I still think Savage Geese edges him out just a bit. SG addresses things like brand reliability, examining the undercarriage, vehicle construction quality, etc. That stuff is important to me. Plus, SG is willing to call a turd a turd if he sees one.
The 2 window switches is actually a great idea. Stopping accidental lowering of the back windows, which happens a lot. Plus most people rarely lower the back windows.
You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. The button to switch to controlling the rear windows is capacitive, so if you rest a finger near the switch to prepare as you're pulling up to a drive through window or something, there's a really good chance that you'll trigger the rear controls and end up rolling down the rear window instead of the front. It's infuriating. I've owned an ID4 for 3 years now.
I have a '23. Windows switches are absolutely infuriating. Competing with the non-illuminated volume and climate sliders for idiotic design. The REAR switch is very undependable, have to try to hit it 3 or four times.
Too bad Alex didn't mention you can manually pre-condition the battery to prepare for fast charging in the 2024 77kWh models. That's a huge upgrade especially in cold weather!
The cost/efficiency trade off is a real thing for some folks. Yes, HPs are more efficient, but I think for "most" shoppers it's fine without one. It will hamper the usability in cold states, but I think for the moment it's an OK decision and there are other EVs to choose from.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Yes, I’m not too worried about it as you are right there are other choices, almost every other EV other than the Mach E in fact. Ford did decide to put on in the F 150 and Volkswagen does put them in their European version, so yes they are obviously being strategic about it. I live in an area that is perfect for heat pump, gets cold but not super cold. To be honest its not just the heat pump, I really dislike the asinine 3 button window switches, haptic buttons on the steering wheel and the infotainment system using sliders rather than knobs. It all seems like form over function tome. I’m a little sad that they put all that same equipment in the ID Buzz that I suppose will one day grace our shores. But not too sad as although it looks awesome, it is too much vehicle for me. VW made the minivan cool and electric at the same time, so I commend them for that.
The problem is, when you actually need heat when it gets cold, you still need some ptc heat. Tesla's cheat when it gets cold, and use their compressor windings as a heater, which is completely stupid.
Thanks for yet another good review. I have an ID.4 and absolutely love it. The window switches have an excellent additional feature: If you press and hold the rear button until it flashes, you can raise and lower all windows with a single button press.
I had gotten a ID.4 when they first came out, great vehicle, didn't have any issues with it, but at the time it lacked in performance. I am glad to see they fixed some of the issues I had with mine. I wish they offered the option of painted lower trim panels, and gotten rid of the window switch, but glad to see it's still going strong.
VW ironed out a lot of kinks which GM seems to be struggling with in their newer Ultium cars. They gotten the price to an attractive level and being built in the US means you get the tax incentives as well. It isn't as showy as other EV rivals, but a solid, practical pick.
Yesterday I went to see them at my local dealer. They could not open 3 of the 5 doors. They could sell you one but not legally deliver because all their stock is on recall with no current fix and no date when it will be fixed. They said they could however hold the price for 90 days. Run don’t walk away from this vehicle.
We love love love our ID.4, it’s been a really great car to us. Shopped around all the options when we bought it and found the ID.4 to be the best all rounder. These updates make it even better! We will probably lease another ID.4 when our lease ends unless something super appealing comes out in that time.
You could say this vehicle is set up for love from head to toe. The ID.4 is really popular with people that want a regular crossover experience. It will be on my radar when I start looking for a car to replace my Bolt EUV. I don't take a lot of road trips but the max charging rate on this car is acceptable for long trips compared to the EUV which is otherwise my favorite car of all time.
Alex is spot on concerning frunk space versus rear cargo space. Much more effective in the rear. But I don't want them to lengthen the vehicle. The extremely tight turning radius and shorter size makes it very maneuverable in cities. I ditched the cargo cover early on.
The thing is that while they’re calling it the 2024 model, I have yet to see actual units of the refreshed variant on dealer lots. They might as well call it the 2025 model at this point.
What everyone seems to overlook about the window switches is that an extended press on the "rear" paddle put it into 4 window mode. In the hot climate where I live being able to lower and raise all the windows together is a plus.
Such a pain to use. Unless you want to take your eyes away from the road to look if it's fi ally flashing, this is a big stupid idea. Otherwise, you need to press and hold it and count in your head to 3. Otherwise, oh nope, didn't hold long enough. Like seriously, it's a big flaw. Just an unnecessary complicated process to just use windows.
It's a cost cutting idea gone wrong. Instead of placing 4 switches like normal cars they have 2 window buttons and a switch, saving a whole 1 button. And alienating a bunch of potential customers.
When the ID.4 was introduced, all the reviewers went wild over the window switches. I'm not wild about VW's design choice, but I doubt it would bother me after I got use to it.
Alex. It’s currently on recall with no fix or fix date. In Canada they said the can sell you one but not legally deliver. They told me they’ll hold the price for 90 days. We looked at the model in the showroom. The dealer could not unlock the trunk or both right hand doors. What a shit show.
@@subbiahpalani I think prior version's wheels are staggered too. At least they were when I looked into it for mine. I am looking to grab another pair of rears to run 255 all around.
