Volkswagen ID.4

The Volkswagen ID.4 and Volkswagen ID.5 are battery electric compact crossover SUVs produced by Volkswagen. Based on the MEB platform, the ID.4 is the second model of the Volkswagen ID. series. The production version of the ID.4 debuted in September 2020 as the first fully-electric crossover SUV under the Volkswagen brand, while the coupe-shaped variant of the ID.4 (akin to the Audi Q8 Sportback e-tron) is marketed as the Volkswagen ID.5 and was revealed in November 2021.

The ID.4 is positioned by Volkswagen as a high-volume, mass-market electric vehicle — a car for "the millions, not the millionaires," as the company claimed in its advertising. It was delivered to European customers from late 2020, and the first quarter of 2021 for the North American market.

The ID.4 was elected World Car of the Year 2021 over runner-ups Honda e and Toyota Yaris.

The vehicle was updated for the 2024 model year; this includes a new, more powerful electric motor.

Overview
The ID.4 was previewed the I.D. Crozz and I.D. Crozz II concept cars, which debuted in 2017 at the Shanghai and Frankfurt Auto Show, respectively. A prototype version of the ID.4 appeared in camouflage at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show discreetly so as not to steal the show from the first electric mass-market vehicle of the German brand, the ID.3.

The production version was unveiled globally on 23 September 2020. Unlike the ID.3 which is oriented mainly for the European market, the ID.4 also targeted the North American region as one of its core markets. Volkswagen Group of America CEO Scott Keogh went as far as saying the ID.4 "drives like a GTI, it has the packaging of a Tiguan and the purpose of the Beetle," to emphasize its driving dynamics, design, and technology.

At launch, the electric SUV was solely offered with rear-wheel-drive and an electric motor located at the rear axle, with the dual motor all-wheel-drive version following later. First sales were for the ID.4 "1st edition", which differs in some interior and exterior features from the series production models.

Headlights and taillights are mostly LED lamps on the ID.4, with Matrix LED lights being an optional feature in some regions. The front features a low-positioned air inlet behind which the radiator and parts of the air conditioning system are located. Short overhangs and a wheelbase of 2766 mm add up to a length of 4584 mm. Wheels are offered in 18–21 inch sizes. RWD models can tow a maximum of 1,000 kg on a braked trailer with an optional tow bar and feature roof rails as standard.

Apple Carplay and Android Auto are offered as standard, in addition to an optional augmented reality head-up display (HUD). In addition to the 5.3 inch driver display, the ID.4 features a 10-inch infotainment screen, though an optional 12 inch screen is available. By default, the vehicle includes a light strip below the windscreen providing visual cues related to certain functions such as the state of charge (SOC) when charging or brake alerts, which VW calls "ID. Light".

Safety features include VW's Car2X communication system.

An optional heat pump extending range under low temperature conditions is offered or even fitted as standard in certain markets such as Canada and uses a R744 (CO2) refrigerant. It is claimed to heat the cabin 2-3 times more efficiently than a resistance heater.

The boot offers 848 L of volume and 1,817 L when the rear seats are folded. The vehicle does not offer a storage compartment at the front end ("frunk"). The ID. 4 will be launched in Australasia along with the ID.3, ID.5 and ID. Buzz in Mid-2024

For the 2024 model year, the ID.4/5 receives an update including a larger 12.9 inch infotainment display with new software, 82 kWh models also get an upgraded APP 550 motor, providing improved power and efficiency at the same time.

Volkswagen ID.5
The Volkswagen ID.5 was previewed in August 2021, revealed in November 2021, and produced since January 2022. It features a lower 0.26 drag coefficient, which is 0.02 lower than the ID.4. The model is available in three variants, which are Pro, Pro Performance and GTX, with the latter using a dual motor all-wheel-drive layout. Three powertrain options are available, although unlike the ID.4, the ID.5 comes with just one battery capacity, which is 77 kWh. The ID.5's sloping roofline decreases the cargo space, which offers 549 L with the rear seats up and 1,561 L with the seats folded.

Powertrain
Since model year 2024, the ID.4 is fitted with the APP 550 electric drive, which is an oil-cooled brushless permanently excited synchronous machine positioned at the rear axle. The motor produces up to 210 kW of power and up to 550 Nm of torque, revolving at speeds of up to 16,000 rpm. All-wheel drive variants have an additional motor on the front axle.

The ID.4 recuperates energy when braking using the service brake pedal, with up to 0.25 g. When driving with the gear selector set to “D” mode, if the driver lifts their foot off the accelerator pedal, the vehicle is set to coast along in order to preserve energy, with the motor freely rotating. However the vehicle can also be set to “B” mode where it will recuperate instead, again with forces of up to 0.25 g. When stronger deceleration is required, the vehicle uses electrically boosted conventional hydraulic brakes.

