So clearly the "hybrid system" title on the powertrain screen is wrong, this is a full EV. We're working through some graphics issues here and somehow this template kept reverting to the original design. ARG!!

I get why EV enthusiasts aren’t thrilled with the ID4, but as someone who really wants a commenter / family vehicle, the ID4 is attractive in a lot of ways.

It is worth noting that if you don't have the tax liability to get the full $7,500 federal tax credit, you can lease the car and VW is giving the full $7500 tax credit off of the lease, so those who don't qualify for the tax credit can still take advantage and get the Pro model for about $32,500.

Great review. Having road tripped my 2020 Chevy Bolt across the US and back I think you hit the nail on the head when you called it leisurely, which my wife and I found very enjoyable, but I know it would drive some folks crazy. The ID.4 is near top of my list for a second EV, but the Ioniq 5 is my current favorite, and I recently put down my $100 deposit to get on the reservation list. Can’t wait for your review of the Ioniq 5 and EV 6.

Note for DC charging. While the peak rate on the ID4 is less than the Mach-E or Model Y the average rate from 10 to 80% is actually higher than both due to a somewhat flater charging curve. So the ID4 actually charges faster.

I have an ID4 and have already put more than 30k miles on it because I travel to UC Davis every week. Its a wonderful cruiser, like Alex said it soaks up bumps and imperfections very very well when comparing to other EV's or other compact suv's. The tech works great albeit sometimes there are glitches but nothing like what I experienced in the Tesla model 3 where the screen randomly shut off when we were going to Monterey bay. Its also quiet efficient at high speeds. And yes the turning radius is a gift. Amazing vehicle all together and well put together. Good job to VW!

ID.4 AWD over MME is my pick. The state that I live in has an additional $2,500 rebate for EVs under $50K. Makes this a no brainer as that’s a lot of car for the $$$. I am also a long time VW owner and their dealerships and service can’t be beat. Plus German Engineering over everything else every day of the week. This vehicle will grow on folks and the kinks are soluble. When I reserved mine this week the salesperson already had 45 orders (not reservations) for the 2021 AWDs initially being built in Zwickau, Germany. The EPA estimated range of 240 miles for the ID.4 AWD Pro S model, a maximum 295 HP, torque, and all‑wheel drive traction to help accommodate varied terrain and weather conditions. My commute is 13 miles a day and my road trips are 150 miles each way. Lastly, I want to blend in and not be stared at 😀.

For those who don't have a $7,500 tax liability, you can lease the ID.4 and then buy it out immediately from VW Credit without incurring finance charges. The $7,500 is applied as a lease incentive.

I love the idea of the ID.4, but I live in an area where fast charges are mostly confined to the interstates and I like driving for fun; into the mountains, out on the plains and out to the coast; some of my favorite mountain routes are either dicey or impossible in a 250 mile EV, and an EV range would require more than 1 fast charge to get to the coast, turning a 8 hour trip into a full day odyssey. I really wish the manufacturers for the North American market would concentrate more on PHEV's . . . your previous comment (a Niro review) that resources would be more efficiently applied to PHEVs than EVs really stuck with me, especially considering the American way of driving . . . . . . and a PHEV comparison much like the Leaf/Tesla/Niro EV comparison that you did would be greatly appreciated.

I really like the VW take on EV, finally a practical EV… Tesla’s are great, but I really don’t need my daily driver to do 0-60 in 3 sec… lol

The ID.4 needs about 10 minutes more than a model Y to charge 10% to 80% using CCS; 25 vs 35 minutes ;) The MEB cars have much flatter charging curves than Teslas. Rumor is that VW will update the charging speed to peak at 175 kW but we will have to wait and see. I appreciate your emphasis on how this is not just an EV but an ICE replacement. Also, don't forget, VW will give you the full tax credit if you lease, and you can then purchase it after the lease, paying no interest, and getting the tax benefit too, it's a no-brainer. Overall, this car is simply an incredible value, costing only a few thousand more than the equivalent CR-V or RAV4. I suspect it will be a huge hit, especially the AWD model. My only criticism is the lack of a heat pump in NA, maybe they will bring it to the AWD models at a later time.

Liking that VW is bringing a more affordable EV. If they’d brought ID.3 to the US, we WOULD have VWs EV version of the Beetle. And affordability would be even better. Thank you for the complete review!