Thanks for a balanced review Alex. Wanted to like the updated ID4 as I'm in the market for a replacement for my Leaf. Not sure it's the right fit based on some of their decisions (lack of switches in the cabin, window switches, lack of heat pump).
The only car review channel I trust, just came back to check your EV reviews, your channel helped me choose my previous car and it is helping decide if an EV is for me and which one, thanks!! As for the review, how would you compare reliability of VW against Volvo and BMW?
Nice comparison, thanks. I'm very happy with my ID.4 but it does have a couple annoying issues. If they really want to be the peoples car and a family car they really need to bring back the 4 window switches to help with distraction. And also let you keep the car on when you get out of the seat. With kids and maybe pets too, you often have to get out of the car briefly. When I do this I don't want it to shut down! I want to be able to keep air and music on to not wake the kiddo. These two oversights are about my only complaint outside of them not following thought on the marketing of OTA software updates. The car drives and handles very well for what it is and is a pleasure on road trips but also easy to park and maneuver in town.
Mileage in day to day life commuting is great. And with the Travel Assist it is so relaxing. No unnecessary beeping, it stays engaged even after lane changes or accelerations, just slightly touch the steering wheel.
Good review and comparisons. I wish you had included the Kia EV6 and/or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in your one-on-one matchups, especially since you mentioned the EV6 a few times in passing.
Great video. Very informative. I do have a question; you referred several times to your ID4 as the AWD version, but I noticed that the AWD PRO S designation was not on the side badge? Anyways, extremely helpful.
Our household just updated our two cars with VW cars earlier this year (2024) from the sales person who sold to us our cars, came this assertion: The ID 4 is a great car, the great issue it has, is that it requires service technicians that must take and pass VW certifications in order to service them, this is the problem, there are currently very few certified technicians, the vast majority of dealerships only have one technician or none at all, which leads to a lot of ID4 waiting to be serviced, this leads to people having to wait long lead times for service. So it’s not problems with the product, is problems with the roll out and the service 😢
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is how good this car is for such a wide rage of human heights, especially for tall folks. It also drives quite well. Glad vw seems to be getting the software sorted out.
Does Canada have a heat pump? And Is it possible to buy a Canadian model and ship it state side? This is also something I’d be curious about for other cars to
@@privettoli from 2023 all iD4 for the North American market are made in Chattanooga Tennessee I have 2023 iD4 it had the optional heat pump even the German Built model were available with heat pump but in 2023 the heat pump option was limited because of they said they didn’t have enough parts but now it seems easy to get the heat pump on the 24 models I don’t know if a new Canadian model could be imported to the US but at least two things has to be considered the warranty and maybe the lost of and incentives.
Technically, the EPA should have zero issues with it being imported into the US, but you may not be able to buy it in Canada in the first place. The dealers for many cars in Canada are precluded from selling it to non-residents.
I really want to like this, and with the updates its almost there (Canadian here, no heat pump worries lol). Holding up for when they ditch the capacitive steering wheel now that VW is walking back their misadventure into this era of interior controls.
That doesn’t mean anything. Incentives are crazy high in China especially for cars built there. Look at the BYD Seagull which is under $10k USD in China but over $20k USD in other countries.
I test drove the id4 Pro the dealership said no heat pump and it's a takes a long time to get software updates. The car looks good on the outside and it's nice and compact but after the $7500 rebate they still wanted $46k before taxes for a car that only gets 209 miles. They said next year's model should get better range
The interior is actually more drab than an Escape. With all the negatives about the finicky touch controls, it is funny they still keep them. With most wanting buttons and knobs, it is a wonder they keep touch. The two button window controls are just cheap and not needed, just give us dedicated controls. The lack of amber rear signals is also disappointing. This could be good... could be.
I'm cross shopping the ID.4 and the IONIQ 5, plus a few others. Nothing in this class wows me, but if I had to buy a new EV today, I might end up with a RWD ID.4. I wish the ID.4 had smaller wheels, but car designers love big wheels these days. The ID.4 looks inoffensive, albeit a bit bulbous. The EV that really caught my eye is the Kia EV3 (smaller than the ID.4), but there's no telling when it might show up in the U.S.
Two window switches for four windows, and a very thin sunroof shade that allows noticeable solar heat gain. Not everyone is going to be bothered by these things, but why an automaker would risk turning off even some customers unnecessarily is a bit of a mystery.
The sunshade blocks the same amount of the sun as most sunshades in most cars. At least it has one for the glass roof unlike the Model Y or Mach-E… excluding the sunroof shade entirely is real cost cutting.
"Most" is a bit strong. "Most" cars have shades that block all the visible light from coming through. On the heat front however there's little difference between what is likely less than 1% coming through and as close to zero as you can get with fabric.
It's hilarious to me how many "car people" don't like the column shifters because "what if the car is dead and you need to shift to N? there's no mechanical connection!" ... I replaced the gear shift on my 2005 Ford Focus; there was no mechancial connection.
Glad I didn't wait for this refresh and got the Tesla Model Y. More power, faster 0-60, more rear seat room, frunk, four window switches (!), heat pump, equal sized tires front & back (they can be rotated), better infotainment, and vastly superior public charging network. And in addition, no traditional dealership to hassle with.