Battery
The battery consists of a lithium-Ion battery pack which houses 9 battery modules in 10 compartments (Pure) or 12 modules (Pro) containing the individual battery cells (24 per module) in a rectangular aluminium casing which sits in the vehicle's underbody. While the smaller battery holds an energy content of 55 kWh, of which 52 kWh are made available to the user, the larger pack comes in at 82/77 kWh. A model with a 62 kWh gross, 58 kWh net battery pack was released for the North American market in 2022.

The battery's thermal management system is designed to maintain the battery's temperature around the ideal range of 25 C and utilises liquid cooling.

Europe
For the European market, the ID.4 is available with four electric motor options. The versions with 146 hp or 168 hp are powered by a 52 kWh battery pack, while the larger 77 kWh battery can be paired with either a 172 hp or a 201 hp motor and has a WLTP range of "up to" 323 mi on a single charge. The range-topping model is capable of a 0-100 kph sprint in 8.5 seconds.

An AWD variant of the ID.4, marketed as the ID.4 GTX in Europe, accelerates 0–96 km/h in 5.7 seconds and 0 - 100 km/h in 6.2 seconds.

All the values given above have changed significantly since the model was launched; for the 2024 model year, the 0-100 km/h acceleration time for the fastest model is 5.4 s.

The ID.4 is produced at the Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant in Germany since start of production and is also built at the company's Emden plant since May 2022.

North America
For the North American market, the available configurations are a RWD configuration that produces 201 hp and 229 lbft of torque or an AWD configuration that produces 295 hp and 339 lbft of torque. It is powered by a 62 kWh or 82 kWh battery pack (gross capacity) positioned in the underbody. The 82 kWh battery pack offers a range of 245-280 mi on a full charge on the EPA cycle, depending on version. The 62 kWh battery pack is rated at 209 mi by the EPA.

2021-2022 models were imported to North America and built in the Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant or Emden plant since model year 2022.

In August 2022, Volkswagen announced production location changes and added features for 2023 model year ID.4s, the Volkswagen ID.4 sold in North America will be made in Volkswagen's Chattanooga Tennessee Assembly Plant. Chattanooga began producing the ID.4 on July 26, 2022.

The North American ID.4 got a moderate refresh for model year 2023. It introduced a new 62 kWh battery pack that is now on the new Standard and S trim levels. The 62 kWh (gross) battery pack is provided exclusively by SK On and has a peak charging rate of 140 kW. The Standard trim level reduced the base price of the ID.4 to $37,495 (up to $38,995 since December 2022). The larger 82 kWh (gross) battery pack got updated and since December 2022, it is split between two battery suppliers to increase production output, SK On and LG Energy Solution. On 82 kWh RWD models, some vehicles get the SK On battery pack providing a 170 kW peak charging speed, while other vehicles get the LG Energy Solutions battery pack with a 135 kW peak charging speed as used in most pre-2023 model year vehicles. All 82 kWh AWD models get the SK On battery with the 170 kW peak charging. Volkswagen quotes a 10-80% DC fast charging time of 30 minutes for the SK On battery pack and 36 minutes for the LG battery pack. The battery capacity and EPA rated range are identical between the two battery packs.

The 2023 refresh also includes a redesigned center console, a larger 12-inch Discover Pro Max infotainment system, Park Assist Plus (autonomous parking system), assisted lane changing to the semi-autonomous highway assist system branded Volkswagen Travel Assist (Travel Assist is standard on every North American ID.4, however, 2021-22 models do not have the assisted lane change function) and 45-watt USB-C fast device charging standard across all trims. As well as new options like Area View (surround view camera system), three-zone automatic climate control, heated rear seats, and new paint colors.

China
The Volkswagen ID.4 is available as two variants in China called the ID.4 X and the ID.4 Crozz. The two variants feature slightly different styling and are produced by SAIC-Volkswagen and FAW-Volkswagen respectively.

The ID.4 Crozz is similar to the European ID.4 and is offered with a smaller battery and a range of 400 km and 125 kW of power as well as a longer-ranged version offering 550 km of range according to the NEDC test and 150 kW of power. A high performance version with dual motor all-wheel drive and 225 kW as well as 520 km of range is to be released as well. For the SAIC-Volkswagen ID.4 X, the car gains 20 mm in length, mainly through the addition of a different bumper.

Safety
The ID.4 in North America was awarded "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS from 2021 to 2023.

Sales and marketing
In the 2023 French animated film Ladybug & Cat Noir: The Movie, Cat Noir drives an ID.4, following a deal between Volkswagen and French company ZAG Inc.