1. I don't find opening a front hood/bonnet easy or convenient. 2. Combine the Mach-E's boot and frunk and it's still significantly less capacity than ID.4's boot. Conclusion? Don't need a frunk!

Every car manufacturer should be releasing EVs that are affordable ! Jeez I am really interested in the Ioniq5 though

Love the turning radius and how long the charge rate is sustained high in to the capacity percentage. 💯

I love my 40kw leaf. An underrated car. It’s simple, drives great around town and for 120 mile round trips.

The EV tax credit needs to be overhauled substantially: penalizing people for buying a popular EV and preventing poor people from getting the maximum financial assistance (which is not much in the first place) is colossally stupid.

The ID.4 doesn't have mechanical grill shutters, but it does have a roller blind system mounted behind the radiator but in front of the condenser that serves a similar purpose.

Omgoodness I've learned so much about EV's! Thank you Alex🙏 I've been so confused (even a little frightened) about charging, range, what's under the hood etc. I have considered purchasing an EV even though I live in the deep south where big gas guzzling beasts own the road.

In most states, you can walk into a VW dealership, purchase and drive a new VW ID.4 right off the lot. Same goes for a Ford Mach-e or Chevy Bolt. You have to order a Tesla Model Y from a website. I'll never buy a car sight unseen, so I know which direction I'll be going for a EV.

I'm with you Alex. If we go somewhere that needs an over night to reach it, we're likely on a plane. I can't spend four days driving on my seven day vacation.

The AWD American made version coming later in 2021 is going to be best in class. It's a great look and great value. What a great vehicle especially with the price drop when it's made in America.

Interesting that he gave the ID4 a "B" and the Mach E an "A" for ride quality when he says that the ID4 has a better ride.

I am so sick and tired of all these “professional” reviewers bashing this car left and right. They all complain about its slow acceleration, lack of frunk and regular buttons, and a laggy software. I test drove this car at my local dealer and liked it very much. It is quiet, has a very roomy interior and a good cargo space. The haptic feedback buttons on the steering are pretty easy to use and vibrate in response. You can also just press on them. The sliders under the infotainment screen were also pretty responsive. I have a RWD Pro S with a Gradient package on order that is coming this September. And no, I am not a housewife who is buying this car as her new toy. I am a single mother who actually works for a living. I don’t need a 3-second acceleration when I drive my kid to a daycare or commute to work. I wanted an SUV and VW ID.4 checks all the marks for me, it just happened to be an EV. And yes, I love German cars, VW Group especially, and I owned my 2011 VW Jetta for 10 years now - never any issues. To each their own. To all the haters of this car I’d say - go and test drive one and see for yourselves.

40 amp EVSEs are on Amazon for ~$315. Need a NEMA 14-50 socket.

That was one of the best EV reviews I have seen. Thanks! I own a 2015 Nissan Leaf and love it. Quirky sums it up quite well. 😁 I don't qualify for the $7500 tax credit but Nissan leased me the car, took the credit for themselves and then applied it to the lease. That and the Nissan incentives made it very affordable. I bought out the remainder it at the end of the lease. I've had it 6-years now. Excellent around the county car. If I ever get rid of it the ID4 looks enticing.

Hey Alex, just letting you know. Chevy as of right now 7-7-21, is offering $9500 off of the 2021 chevy bolt not the 2022 model. But the $9500 off msrp is for chevy owners of 2007 model year and up vehicles. Which I find strange because thats limiting the chance for non chevy owners to get any discount at the moment. Unless someone sees something different that I don't see. Ive watch all your videos for atleast 7 years or more,, keep up the good work!

Glad you mentioned it can charge at tesla destination chargers with an adaptor this time. It's down to this, Q4 e-tron, and Ioniq 5 for me. Might as well throw in the Niro and Kona EV's if you're gonna mention the bolt and leaf as competitors.

Just came back from a resort in Borrego, Ca. Dates from the 1930s. All the carports had 240v charge plugs.

Excellent review Alex! Can always count on you to provide helpful and objective reviews! Thanks!

I was looking at the model Y until Tesla removed the radar and the passenger lumbar... And jacked up the price again. Right now I'm waiting for Ioniq 5 full reviews for the US version. It's a little weird-looking, but the charge curve looks great, and V2L is pretty appealing as well. Depends on the price though.

If my 2012 Prius bit the dust today, the ID.4 would be on my short list. But I'm holding out for the IONIQ 5. Truthfully though, I'd prefer something smaller than either of those, but with the same advanced features (like 125 - 350 kW DC fast charging).