I actually chose the vw id4 because of the dealership LOL. I prefered comfort to speed. It doesnt eat through the tires as quick as the tesla and i enjoy the engineering with the drum brake at the rear. I also think the way that the car edges forward slowly is a good idea and that the assisted cruise control slows you down when you need to slow down. I bought the car so that anyone can drive it, its not too technical. and above all I can fit bicycles in the back, all shapes and sizes. and if I want to use a tesla supercharger, i can as I am a member and so get discounted rates.
Nice to see. I have the 1st edition ID4. Its a good car and confortable , I luv it but i did notice that the car was only fast if the battery was above 80% otherwise it wouldnt be so fast. I assume thats down to battery tech. Does the new 2024 have different battery tech otherwise there will be a speed lag. I am not so into speed otherwise i would have gone for a tesla but if you are showing that its sporty, its probably because the battery is charged above 80%. You have a motor in the front and back so i guess you dont notice that.
Alex, How much money🤑 do carmakers save by selecting a ski pass-through 10:54 over a genuine 40/20/40 rear seat? 🤔 My guess is that the savings amount to an aggravatingly low sum. 🤨
I'm getting closer to a career change that is likely going to involve a commute, and while reason keeps pushing me toward the Tesla for the network, charging speeds, etc... I can't get over the simple fact that it's just so ugly. That's personal taste for sure. I looked at all the options at an auto show in March, and it was the ID.4 and the Ariya that struck me as the best fit for me from a styling, comfort, and visibility standpoint. I just wish there was a heat pump in the ID.4. Midwest winters get pretty cold!
The VW seems to be an attractive and well thought out car. My preference would be for an electric GTI. Much as I hate the universal move to SUVs this one is almost tempting. It is still a lot of money though.
VW does not have a frunk just because of their HVAC system. It is a traditional system put into an ev, and takes a lot of space. Not having a heat pump, almo makes the system to weight more and occupy more space.
I would like more leg room, not more cargo area. Then you can use space for cargo OR passengers, a good compromise. As a passenger, I'd rather share my space with cargo or suitcases than have claustrophobic legroom. It's more lux to have rear seat legroom.
DEAL BREAKERS: no rear window switches on the driver door, only haptic+single button switches on steering wheel, only touch buttons for climate, no one-pedal drive that brings the car to a full stop without break pedal. On the plus side, it does have CarPlay.
I'm really surprised more manufacturers have not embraced this size of EV since the compact SUV is the best selling car size in America. Hyundai and Kia are only producing a size down (Ioniq 5, EV6) or two sizes up (EV 9). Model Y, MachE, all too low to the ground they give more of a sedan drive feel than an SUV. Maybe I'm being too goldilocks here, but I just want a car the size and height of my Tucson in an EV.
If VW continues to sell the standard model with old software it's no sale for me. Update the infotainment and software to other 2024 models and it could be a real winner. As it is the Pro RWD is the best value.
Thic car just seems incredibly cost cut into oblivion. Here in Europe VW was always known for being no BS solid offering. This seems gimmicky and cost cut, it's not a surprise it does not sell as well as they wanted
I am 6' 2" and need to sit upright. Headroom is never an issue. What is an issue in all cars and trucks is the height of the rear view mirror in relation to eye level. There are zero vehicles that my eyes are below the mirror no matter how low I put the seat. Please add this to all reviews
window switches... absolutely stupid! Tech advances needs to make human-machine interaction LESS time consuming, reduced physical motion. Those switches add yet another level of interaction for the same function that the previous intuitive (NORMAL) switches did.
@@afcgeo882 The starting MSRP for the Ioniq is 41.8k, going up to 53.5k ID.4 starts at 39.7k and goes up to 53.8k. So these are extremely comparable just using base price, I only looked at the manufacturers website for the prices. Idk it just feels weird to sideline a strong competitor and have the weakest one there.
Because the stated mission is in theory the same. VW is adamant that they made an EV for the "normal car shopper" as did Toyota. Hyundai had kind of a split mission in mind and the Ioniq 5 is also a bit more EV hot hatch than SUV. Trust me, I love the Ioniq 5, but when it came down to selecting 2-3 competitors to focus on, we had to start looking at the target customer, cross shop data, etc and then sadly some solid competitors just didn't make the cut.
This ID.4 will always feel like they were chasing the Bolt and just had no idea what they were doing, where they should've really gone after an electric Beetle instead. They didn't have the courage to give us the ID.3 and gave in to the mundane crossover wave, when they could've really gone strong with their unique products that propped them up for so long. Even the Buzz is a sad facsimile.
It's definitely somewhat of a common issue. I believe the windows thinks it’s pinching on something, so it goes back down instead of up. I’d talk to my dealer about it several times and they have no clue how to fix. It’s infuriating for any car to do this, let alone a $50k car.
Only the models with the larger battery get the newer infotainment system with the improved responsiveness. Honestly, given that the model with the smaller battery also has the old, underpowered rear motor, I personally would avoid it regardless of how much cheaper it is.
