Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Professional S Assessment

It’s at all times fascinating to observe automobiles as they evolve available on the market. Some keep stagnant earlier than they ultimately simply kind of fade away. Others, normally merchandise deemed to be of explicit significance by their respective producers, see important updates and enhancements over the course of their lives.

As a part of the opening salvo of Volkswagen’s EV onslaught on the worldwide market, the ID.4 is definitely a major automobile, one which landed to satisfying however hardly glowing evaluations. The subsequent step, the Professional S, is right here so as to add a bit extra: extra vary, particularly, however extra efficiency and extra responsiveness, too. Is it sufficient to raise the angle of this humble EV?

Design

Visually, not quite a bit has modified concerning the ID.4 from the preliminary model that premiered in late 2020, launched to worldwide markets within the following 12 months. It’s the identical, tall, upright, deceptively giant form — providing comparable cargo capability to the bigger Tiguan SUV.

The most important change is hidden within the flooring of the factor: a bigger, 82-kilowatt-hour battery pack that pushes the AWD Professional S taste of the ID.4 a complete of 255 miles on the EPA check cycle. That’s 46 extra miles than the rear-wheel-drive ID.4 Commonplace mannequin can handle.

The AWD PRo S faster, too, a lot faster, with 295 horsepower and an estimated 0 – 60 mph time of 5.8 seconds. That’s sufficient to make it really feel like a totally totally different machine from the widely sedate and calm however snug and competent ID.4 Commonplace.

The general physique form remains to be the identical, nonetheless considerably shapely however largely nameless. Nonetheless, on the Professional S, the creased flares on the rear fenders appear a bit extra purposeful, by some means. Maybe it’s simply the information that this one has extra energy to fill them.

On the within, the story hasn’t modified a lot. The AWD Professional S you see right here was configured with the Galaxy inside (a.okay.a. “black”), which provides a little bit of a low-rent really feel to issues. I a lot desire the look of the white inside, however that’s not going to suit into everybody’s life-style. It’s a disgrace there isn’t some in-between choice that gives each persona and sturdiness.

Solely a splash of silver-painted plastic throughout the middle of the sprint breaks up the darkness in right here, matched by silver handles and three traces of contrasting stitching on every door. Every thing else simply falls right into a sea of darkish and darker.

I don’t love the tones, however the supplies are usually good, soft-touch plastics and vegan leathers really feel good to the hand, and whereas there’s the compulsory shiny piano black part too, that’s restricted, simply surrounding the arm relaxation and generously sized middle console.

In reality, the whole lot feels generously sized in right here. There’s loads of legroom and headroom in both the entrance or rear seats, whereas the hatch affords a wholesome 30.3 cubic toes of cargo house, 64.2 when you drop the 60/40 break up rear seats.

That hatch’s upright form simply makes loading cargo all the simpler, and the hands-free operation is fast and simple, essential when your arms are full with heavy groceries.

Expertise and Security

That’s maybe the smallest little bit of comfort tech discovered on the ID.4, together with a local weather management system good sufficient to know what to do when you inform it your toes are chilly. There’s an LED strip built-in under the windscreen used for signaling upcoming turns or energetic security warnings. Sadly, although the tiny gauge cluster behind the steering wheel will pull flip data from Android Auto or Apple CarPlay (wirelessly, even), you must use the ID.4’s clunkier, built-in nav if you wish to make use of that LED gentle present.

That little gauge cluster measures simply 5.3 inches and feels cramped at first, however you’ll shortly understand it has loads of data. It’s mildly customizable, in a position to present barely extra room for notifications from the adaptive security system or for the navigation part.

The larger interface is the central, 12-inch show, working a consumer interface that feels quite a bit like an iPad rotated proper 90 levels. A house button sits on the left with two rows of icons on the best, via which you’ll swipe, faucet, and drag. There are even easy widgets obtainable, displaying presently enjoying media and navigation data.

The interface is complete and simple to make use of. It’s additionally a bit sluggish, however “a bit sluggish” is a noticeable enchancment over the software program that shipped initially on the ID.4.

Sadly, another consumer expertise facets haven’t modified. The contact controls on the steering wheel mockingly are nonetheless difficult to search out by contact but simple to search out accidentally. Likewise, there’s no quantity knob to be discovered anyplace, which is a mark towards by my guide.

VW’s IQ.Drive security system is current, together with options like computerized emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot-monitoring and even Emergency Help, which might safely cease the automobile within the case of a medical emergency.

The superior lane-keep-assist system, Journey Help, did a terrific job of maintaining the automobile centered on the freeway, modulating pace to match visitors. It’ll even deal with lane adjustments for you routinely if you sign, however the characteristic is frustratingly sluggish to really make the transfer. Ultimately I normally simply accomplished the change myself.

Punch It

Whereas the ID.4 at launch was a simple automobile to love, its middling efficiency was one thing that made it a bit arduous to like for a lot of. The AWD Professional S fixes that with 295 hp and 339 pound-feet of torque, enhancements of 94 and 100 respectively.

The bottom ID.4 feels quickish as much as 30 after which kind of falls on its face at larger speeds. The AWD Professional S, nonetheless, pulls strongly as much as 60 and has loads of punch left even at freeway speeds. These with a heavy proper foot might be chirping the tires when launching away from visitors lights and surging ahead into gaps in visitors with ease.

The one actual fly on this ointment is what occurs if you do chirp these tires. It’s really fairly simple to beat the grip of the all-season Scorpion Zero tires, triggering the ID.4’s traction management system to brush in like a large moist blanket. Heaven forbid you start even the tiniest of slides and the automobile utterly cuts energy for a strong two-count earlier than re-enabling the best pedal.

I’m conscious that only a few ID.4 drivers are going to push their automobiles this tough, however I’m additionally dissatisfied that, given the wondrous capacity to create superior traction and stability management techniques afforded to trendy engineers by the immediately responsive electrical powertrains, Volkswagen didn’t do one thing only a bit extra refined right here. The result’s a automobile that’s partaking and enjoyable till it out of the blue very a lot will not be.

On the dealing with aspect, the ID.4 AWD Professional S remains to be tuned for consolation extra so than cornering. Sure, it does simply superb via twisty roads, even providing some surprisingly good steering suggestions for a contemporary automobile, however the physique roll and compliance are particular restrictions.

And that’s simply superb. By prioritizing experience high quality, ID.4 is in a position to take in the whole lot from street imperfections to railroad crossings with out passing a lot of any disturbance into the cabin. It’s on one other planet in comparison with the Tesla Mannequin Y’s harsh, buzzy nature over bumps.

All of the extra cause to drive it calmly, if you’ll see the maximal vary out of your ID.4. The AWD Professional S is formally EPA-rated to do 255 miles on a cost. In my testing, I noticed 3.4 miles per watt-hour, which works out to a theoretical most vary of 262 miles from the 77 kWh of usable house within the battery.

Choices and Pricing

Within the U.S., the Volkswagen ID.4 Commonplace begins at $38,995. However, if you’d like the additional energy, vary, and options of the AWD Professional S you’re a minimal of $51,295.

You received’t must spend rather more than that, actually. The automobile you see right here had precisely one choice: Aurora Pink Metallic paint for a worthwhile $395. That’s considered one of simply three actual colours, the opposite two being shades of blue, together with two whites, a black, and a grey.

A considerably lackluster palette for a genuinely spectacular automobile. The ID.4’s second act proves Volkswagen means enterprise in the case of EVs, and with extra vary and energy at a good value, the ID.4 AWD Professional S is properly value together with in your purchasing checklist.