VW ID.4 Unveiled Today

[SnBGC]

I reset my obsessed brain from ID.4 to MME in the last month or so, let's see what I can remember. If it is a FE, it would have a "1st" badge on the side fender, otherwise, I guess "Pro" (?). If it does not have a white steering wheel, it is not a FE.

The Pro + statement has 19" wheels, the Pro + statement + gradient has 20" wheels.

There are more subtle differences like the matrix looking headlights vs. the regular LED headlights.

Unless it is an oddball demo / experimental unit, it almost certainly is not AWD yet. They were supposed to come out with the AWD around June/July, but I think AWD got delayed to fall 21 now.

okay, looks like a Pro S with Gradient package (RWD) because of the headlights (they actually turn towards the side when the car turns) and the silver roof rack: (in the EU the matrix headlights, rather then auto-dimming from brights, literally just blank out only the narrow direction to another car, another feature we missed, said to be due to U.S. regulations).

Okay thanks.
Yes. It was a pre-production test mule and he said it was AWD but I didn't crawl under and check.

Plug & Charged worked perfectly though. He was running a beta version that allows that now so the retail versions might ship with that system perhaps?

 

[louibluey]

Okay thanks.
Yes. It was a pre-production test mule and he said it was AWD but I didn't crawl under and check.

Plug & Charged worked perfectly though. He was running a beta version that allows that now so the retail versions might ship with that system perhaps?

Here is the dealer trim selection guide (attached).

yea, it was said that VW mobility was holding all customer deliveries until Ver. 2.1 of the software was installed (possibly similar to our OKTB holds). In the EU, a number of ID.3, especially in the U.K. were bricked when the dealers were updating them to 2.0, never really found out why. Anyway, ID.4 2.1 was supposed to solve a lot of problems, and was set to either be installed at the dock, or by the destination dealer. (The ID.4 forum had pictures and reports of hundreds of new ID.4 parked at the docks in RI and MD, unclear how many were demos or customer FE).

There are a number of actual pictures of ID.4 at the dealer lots on Autotrader as of this morning. Forum members seem to be reporting expected first FE (1st) deliveries to begin next week.

An ID.4 AWD in the U.S. is unlikely, but not impossible, esp. if it was a test mule.

 

[SnBGC]

An ID.4 AWD in the U.S. is unlikely, but not impossible, esp. if it was a test mule.

Cool thanks. I'll share with my brother because he is in the market. I think he is pretty close to pulling the trigger on a Model Y but he wants to see the ID.4 in person too.

If you look closely to the photo with the hatch opened.....you will see the car cover they use when driving around town to avoid spy photos. He said he didn't have to keep it on any longer. He took it off a while ago and just tossed it back there.

 

[SnBGC]

I'm debating a second set of wheels and some summer tires, but probably want to wait until the OE all-seaons wear out so I can put summers on those wheels and get a second set of wheels with winters... decisions, decisions.

Too bad we didn't get our choice of tire options when we ordered here in the U.S.
The UK model gets summer tires or it is an option at least. Lucky ducks across the pond....

 

[Accord07]

VW dealers will have their demo cars well before June. They are not arriving in large numbers yet, but 654 id.4 have arrived from Emden in 2021 so that's an improvement.

ID.4 demo units have arrived. I did a test drive today. Not a fan of the white steering wheel, but liked the rest of the interior. Knowing its acceleration would be lackluster before I started - not only is it slower than Mach-E it is considerably slower than my minivan as well - the acceleration actually felt stronger than expected, thanks to the instant torque common to BEV. When I stepped in, it showed an estimated range of 328 miles which seemed way too optimistic.

 

[SteelMach]

ID.4 demo units have arrived. I did a test drive today. Not a fan of the white steering wheel, but liked the rest of the interior. Knowing its acceleration would be lackluster before I started - not only is it slower than Mach-E it is considerably slower than my minivan as well - the acceleration actually felt stronger than expected, thanks to the instant torque common to BEV. When I stepped in, it showed an estimated range of 328 miles which seemed way too optimistic.

I love the white steering wheel.

I just wouldn't want to own it for more than a few months until it inevitably is not white anymore like those old white Macbook palm rests.

 

[GoGoGadgetMachE]

Consumer Reports Talking Cars (indirect) first impressions: Consumer Reports Doesn't Have Much Good To Say About The VW ID.4 (insideevs.com)

Jalopnik: The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Is A Good Enough EV. Is Good Enough? (jalopnik.com)

the Jalopnik review points out some very strange things I had heard others mention as well, like the weirdo "front OR back" window controls (complain all you want about Ford being "cheap" with key fobs - you can buy a fob, you can't buy window controls) or important controls not being illuminated at night (wtaf).