Had a 23 ID.4 Pro S AWD and it was just ok. Squeaks and rattles. Software was sluggish and not well designed. Promised over the air updates that did not work. Random reset of all settings. Later traded for a Model Y LR that I am much happier with. Even with fewer physical controls they work so much better and intuitively. Faster, better charging, lighter, more efficient. About the only thing I miss on the ID.4 is the kick open trunk and the boxier trunk space.
I hate my 2021 id.4. The car was launched with far too many problems by a company with NO SOFTWARE skills and a spotty reputation for dealing with problems. Since the launch they have never come to grips with problems reported by early adopters. I just received a recall notice for my car for a problem with the infotainment display system. I reported the problem to my dealer in early 2022 but VW decided it was a glitch and never addressed it. Now in July 2024 they admit there is a problem and are going to TRY to fix it. No fix is available yet and based on past recalls for this car the fix will not show up any time soon,, and the dealers will have problems fixing all of the vehicles. It could be a hardware/software problem,and VW still cannot update the software over the air yet for these vehicles. My bottom line with this car is not the design or build, But the company. They have refused to address the software problems of the vehicle. Trying to deliver software upgrades from a server in Germany to a vehicle in the US over the cellular network was just dumb. All large software updates MUST be done by the dealers.
Nnnno no time for crossover-SUVs in top-spec trims 🙄. An ID.3 would be a better fit as an everman EV and even then that car is a size too large, too heavy, too inefficient and too expensive. The 27-36kWh Hyundai Ioniq was the ultimate Goldilocks ev.
Best auto channel, bar none
Yes, and Transport Evolved
I agree. Alex gives all the details you don’t get from others. He has maturity and tries not to be too biased towards a certain brand.
I still think Savage Geese edges him out just a bit. SG addresses things like brand reliability, examining the undercarriage, vehicle construction quality, etc. That stuff is important to me. Plus, SG is willing to call a turd a turd if he sees one.
@@nodak81on the other hand, SG spends very little time on the interior. Alex is meticulous on things like interior comfort and usability
110% !!!!
We love our ID.4 2022. 15k miles on it so far
The 2 window switches is actually a great idea. Stopping accidental lowering of the back windows, which happens a lot.
Plus most people rarely lower the back windows.
You'd think so, but you'd be wrong. The button to switch to controlling the rear windows is capacitive, so if you rest a finger near the switch to prepare as you're pulling up to a drive through window or something, there's a really good chance that you'll trigger the rear controls and end up rolling down the rear window instead of the front. It's infuriating. I've owned an ID4 for 3 years now.
I have a '23. Windows switches are absolutely infuriating. Competing with the non-illuminated volume and climate sliders for idiotic design. The REAR switch is very undependable, have to try to hit it 3 or four times.
Too bad Alex didn't mention you can manually pre-condition the battery to prepare for fast charging in the 2024 77kWh models. That's a huge upgrade especially in cold weather!
Alex this is some of your best work.
Crazy amount of data in formats for everyone and you rattle it off without skipping a beat. Kudos.
The lack of available heat pump in the US is a major mistake. VW still does not understand the US market.
For me its no heat pump no deal. Also eliminates the Mach E.
Most of the US doesn’t need a heat pump (warm climate) and the cost of those is high.
The cost/efficiency trade off is a real thing for some folks. Yes, HPs are more efficient, but I think for "most" shoppers it's fine without one. It will hamper the usability in cold states, but I think for the moment it's an OK decision and there are other EVs to choose from.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Yes, I’m not too worried about it as you are right there are other choices, almost every other EV other than the Mach E in fact. Ford did decide to put on in the F 150 and Volkswagen does put them in their European version, so yes they are obviously being strategic about it. I live in an area that is perfect for heat pump, gets cold but not super cold. To be honest its not just the heat pump, I really dislike the asinine 3 button window switches, haptic buttons on the steering wheel and the infotainment system using sliders rather than knobs. It all seems like form over function tome. I’m a little sad that they put all that same equipment in the ID Buzz that I suppose will one day grace our shores. But not too sad as although it looks awesome, it is too much vehicle for me. VW made the minivan cool and electric at the same time, so I commend them for that.
The problem is, when you actually need heat when it gets cold, you still need some ptc heat. Tesla's cheat when it gets cold, and use their compressor windings as a heater, which is completely stupid.
Thanks for yet another good review. I have an ID.4 and absolutely love it. The window switches have an excellent additional feature: If you press and hold the rear button until it flashes, you can raise and lower all windows with a single button press.
I had gotten a ID.4 when they first came out, great vehicle, didn't have any issues with it, but at the time it lacked in performance. I am glad to see they fixed some of the issues I had with mine. I wish they offered the option of painted lower trim panels, and gotten rid of the window switch, but glad to see it's still going strong.
VW ironed out a lot of kinks which GM seems to be struggling with in their newer Ultium cars. They gotten the price to an attractive level and being built in the US means you get the tax incentives as well. It isn't as showy as other EV rivals, but a solid, practical pick.
Yesterday I went to see them at my local dealer. They could not open 3 of the 5 doors. They could sell you one but not legally deliver because all their stock is on recall with no current fix and no date when it will be fixed. They said they could however hold the price for 90 days. Run don’t walk away from this vehicle.
Dreck. But not as bad as bZ4X and Solterra. Plenty of way better options out there.
