New Volkswagen ID.4

Volkswagen ID.4 Design

The ID.4 is similar to the smaller ID.3, in that it has no conventional front grille, and has a thin LED light strip runs across the width of the vehicle. The plastic body cladding around the lower edges give the car a muscular look, and it has a huge glass panel over the roof for unobstructed views of the sky above.

On the inside of the ID.4, everything is controlled through the touch-sensitive icons on the 10.0-inch dashboard (12.0 inches on the MAX model). This gives the interior a futuristic look, as it does away with the traditional knobs and dials that many of us are now familiar with.

Space shouldn't be a problem inside, as there is a deep cubby between the front seats and door bins, two large cup holders on the central console, and electrically adjustable seats to make way for plenty of legroom. The boot is big enough for family luggage, and if more space is needed, the rear seats can be folded down.

The ID.4 comes with perfectly shaped 18-inch alloy wheels, although these can be upgraded to 19 or 21 inches as optional extras. There is a roof railing for additional luggage, recessed door handles that allow for improved aerodynamics, and optional light lines that extend to the front and rear of the newly designed Volkswagen logo.

The colours available on the ID.4 1ST and ID.4 1ST Max at launch include Blue Dusk Metallic, Honey Yellow Metallic, Glacier White Metallic, and Manganese Grey Metallic. The ID.4 1ST Edition is offered with two interior colour schemes for the steering wheel and digital screen: black or white. This is slightly different to the ID.3, where there were different dash panel colour options, and so was determined by the interior colour.

Battery Power

You can do most of what you need to do in a day with a single battery charge. Whether you're taking the kids to school, commuting to work, or zipping around town, you should be able to get around with no problems. When it comes to batteries, you can choose from 52 kW, 77 kW, 125 KW, and 150 kW battery capacities. With Volkswagen's ID. charger3, you can easily charge your vehicle at home or you can use one of the many charging points around the country. Charging the ID.4 to 80% of capacity will take you around 30 minutes.​

Technology

The ID.4 will take you into the future with a range of innovative technologies to assist your ride.

These include the optional Augmented Reality Head-Up Display which will help navigate the roads ahead. All important information relating to your journey will be projected directly onto the windscreen in your field of vision, allowing you to see what direction you should be heading in next. You should never get lost again with this useful function, which will be a godsend if you have trouble following directions from a sat-nav. 

The ID. Light is another handy feature. It translates instructions from your infotainment and assist systems into light signals, helping you navigate through traffic more easily. With this and the AR display, you should have no trouble getting from A to B with ease. 

Other functions of note include the App-Connect software which allows you to mirror your phone apps to the infotainment system, and the voice control function that allows you to access the whole system through simple commands. 

Most of the car's functions can be accessed through your voice or touchscreen interfaces, so you can easily manage your sat nav, driver assistance systems, and phone connectivity options from your seated position with little distraction. 

Performance and Efficiency

The electric motor of the ID.4 will accelerate dynamically from a standstill, taking you from 0 to 100 km/h in just 8.5 seconds in the Pro-Performance based models. 

The 1ST Max launch model gives you the option to choose from one of three driving modes,  Eco, Comfort, and Individual. The latter can be tweaked to your preferences, allowing for a range of parameters, so you can push the car to the metal if you choose to, or opt for a gentler, more energy-efficient ride. 

The ID.4 also comes with an 'Eco-Assistance' function. This will prompt you to ease off the accelerator when appropriate to aid efficiency. You can also purchase an optional heat pump, as this will ensure energy-efficient heating of your car's interior due to it requiring less power from the battery.

As is standard with most electric cars, noise shouldn't be an issue. The futuristic composition of the ID.4 ensures engine sound is barely noticeable on the inside, and an artificially generated noise will alert pedestrians and cyclists to your vehicle on the outside. ​

The ID.4 1ST Edition is offered with two interior colour schemes for the steering wheel and digital screen: black and white​

Trim Levels of the ID.4

The ID.4 1ST (the cheapest of the launch models), includes a range of features.

These include:

• 20-inch alloy wheels

• Heated front seats

• Multi-colour ambient lighting

• Stainless steel pedals

• Two-zone climate control

• A rear-view camera

• A heated windscreen

• Discover Pro sat nav

• Four USB ports

• Adaptive cruise control

• Lane-keeping assistance

The ID. 4 1ST Max, the more expensive of the two, adds to these features.

You can expect:

• LED front and rear light clusters

• An adaptive chassis control system

• Power-adjustable seats

• 21-inch alloys

• A panoramic glass sunroof

• 3-zone climate control

• A powered boot lid

• A 12-inch dashboard screen (upgraded from the 10-inch model in the previous model)

• The augmented-reality head-up display

Both models come with other optional extras, depending on your budget, so talk to us to find out more about the features and technologies that can be made available to you. ​

Price

The big question, of course, is this: How much is the Volkswagen ID.4? It's an impressive car, more so because of its eco-efficiency.

Well, prices will begin at £45,800 for the 1ST model and £55,000 for the 1ST Max model.