWD-only Standard and S trims, rated at 62 kWh instead of the 82 kWh battery used in the higher trims. Will this new, lower entry point result in stronger ID.4 sales? Possibly, but remember that it has strong competition in the marketplace. Possible alternatives include the Chevy Bolt EUV, the entry-level Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Kia EV6, so the ID.4 has its work cut out to make an impression on such formidable opponents.

For the value-conscious customer, the base ID.4 Standard with the 62-kWh battery will be the first choice as it carries a starting MSRP of $37,495. It's followed by the RWD Pro with the 82-kWh battery at a cost of $42,495 - exactly the same as the RWD S with the small battery. The RWD Pro S Plus costs $49,945. The Pro, S, and Pro S Plus can be equipped with the dual-motor, all-wheel drive drivetrain for an additional $3,800. All ID.4 models potentially qualify for a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. These prices exclude a destination charge of $1,295.

Built on the MEB platform, the new VW ID.4 SUV is available in either RWD or AWD. RWD models have one motor with 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, regardless of the battery. Opting for AWD adds an electric motor between the front wheels and makes the larger battery mandatory, increasing system outputs to 295 hp and 339 lb-ft. The ID.4 has its batteries mounted below the passenger compartment floor. Not only does this design liberate a lot of cabin space, but it also keeps the vehicle's center of gravity very low. The benefit to the vehicle's handling characteristics is obvious: The springs and dampers don't need to counteract the vehicle's weight transfer to the same degree as with an ICE car, so they can be tuned for comfort because the battery layout counteracts excessive body roll.

What this means in the real world is that the VW ID.4 stays flat and stable yet doesn't exhibit much body roll in hard cornering. And, due to this low center of gravity, the general handling characteristics are neutral, tending toward mild understeer at the limit. These are all positive attributes, but the ID.4 is unfortunately not blessed with communicative steering - it is accurate and responsive, but doesn't relay much in the way of road feel to the driver. This is no GTI, then.

Performance is also good but unexceptional. With a curb weight of about 4,560 lbs, the ID.4 is quite a heavy car, so the 201 hp available in RWD models doesn't realize a fantastic power-to-weight ratio. AWD models are even heavier, and adding optional extras will only add to that weight. Expect the ID.4 with RWD to get from a standstill to 60 mph in about 7.5 seconds, while the more-powerful AWD versions should do the same dash in less than 6.0 seconds, according to Volkswagen.

In the context of its segment, the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 is a good product, but it probably won't go down in the history books as a segment-defining product. It does everything anyone can reasonably expect from a compact crossover SUV very well, even if it doesn't excel at anything in particular. The handling dynamics and performance of the VW ID.4 are on par with competitors', it's decently practical even without an opening frunk, and the cabin is comfortable and quiet. It is only really let down by the frustrating all-touch user interface and some substandard interior materials, but these factors are subjective. And, given the newly reduced entry price and a large array of standard driver aids, the Volkswagen ID.4 is even good value for money in its latest form.

The ID.4 is available in four trim levels, the Standard and S with the small battery and RWD, the S with the large battery and RWD, and all the other models - Pro, Pro S, and Pro S Plus - available with the large batter and RWD or AWD. We'd default to the Pro S trim for $47,495. Should the lower 255-mile range and $51,295 price not be an issue, we'd consider the AWD model instead. Adding a second motor increases the power by nearly 50% while improving the car's usefulness in winter weather.