We love love love our ID.4, it’s been a really great car to us. Shopped around all the options when we bought it and found the ID.4 to be the best all rounder. These updates make it even better! We will probably lease another ID.4 when our lease ends unless something super appealing comes out in that time.
You did the right thing by leasing it.
You could say this vehicle is set up for love from head to toe. The ID.4 is really popular with people that want a regular crossover experience. It will be on my radar when I start looking for a car to replace my Bolt EUV. I don't take a lot of road trips but the max charging rate on this car is acceptable for long trips compared to the EUV which is otherwise my favorite car of all time.
Alex is spot on concerning frunk space versus rear cargo space. Much more effective in the rear. But I don't want them to lengthen the vehicle. The extremely tight turning radius and shorter size makes it very maneuverable in cities. I ditched the cargo cover early on.
Where is ioniq5? Ioniq5, model Y, Mach-E and ID-4 were on my list when I was considering.
Sadly we can't compare to everything, if we did the video would be an hour long.
Personally, I'd drop both the solterra and bz4x comparisons to make room for the Ioniq 5...
@3:58 Alex didn't seem to mind that bear climbing a tree behind him. Cool customer. Also, a pretty chill bear... never saw it move.
The thing is that while they’re calling it the 2024 model, I have yet to see actual units of the refreshed variant on dealer lots. They might as well call it the 2025 model at this point.
Same experience here in my area. Where I can find any 2024 models, at all, they’re with the smaller battery.
I got the 2024 Pro S AWD earlier this year. They had great incentives this summer, so they might have gotten scooped up.
No heat pump is a deal breaker for the northeast
🎯
Current EV6 lessee checking in to say exactly just that. No heat pump is a giant miss.
For north in general. Unless you're staying in one of the big cities, range drop is a significant problem in the winter.
I agree, but us and the Northern Midwest aren’t the majority of the country. New York needs a heat pump.
@@fireteam_ Here in Canada, we are lucky and can buy the Heat Pump version, at least I saw the option with my ID.4 Pro S AWD
What everyone seems to overlook about the window switches is that an extended press on the "rear" paddle put it into 4 window mode. In the hot climate where I live being able to lower and raise all the windows together is a plus.
Such a pain to use. Unless you want to take your eyes away from the road to look if it's fi ally flashing, this is a big stupid idea. Otherwise, you need to press and hold it and count in your head to 3. Otherwise, oh nope, didn't hold long enough. Like seriously, it's a big flaw. Just an unnecessary complicated process to just use windows.
It's a cost cutting idea gone wrong. Instead of placing 4 switches like normal cars they have 2 window buttons and a switch, saving a whole 1 button. And alienating a bunch of potential customers.
VW could offer the all-windows-down feature without deleting the separate rear window switches.
When the ID.4 was introduced, all the reviewers went wild over the window switches. I'm not wild about VW's design choice, but I doubt it would bother me after I got use to it.
Alex. It’s currently on recall with no fix or fix date. In Canada they said the can sell you one but not legally deliver. They told me they’ll hold the price for 90 days. We looked at the model in the showroom. The dealer could not unlock the trunk or both right hand doors. What a shit show.
Good improvements, especially that charging speed and infotainment/center stack!
I wish there was an option for non-staggered tires to allow for rotating.
You can put same size tires F/R. Just put 235's all around
@@GibsonBuck My understanding was that the rear rims were 20x9 with a 42 offset and the fronts were 20x8 rims with 45 offset.
@@darrinv6798you are correct prior version had same wheels
@@subbiahpalani I think prior version's wheels are staggered too. At least they were when I looked into it for mine. I am looking to grab another pair of rears to run 255 all around.
@@darrinv6798I wonder how running 4 of the 20x9’s would fair or if there is clearance/rubbing issues.
Thanks for a balanced review Alex. Wanted to like the updated ID4 as I'm in the market for a replacement for my Leaf. Not sure it's the right fit based on some of their decisions (lack of switches in the cabin, window switches, lack of heat pump).
The only car review channel I trust, just came back to check your EV reviews, your channel helped me choose my previous car and it is helping decide if an EV is for me and which one, thanks!!
As for the review, how would you compare reliability of VW against Volvo and BMW?
The cargo cover fits under the false load floor when it’s in the higher position, check reviewers in Europe they show this all the time
Nice comparison, thanks. I'm very happy with my ID.4 but it does have a couple annoying issues. If they really want to be the peoples car and a family car they really need to bring back the 4 window switches to help with distraction. And also let you keep the car on when you get out of the seat. With kids and maybe pets too, you often have to get out of the car briefly. When I do this I don't want it to shut down! I want to be able to keep air and music on to not wake the kiddo. These two oversights are about my only complaint outside of them not following thought on the marketing of OTA software updates. The car drives and handles very well for what it is and is a pleasure on road trips but also easy to park and maneuver in town.
Mileage in day to day life commuting is great.
And with the Travel Assist it is so relaxing. No unnecessary beeping, it stays engaged even after lane changes or accelerations, just slightly touch the steering wheel.
Good review and comparisons. I wish you had included the Kia EV6 and/or the Hyundai Ioniq 5 in your one-on-one matchups, especially since you mentioned the EV6 a few times in passing.