 

[Accord07]

Consumer Reports Talking Cars (indirect) first impressions: Consumer Reports Doesn't Have Much Good To Say About The VW ID.4 (insideevs.com)

Jalopnik: The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Is A Good Enough EV. Is Good Enough? (jalopnik.com)

the Jalopnik review points out some very strange things I had heard others mention as well, like the weirdo "front OR back" window controls (complain all you want about Ford being "cheap" with key fobs - you can buy a fob, you can't buy window controls) or important controls not being illuminated at night (wtaf).

Torchinsky is always fun to read, but he is also highly opinionated. I actually have no problem with the unconventional power window switch, because I have lost count on how many times when I tried to roll down my window without looking and opened the 2nd row window instead. As for his complaints regarding the volume and climate control buttons not being backlit, while it is true for someone in the vehicle for the first time at night it is hard to see where they are but it was the size of the buttons rather than the lack of backlighting that bothered me; once I knew where they were, however, I had no problem locating/operating them.

Jalopnik's take on Mach-E (by David Tracy) was hardly glowing either, but I get that they are often different from the typical automobile press. I frequent their website for fun rather than for information.

 

[Accord07]

I love the white steering wheel.

I just wouldn't want to own it for more than a few months until it inevitably is not white anymore like those old white Macbook palm rests.

It will probably take me just a few weeks to mess up the look ?

 

[SteelMach]

Torchinsky is always fun to read, but he is also highly opinionated. I actually have no problem with the unconventional power window switch, because I have lost count on how many times when I tried to roll down my window without looking and opened the 2nd row window instead. As for his complaints regarding the volume and climate control buttons not being backlit, while it is true for someone in the vehicle for the first time at night it is hard to see where they are but it was the size of the buttons rather than the lack of backlighting that bothered me; once I knew where they were, however, I had no problem locating/operating them.

Jalopnik's take on Mach-E (by David Tracy) was hardly glowing either, but I get that they are often different from the typical automobile press. I frequent their website for fun rather than for information.

I agree, I think the power window switch is a great innovation. Even with Mach-E, the first time I went to roll my window down for a parking garage, I hit the back one instead.

The rest of the ID.4's touch sensitive steering wheel and infotainment controls I would have to try in person to judge, but I'm not a fan of in principle compared to Mach-E.

 

[trutolife27]

So today had the ID4 first edition for 3 hours. had some fun and learned alot about the BEV.

Few things the ID4 does better than the mache.

1. Turning yes the ID4 can turn on a dime forward and backward.
2. It does seem to handle bumps in the road better and takes the shock better.
3. seats have more side bolstering and hug you more.
4. the ambient lighting across the front dash is kinda neat.
5. Right now until the mache gets an update on breaking it blends in better than the mache.

Few things the Mache does better than the ID4.

1. Handling no questions ask the mache is fun to drive and you can preload and take corners faster just the mache is on a different level. Could the AWD ID4 be better? yes, but time will tell.

2. The seats are better and more comfortable. The first thing the wife said is I don't like these seats. Yes, the ID4 seats grab your sides better but they are not soft and don't have much support.

3. Faster yes we all know that, but it's really a big difference don't let anyone tell you it's not.

4. The center console is way better. Where the drink holders are your phone charger and your armrest is way better than the ID4. I couldn't even use the armrest on the ID4 it's too tucked in to use. It sucks.

5. Frunk yes the mache has it the ID4 does not. Even the hood underneath is just metal no trim I guess to save weight. Looks very cheap as so does the inside of the ID4. You can see it's not premium at all.

Overall the ID4 is your minivan Bev for me. It does nothing great but it does nothing bad. It's your middle-level race car you select when you were a kid playing a video game. Just an all-around family car.

The brakes fell too soft. Like kyle out of specs said they really need to fix the sponge to the breaks. Also, the break and play petal seemed kinda close together for me. I kept feeling myself hitting the edge of it.

Could the top of the line ID4 AWD be a lot better? yes, it could. But it will also carry a price tag of around 51,000 so compared to 54,000 mache AWD EXT well still not the same.

 

[trutolife27]

Really I could point out alot more about the Id4. its not a wow car. It's the hipster bev to me. Or kinda like the nice girl you date until you get your chance with the hotter freind.

I'm not a fan of the tesla model y but I would take the tesla model 3 over the Id4.

Thursday will be testing out a E-tron.

 

[jlamarca73]

Really I could point out alot more about the Id4. its not a wow car. It's the hipster bev to me. Or kinda like the nice girl you date until you get your chance with the hotter freind.

I'm not a fan of the tesla model y but I would take the tesla model 3 over the Id4.

Thursday will be testing out a E-tron.

I'm really interested in the E-tron. The deals they're offering here bring it down $20k to $51k.

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