In about few months, the electric vehicle (EV) world is going to be very different because there will be multiple credible competitors for the Tesla Model Y, both in terms of range and design. The most recent mass production electric SUV to join the competition is coming from Volkswagen. The VW ID.4 is an upcoming small size crossover SUV that has a full electric propulsion system. Let’s find out more about this new electric SUV and see how it compares with the competition.
The VW ID.4 is a first in the Volkswagen brand that sits on the MEB platform (German: Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukasten; English: modular electric-drive toolkit), which is meant to be a modular platform that will underpin the small to mid-size electric vehicles from the company. The MEB platform will translate to two separate cars. In Europe, there will be VW ID.3, which is a golf sized EV car, not like an electric version of the gas model. With MEB platform, the structure of the vehicle will be aluminum but the body panel and chassis will be steel. The second MEB car from Volkswagen will be the ID.4, which will be offered with both two wheel drive and all wheel drive options. The all wheel drive model will be more powerful with 302 HP and better acceleration than a GTI.
VW ID.4 vs the competition
The ID.4 RWD option has 201 HP and 229 lb-ft of torque with acceleration from 0 – 62 mph in about 8.5 seconds. The acceleration with ID.4 is not as fast as the Model Y or Mustang Mach-E, but just like all other EVs, it still offers a decent amount of torque at low RPMs. In terms of price, the ID.4 Pro S RWD has the lowest price compared to the Mustang Mach-E Select RWD and Model Y Long Range AWD. Compared to the competition, the ID.4 offers the lowest top speed at 99 mph but offers a big 82 kWh battery and longer electric range at 255 miles.
The VW ID.4 is taller but shorter and narrower than Model Y and Mustang Mach-E, which means that the wheel base is also shorter in VW ID.4 compared to the competition. The other difference is in the brake setup as VW ID.4 offers rear drum brakes compared to the 4-wheel disk brakes in Tesla and Mustang. VW claims that the drum brakes are more efficient for regenerative braking compared to disk brakes but we will have to wait for actual test results before we can discuss this point further. Lastly, the towing capacity is higher in Tesla given the dual-motor AWD setup but you can expect to tow around 2200 pounds with ID.4 and 1653 pounds with Mach-E. Check out the full technical specification comparison below.
Model Y vs ID.4 vs Mach-E: Specs Comparison
Based on the comparison of the specs and total package, it is clearly evident that VW ID.4 is geared towards the everyday consumer as it is going to be VW’s mass market electric car of 2021. The VW ID.4 doesn’t offer the greatest acceleration or flashy interior as it feels more like a comfortable car that is made for your daily life routines. The VW ID.4 registrations have been sold out and it is set to release during Summer of 2021. Given the entry price of $40K and the feature set, it is clear that VW’s ID.4 is going to change the EV industry by paving the path forward for more competition.
Source: CarAndDriver, EV-database
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