Continue to hate the window selectors. As if new cars need more confusing/ distracting controls!
Great video as always :)
Great video. Very informative. I do have a question; you referred several times to your ID4 as the AWD version, but I noticed that the AWD PRO S designation was not on the side badge? Anyways, extremely helpful.
Our household just updated our two cars with VW cars earlier this year (2024) from the sales person who sold to us our cars, came this assertion:
The ID 4 is a great car, the great issue it has, is that it requires service technicians that must take and pass VW certifications in order to service them, this is the problem, there are currently very few certified technicians, the vast majority of dealerships only have one technician or none at all, which leads to a lot of ID4 waiting to be serviced, this leads to people having to wait long lead times for service. So it’s not problems with the product, is problems with the roll out and the service 😢
Is there a reason you leave out the Ioniq 5 in your measurement data?
Good overview! Really appreciate it!
Wish it had a heat pump.....
One thing that doesn’t get mentioned enough is how good this car is for such a wide rage of human heights, especially for tall folks. It also drives quite well. Glad vw seems to be getting the software sorted out.
Does Canada have a heat pump? And Is it possible to buy a Canadian model and ship it state side? This is also something I’d be curious about for other cars to
I have a 24 PRO S AWD with heat pump.
@@GibsonBuck where was it made, where you did buy it?
@@privettoli from 2023 all iD4 for the North American market are made in Chattanooga Tennessee I have 2023 iD4 it had the optional heat pump even the German Built model were available with heat pump but in 2023 the heat pump option was limited because of they said they didn’t have enough parts but now it seems easy to get the heat pump on the 24 models I don’t know if a new Canadian model could be imported to the US but at least two things has to be considered the warranty and maybe the lost of and incentives.
Technically, the EPA should have zero issues with it being imported into the US, but you may not be able to buy it in Canada in the first place. The dealers for many cars in Canada are precluded from selling it to non-residents.
I really want to like this, and with the updates its almost there (Canadian here, no heat pump worries lol). Holding up for when they ditch the capacitive steering wheel now that VW is walking back their misadventure into this era of interior controls.
Whoa.. just noticed Alex has lost some weight 👍👍👍😉😉😉
Alex, Thanks for your videos!
The price of the base model of this thing is 20k USD in China...let that sink in..
That doesn’t mean anything. Incentives are crazy high in China especially for cars built there. Look at the BYD Seagull which is under $10k USD in China but over $20k USD in other countries.
@@pine111 1） Price is much lower because of market competition. VW had to drop their price to sell these. 2) It actually means a lot to our consumers.
I test drove the id4 Pro the dealership said no heat pump and it's a takes a long time to get software updates. The car looks good on the outside and it's nice and compact but after the $7500 rebate they still wanted $46k before taxes for a car that only gets 209 miles. They said next year's model should get better range
This IS the “next year” model.
ID.4 Body comes from the Porsche Macan Body platform same as the Audi Q4 Etron
The interior is actually more drab than an Escape. With all the negatives about the finicky touch controls, it is funny they still keep them. With most wanting buttons and knobs, it is a wonder they keep touch. The two button window controls are just cheap and not needed, just give us dedicated controls. The lack of amber rear signals is also disappointing. This could be good... could be.
I'm cross shopping the ID.4 and the IONIQ 5, plus a few others. Nothing in this class wows me, but if I had to buy a new EV today, I might end up with a RWD ID.4. I wish the ID.4 had smaller wheels, but car designers love big wheels these days. The ID.4 looks inoffensive, albeit a bit bulbous. The EV that really caught my eye is the Kia EV3 (smaller than the ID.4), but there's no telling when it might show up in the U.S.
Two window switches for four windows, and a very thin sunroof shade that allows noticeable solar heat gain. Not everyone is going to be bothered by these things, but why an automaker would risk turning off even some customers unnecessarily is a bit of a mystery.
The sunshade blocks the same amount of the sun as most sunshades in most cars. At least it has one for the glass roof unlike the Model Y or Mach-E… excluding the sunroof shade entirely is real cost cutting.
The shade is fine in mine, not sure of what you are talking about, adding a thicker shade comes with some failure risk.
"Most" is a bit strong. "Most" cars have shades that block all the visible light from coming through. On the heat front however there's little difference between what is likely less than 1% coming through and as close to zero as you can get with fabric.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Sorry I should’ve clarified I was referring to the heat aspect of the sun not the light aspect
The side view reminds me of the Corrado, in a good way, but even better!
It's hilarious to me how many "car people" don't like the column shifters because "what if the car is dead and you need to shift to N? there's no mechanical connection!" ... I replaced the gear shift on my 2005 Ford Focus; there was no mechancial connection.
Very true.
I'm like this EV car and this make me buy this.
Glad I didn't wait for this refresh and got the Tesla Model Y. More power, faster 0-60, more rear seat room, frunk, four window switches (!), heat pump, equal sized tires front & back (they can be rotated), better infotainment, and vastly superior public charging network. And in addition, no traditional dealership to hassle with.