Priced like this the ID.4 is going to be everywhere soon especially with the tax credits in play. VW Chattanooga plant is going to be real busy soon.

Hard to beat the latest Bolt deals for value, right now.

One thing I would like to see added to your reviews would be a few more details about how it’s like to drive at night. When you talked about the headlight design it made me wonder how good they are. A lot of new cars are coming standard with LED headlights but not all of them are going to be good or necessarily better than halogens or HID lights. You could briefly mention it during the walk around of the exterior or during the driving part

Thanks, this is a great overview. I like the comparisons you have done at the end. I'm in Canada and it looks like the ID4 will be more competitively priced here than in the USA which is very rare for us! The base ID4 will have heat pump, heated seats & front window and still be $2k less than the Leaf 62kWh. It's only 65% of the price for a Y (which has about 125 km more range and awd of course.) As well it's $5k CAD less than the base Mach-e with less range and no heat pump. Looking forward to seeing your Ioniq 5 review soon.

What is the noise level in dB as you used to measure for other cars?

Driven them all. ID4 is my pick. Are you sure it charges slower than the Y? Others European videos might suggest otherwise from 0 to 80. I could be wrong. Love your channel and content

Some inaccuracies. We drove our Tesla last weekend and the “Superchargers” were never even meeting 50Kwh at top charging. Even in completely empty locations. The ID4 I have seen doing 120Kwh and charging from 20-80% in just 25 minutes. And this one doesn’t charge slower as it tops.

The Frunk concept is oversold in my view. Particularly on the ID.4, the rear cargo area is a lot more convenient to access (particularly when it is powered). You can just leave the charge cable in its bag and store it in the right wheel well inside the trunk area if the lower compartment is too inconvenient. Its totally out of the way and easily accessible there. The software is fairly primitive. VW is under significant pressure to improve it and I hope they do, but it wasn't a show-stopper for me when I put in my reservation in late 2020. Finally took delivery of my AWD ID.4 just recently so it was quite a wait! I personally don't care so much about the navigation since car-play works, but I would like more battery data available, such as the current consumption/regen in W/kW (without having to hook up a third-party device to the comm port), and we definitely need more regeneration options. There are definitely some warts when it comes to software, fast DC charger infrastructure integration, non-working charger scheduling for home charging, and so forth. I'm really happy with my vehicle though. All my critiques are minor compared to what I really care about, which is ride, comfort, responsiveness, noise, paint job, etc (what you'd expect given my previous vehicle was an A6 2.7T which I bought new 22 years ago). 40A L2 charging at home is plenty, even overkill frankly. I'm considering reducing the amps the box negotiates with the car down to 30 or 35A just to reduce wear and tear on the circuitry. Virtually nobody will ever pull into their garage at 0 charge and need full charge by the next morning. -Matt

Really great video. Hit a lot of relevant points. Very balanced. Also liked the comparisons to other EV options. I have watched a lot of other videos on the ID.4, which I have on order (AWD unfortunately) and this is the best one I have seen so far.

1:50 I've had the car for a month and had no idea you could use the floor insert as a trunk divider like that. Thanks!

0-60 doesn’t interest me, not into canyon carving & sport. interested in comfort, aesthetics, cost & quietness. ID4 Perfect. I totally understand Elon’s need to make something so fast it kicked ICE butt & started the EV revolution however that’s been done now so let’s get back to the real focus, health & safety for us & our planet. 🥰

Still have my pro s awd on order, but I’m really eyeing that ioniq 5. HARD. 😸

Alex, truly awesome review... 👍. I like how you are realistic about the use case of each EV and I truly like you have a standard test loop of 244miles .. I feed you should test the Mach E small batter RWD I know EPA is 230 but i feel it will still make that loop with only a 68kWh better the Mach E is crazy efficient..

The ID.4 looks like an SUV, while the Mustang MachE is a combo of a regular Mustang & Escape which is OK by me. Unfortunately, the MachE's interior is awful with an overly big display that looks like an afterthought.

I noticed you gave the Cabin Noise rating a B but didn’t specifically speak about it with a dB number as usual? Did I miss it?

Liking the price/value of ID4. I'm wondering what the Rwd will be like in Canadian winters though. I've read the weight of the battery underneath helps the traction in winter.

