Volkswagen ID.4 review

There are four ID.4s to choose from – Match, Life, Style and GTX models. The entry level Match has a 52kWh battery (all the others come with a bigger 77kWh setup) and a 168bhp e-motor. That car starts at £42,640. The Life and Style models have a more powerful 282bhp motor and cost £46,035 and £49,440 respectively. The top spec car is the GTX, which comes with a 335bhp, dual motor, four-wheel drive powertrain and costs £53,865.

It's not cheap, but that puts it at the cheaper end of the spectrum compared with its rivals. At time of writing the Skoda Enyaq starts from £44,540, Hyundai Ioniq 5 £43,445, Audi Q4 e-tron £51,965, Kia EV6 £45,275, Polestar 2 £44,950, Tesla Model Y £44,990 and BMW iX3 £65,160.

What about trim levels?

Entry level level Match cars get 18in steel wheels as standard, along with satnav, wireless phone charging, USB-C plugs front and rear, keyless entry, heated front seats and auto wipers. All ID.4s also get the latest version of VW's infotainment setup, which means a 12.9in touchscreen in the centre of the dash.

Life models get 19in alloys, LED headlights, a heated steering wheel and front seats, plus adaptive cruise control. Style trim cars get auto headlights, keyless start, panoramic glass roof, tinted rear windows, three-zone climate control and a rearview camera.

GTX models meanwhile get 20in alloy wheels, a head-up display and GTX detailing including red accents and badging, as well as a Harmon Kardon sound system.

If you’re wanting to go all out, GTX Max upgrades this with adaptive chassis control, a heat pump to warm the cabin with less battery drain, an electrically operated tailgate with foot opening and close function, and a 360-degree parking camera.

How quickly does it charge?

Volkswagen's latest round of ID.4 updates have released some extra charging from software upgrades and the like. The 52kWh Match model charges at 115kW max, the single motor 77kWh models have a 135kW max and the dual motor GTX tops out at 175kW. All ID.4s average out at the same 10 to 80 per cent pace, taking 28 minutes. 

VW also has a charge roaming app so you can use chargers of many networks, with a single monthly bill. That reduces the need to sign up to dozens separately. Still, as with all other EVs, owners will almost always charge on AC at home overnight.

What's the best spec?

As is the way with most EVs, the smaller motored, bigger batteried version is arguably the pick of the bunch here, meaning Life spec with 282bhp and 77kWh battery. You don’t need more in a family crossover.

Life trim probably has enough to appease most buyers, though Style trim slightly improves the ID.4’s rather bland image. Of the available options, it’s well worth considering the energy efficient heat pump, at £1,050. 

Warranty is three years and 60,000 miles, but the battery is eight years and 100,000 miles.