I actually chose the vw id4 because of the dealership LOL. I prefered comfort to speed. It doesnt eat through the tires as quick as the tesla and i enjoy the engineering with the drum brake at the rear. I also think the way that the car edges forward slowly is a good idea and that the assisted cruise control slows you down when you need to slow down. I bought the car so that anyone can drive it, its not too technical. and above all I can fit bicycles in the back, all shapes and sizes. and if I want to use a tesla supercharger, i can as I am a member and so get discounted rates.
Winner is ID.4 👍
Awesome review - detailed, relevant info🎉
Nice to see. I have the 1st edition ID4. Its a good car and confortable , I luv it but i did notice that the car was only fast if the battery was above 80% otherwise it wouldnt be so fast. I assume thats down to battery tech. Does the new 2024 have different battery tech otherwise there will be a speed lag. I am not so into speed otherwise i would have gone for a tesla but if you are showing that its sporty, its probably because the battery is charged above 80%. You have a motor in the front and back so i guess you dont notice that.
It’s probably not an issue anymore given the vastly improved main motor in the refreshed models with the larger battery.
The cargo cover plastic is so sharp that I cut myself each time taking it out.
Bummer they removed the front seat retractable armrests.
Alex, How much money🤑 do carmakers save by selecting a ski pass-through 10:54 over a genuine 40/20/40 rear seat? 🤔 My guess is that the savings amount to an
aggravatingly low sum. 🤨
It’s making the 20 section crash compliant that’s hard
Plenty of companies make a 20% section work just fine, even with top tether child anchors. It's simply cost.
But a little bit here and a little bit there do add up.
@@afcgeo882 Yes, it adds up to an aggravating compromise.
@@rightlanehog3151 Yes, but one you can actually afford.
I'm getting closer to a career change that is likely going to involve a commute, and while reason keeps pushing me toward the Tesla for the network, charging speeds, etc... I can't get over the simple fact that it's just so ugly. That's personal taste for sure. I looked at all the options at an auto show in March, and it was the ID.4 and the Ariya that struck me as the best fit for me from a styling, comfort, and visibility standpoint. I just wish there was a heat pump in the ID.4. Midwest winters get pretty cold!
I've gotten more range than the official numbers, ~4 mi/kWh. You eventually get the hang of driving efficiently when you own the car.
I like our '23 model.......except for the locks. Its often a nightmare to get the doors to unlock with the buttons on the interior.
Haptic buttons on the steering wheel and sliders for volume and HVAC.
These are still deal breakers. VW needs to fix the interior quickly.
And that's the least of their problems
The sliders are no problem on my Atlas. It does have physical steering wheel buttons which is key for me.
They are not nearly as bad as everybody acts like they are. Far from a deal breaker.
The VW seems to be an attractive and well thought out car. My preference would be for an electric GTI. Much as I hate the universal move to SUVs this one is almost tempting. It is still a lot of money though.
If this was 350-361 like the Ioniq 6 i would jump on this asap
No heat pump is disappointing. I really dislike the touch buttons everywhere and the dumb seat controls with only 2 buttons. Meh.
Waiting for someone to do a mega comparo: Id4 vs Ev6 vs Ioniq 5 vs Mach E vs bz4x vs Equinox/Blazer vs Model Y. (Did I miss anyone?)
VW does not have a frunk just because of their HVAC system. It is a traditional system put into an ev, and takes a lot of space. Not having a heat pump, almo makes the system to weight more and occupy more space.
I would like more leg room, not more cargo area. Then you can use space for cargo OR passengers, a good compromise. As a passenger, I'd rather share my space with cargo or suitcases than have claustrophobic legroom. It's more lux to have rear seat legroom.
Where is the XC40 in your size comparison chart?
Alex, what about an ID.4 vs. Ariya comparison?
There are now lots of competitors to select from, if we talked about them all you'd still be watching the video a day later!
I'd love to - maybe it's time for your Best Of list?
DEAL BREAKERS: no rear window switches on the driver door, only haptic+single button switches on steering wheel, only touch buttons for climate, no one-pedal drive that brings the car to a full stop without break pedal. On the plus side, it does have CarPlay.
love my id4 . best ev
Touch-only AC controls is a dealbreaker
I'm really surprised more manufacturers have not embraced this size of EV since the compact SUV is the best selling car size in America. Hyundai and Kia are only producing a size down (Ioniq 5, EV6) or two sizes up (EV 9). Model Y, MachE, all too low to the ground they give more of a sedan drive feel than an SUV. Maybe I'm being too goldilocks here, but I just want a car the size and height of my Tucson in an EV.
They need separate rear window switches and remove all the haptics for regular buttons
The 2 switches is a great idea. Stops accidental lowering of the rear windows. Which happens a lot.
About 30 mintues to 80% charge. Need to get that number to at least 10-15 minutes as more and more electric cars hit the road. Lines will be terrible.
Best reviews.....period
If VW continues to sell the standard model with old software it's no sale for me. Update the infotainment and software to other 2024 models and it could be a real winner. As it is the Pro RWD is the best value.
I wonder if the software changes will be applied retrospectively to older ID4 models.
It does not sound like it
Don't like the different tire sizes, front to the back, on the ID4.
VW,
Please bring back the Phaeton as a halo EV sedan or wagon.