Alex you are a complete professional. I value your opinion. If there is bias in your reviews you hide it well. I loved your thoughts on why VW may have excluded a frunk. Your explanation was very logical. Great review. Well done Alex, well done. PS nix the "Alex on Auto's exclusive trunk test" you will end up throwing your back out one of these days.....

I was hoping he'd do this car. I'm kinda interested in the pro version

I wasn't sure about the lack of physical controls for vehicles. But after driving my brothers girlfriends 2018 Honda Civic Hatchback. I realize how much the lack of physical controls for AC and volume makes me angry. I think I could love a car a lot and the lack of normal controls will be a deal breaker. It is just so frustrating especially in summer in my state trying to turn it on and off as I get in and out of a car. Such a distraction and unnecessarily complex method.

Thank you thank you Alex for explaining why Level 1 charging is still viable for many people! I’ve owned an EV for the last five years and have been fine with 120 volt charging at home.

I would rather have more interior space and a larger rear cargo area than have a front trunk. The front trunk is just a legacy of ICE vehicle shapes which was perpetuated and popularized by Tesla.

VW's modern Beetle is the ID.3, available in Europe and other parts of the world - but not the US.

I would not criticize the height of the display on the ID. Other manufacturers should be critiqued for having the display too low. It’s not personal preference its human factoring. Reducing the distance your eyes travel from the road increases your reaction time when scanning the display if your eyes travel less. It also improves your peripheral vision coverage by closing the gap between infomation and road action. Good on VW in this case.

Thanks, Alex. No frunk in the CRV nor in the RAV, so VW really is competing with that class 😜 If VW can crack some of that market, they’d be pleased I’m sure. Personally, I like this EV from what I’ve seen online.

I notice that the underside of the hood is cutout with obvious struts running around. I wonder if you couldn't put a small cargo net up there and put the charge cord there? As a slight correction to Alex's statement about the "cash discount" available on the Chevy Bolt. I just checked and that is for the 2021 Bolt, not the new 2022 model EV or EUV. I doubt we'll see those giant discounts on the 2022 models because Chevrolet decreased the base price of the Bolt EV by $5,500 dollars from 2021 to 2022. So to clarify, there are NOT any discounts available for the new 2022 model Bolt EV or Bolt EUV on offer from Chevrolet. There IS $9,000 on the hood for and remaining 2021 models (and another $1500 if you already own a GM product).

I appreciate the truth about not really needing a faster charger. Some convenience comes with a 220v charger, but it's typically not needed for the average american commute. So many EV videos try to say you'll never be able to use a 110v charger because it takes 50 hours to charge. Somehow they think the average person drives 200 miles a day or something.

VW missed it by not first introducing a BEETLE EV = VOLTSWAGON. Cheap ~Easy ~ 200+/- mile range ~ NO Padded arms rest ~ self-drive $15,000 =/- - just my first ~ EV! A second car....

My first electric vehicle! Nice review Alex.

Test drove this coming from owning a Kia Soul Ev and having a Tesla model 3 for two weeks. It was so hard to drive coming from the Tesla. The Tesla with speed boost and FSD spoiled me $48,000 2018 used. But the Kia only has 89 miles of range after 4 years. Down from 113 when I got it new $25,000 2017

Hope to see a review of the Audi Q4 Etron.! Asap

I saw your review on Redline Reviews. Really enjoy your style much better. Now subscribed and look forward to seeing more of your reviews.

Really deep analysis.

This man is driving 244 miles for us

Most people aren’t obsessed with a front trunk. I wouldn’t use it anyway. I need a good ride and comfortable seats. Don’t care much about the 0-60 either.

Another great video Alex! no complaints!

I feel like if the government was really serious about electric cars they would mandate that every manufacturer used a standard charging method. If Apple ever makes an electric car you just know its charging system will be different then what is already out there. I get why manufacturers do that, there's more money in forcing proprietary accessories on the public, but if we really really want to embrace electric cars as the future in transportation, there simply must be a standard way to "fill up the tank" like there is in ICE cars.

As always..very well presented. Feel no bias. Very detailed from a technical perspective. Seems the ID 4 being a good value option. Thanks for this helpfull video.

I think this is the best option if you don’t want to or can’t afford to pay for the Teslas or Maché or if you absolutely have to have a traditional interior. I might be biased since we have two Model 3s, but technology is the most important feature in an EV at this point in time. Tesla has the competition beat when it comes to this, both in terms of infotainment system and battery/charging tech and infrastructure.