Replace the Jetta with the arteon style 😮💨
Thic car just seems incredibly cost cut into oblivion. Here in Europe VW was always known for being no BS solid offering. This seems gimmicky and cost cut, it's not a surprise it does not sell as well as they wanted
As an owner of ID.4, I want something bigger like EV9 or R1S now. Smaller "EV SUV"s shouldn't have been called SUV in the first place.
1:03 Mercedes reference with the Jelly Bean?
The cheap-looking interior is quite frustrating. It's a massive step-down from the Golf Mk.7.
I prefer ID.5 .
I am 6' 2" and need to sit upright.
Headroom is never an issue.
What is an issue in all cars and trucks is the height of the rear view mirror in relation to eye level.
There are zero vehicles that my eyes are below the mirror no matter how low I put the seat.
Please add this to all reviews
Great job losing that weight. Not easy at all. Looking good.
silly haptic buttons on the steering wheel, again...
HVAC vents seem to be way too low.
window switches... absolutely stupid! Tech advances needs to make human-machine interaction LESS time consuming, reduced physical motion. Those switches add yet another level of interaction for the same function that the previous intuitive (NORMAL) switches did.
The turning radius on the bmw i3 is 16.4......
Sarcasm with Marlene's music?!
I love Marlene!
Ugh.. i see the capacitive, confusing controls are back.
Why compare it the the bz4x instead of an Ioniq 5. I think most EVs should beat the bz4x.
The price, I think.
@@afcgeo882 The starting MSRP for the Ioniq is 41.8k, going up to 53.5k
ID.4 starts at 39.7k and goes up to 53.8k.
So these are extremely comparable just using base price, I only looked at the manufacturers website for the prices. Idk it just feels weird to sideline a strong competitor and have the weakest one there.
Because the stated mission is in theory the same. VW is adamant that they made an EV for the "normal car shopper" as did Toyota. Hyundai had kind of a split mission in mind and the Ioniq 5 is also a bit more EV hot hatch than SUV. Trust me, I love the Ioniq 5, but when it came down to selecting 2-3 competitors to focus on, we had to start looking at the target customer, cross shop data, etc and then sadly some solid competitors just didn't make the cut.
@@AAutoBuyersGuide Did the Ariya not make the list? Seems very competitive.
@@Spartan1468 The reality is different though as the VW gets a $7500 credit and the Ioniq gets none.
I feel like you intentionally didn’t compare it to the Ioniq 5
Shame about that hood height; kinda ruins the look for me.
No 360 bird-side view camera on 2024
So the ID.4 is a little less mediocre. Woohoo.
huge depreciation, wait and buy used
Or keep a long time.
This ID.4 will always feel like they were chasing the Bolt and just had no idea what they were doing, where they should've really gone after an electric Beetle instead. They didn't have the courage to give us the ID.3 and gave in to the mundane crossover wave, when they could've really gone strong with their unique products that propped them up for so long. Even the Buzz is a sad facsimile.
Dumb window switches. So they inconvenienced their entire userbase to save on one switch. Just sad.
It is actually more convenient because you don't accidentally lower the back windows.
@@AlanTov Somehow this has never been a problem for me.
Did VW fix their windows going all the way down instead of going up?
??
It's definitely somewhat of a common issue. I believe the windows thinks it’s pinching on something, so it goes back down instead of up.
I’d talk to my dealer about it several times and they have no clue how to fix.
It’s infuriating for any car to do this, let alone a $50k car.
0:28 but does it have computer tweaks?
Only the models with the larger battery get the newer infotainment system with the improved responsiveness. Honestly, given that the model with the smaller battery also has the old, underpowered rear motor, I personally would avoid it regardless of how much cheaper it is.
Had a 23 ID.4 Pro S AWD and it was just ok. Squeaks and rattles. Software was sluggish and not well designed. Promised over the air updates that did not work. Random reset of all settings. Later traded for a Model Y LR that I am much happier with. Even with fewer physical controls they work so much better and intuitively. Faster, better charging, lighter, more efficient. About the only thing I miss on the ID.4 is the kick open trunk and the boxier trunk space.
I hate my 2021 id.4. The car was launched with far too many problems by a company with NO SOFTWARE skills and a spotty reputation for dealing with problems. Since the launch they have never come to grips with problems reported by early adopters. I just received a recall notice for my car for a problem with the infotainment display system. I reported the problem to my dealer in early 2022 but VW decided it was a glitch and never addressed it. Now in July 2024 they admit there is a problem and are going to TRY to fix it. No fix is available yet and based on past recalls for this car the fix will not show up any time soon,, and the dealers will have problems fixing all of the vehicles. It could be a hardware/software problem,and VW still cannot update the software over the air yet for these vehicles.
My bottom line with this car is not the design or build, But the company. They have refused to address the software problems of the vehicle. Trying to deliver software upgrades from a server in Germany to a vehicle in the US over the cellular network was just dumb. All large software updates MUST be done by the dealers.
Nnnno no time for crossover-SUVs in top-spec trims 🙄. An ID.3 would be a better fit as an everman EV and even then that car is a size too large, too heavy, too inefficient and too expensive.
The 27-36kWh Hyundai Ioniq was the ultimate Goldilocks ev.
I’d love the id3, but anything smaller won’t sell in the US.