I am a VW owner for many years and have had my eye on the ID4 since it was announced... With that being said, I have also always been a big fan of the Tesla lineup even tho it is priced out of what I would say my comfortable range for the options I would want (AWD being a big one), the middle ground that I am seeing that I am VERY much interested in now is the Mach-E. It seems to check all of the boxes for me and hit right around the price that I will be more comfortable paying. If the "GTI" model of the ID4 gets a little more power and hits at a pretty good price, I might be swayed into one. (current daily driver is a '17 VW Alltrack)

Did I mention the turning radius, wow, it turns super sharp.

Hopefully the technology improves and comes down in price.

I own a leaf plus and I charged at 100kw on a trip yesterday. All EA stations have a 50kwh chademo port. All other stations will have a chademo and a ccs port.

Another great video with plenty of pertinent and useful information. The only other constructive comment I would like to add is the lack of emphasis on the reliability of the vehicles you review. Because of the high cost, many owners try to amortize their investment by trying to keep cars for a longer period of time, making cost of maintenance and repairs top concerns. Is there a particular reason you don't include issues one must look out for or consider prior to making a purchase. Thanks again for your world class and in my opinion unparalleled work.

My LEAF gets 4.1 miles per KWH and has a range of 250+ miles.

For those not going cross country too often, the 10k off the hood and 7500 tax credit are hard to look past on the base Leaf Plus. Low 20s plus tax.

I'm really liking this vehicle!

I put down $500 for a first edition and it was actually waiting for me at the dealer. But the tepid reviews (especially from Sandy Munroe) caused me to change my mind and cancel it. I do not regret passing on it. It just seems so full of compromises. I’ll stick with my Prius for now.

It’s sad that the general public doesn’t care about ergonomics anymore.

Thanks Alex for this review, I have booked ID 4 PRO S but I am also thinking toward model Y. Tesla keep increasing its price every alternate week. It is offering 325 mile range. That is what I am thinking.

I'm wondering how well those touch controls will work in winter if you're wearing gloves or mittens.

These next few years is going to be interesting in terms of competition. Tesla has something like 80 percent market share of EV sales. I wonder what percentage of the market they'll have in 5 years time.

I have a Tesla Model 3 and a 2016 Kia Soul EV. The Soul has a panoramic roof with shade and heated/ventilated front seats as well as Android Auto and Carplay. Sadly the one-speed transmission gave out on it last week so now I'm buying a used First Edition.

Hi Alex. Why doesn’t the US version not come with a HUD like the European ID4”s?

I don't understand the tax credit description c. the 24 minute mark. I think everyone will always benefit from a credit. Seems to mix tax deduction v. credit.

Hey, thanks for your thoughts on the issue. I just want to add a quick thought - while maxing out the hybrids might be more efficient for Toyota right now, going full electric now and trying to build up driver buy in has to be factored in too. If we end up in a world where 100% of people will drive hybrids, for those of us who care about the environment this still isn't enough. It seems more sensible to really push EVs now and get the consumer buy in so we can eventually get the vast majority of drivers into EVs. I appreciate the math though, I hadn't considered Toyota's position from that perspective before.

A $46500 plus destination charges ID.4 will have you paying $4503 in California State Sales @9.5% tax rate here in Los Angeles County, California.

The red indicators out back is so disappointing. The Euro version has a better configuration. Is it just cheaper to go with all red for US models?

The glass roof shade is good.

I predict four drives until that steering wheel looks grimy AF. Good review, Alex - thanks for talking charging.

I just placed my order for the ID Pro S with the smaller wheels. Price was #1, but also love the way it handles and is very comfortable. Looking forward to being an EV owner.

MachE is more fun to drive, but the ID4 would be so practical for me.

You have to change the title of "fuel economy " criterium to "efficiency", since EVs became common and EVs doesn't use fuel

Tires are under-rated. Nice to see 255s on some EVs.

Alex, I would like your opinion on the comparison of the ID.4 to the E-Niro.

How is the range with A/C constantly on? This would be very common to keep the AC on in southern/western states.

AoA will hopefully get their hands on the AWD ID4. That should be more of a competitor with the Mach-E and other crossovers.

It's different for every person, but I would never ever fly somewhere just for 300 or 400 miles. My commute round trip is 80 miles everyday, so 300 is nothing. Just my personal opinion.

Don't really care about the "frunk", more concerned about crash worthiness with a shortened front end.