Volkswagen ID 4 Review | Move Electric

Move Electric verdict: three and a half stars out of five

Sell it to me in a sentence…. Essentially a Volkswagen ID 3 which has been thrown into the photocopier and enlarged by 15%, the Volkswagen ID 4 is a family-sized SUV that aims to deliver all the EV benefits of its baby brother but in a bigger and more spacious package.

Sounds good, carry on We weren’t entirely joking when we suggested the ID 4 was simply a bigger ID 3, because both are based on the same MEB electric platform. Yes it’s stretched out a little for the larger car, but the layout is identical, with the battery under the floor and the motor mounted low down at the rear.

On paper, this makes the ID 4 a brilliant proposition, because it also offers a similarly simple driving experience and stress-free range, yet it’s roomier. Better still, it’s all wrapped up in the sort of high-riding SUV package that more or less guarantees sales success. VW should be onto a winner, and crucially so should owners

Well that’s all rather promising. Give me the highlights It’s perhaps not as sharply styled as the ID 3, the clean sheet approach offered by its bespoke EV platform means the ID has a similarly futuristic look and feel. It’s rounded lines, broad shoulders and large wheels give it a pleasingly muscular look, so you’re never going to worry about losing it in a car park.

Yet it’s the inside of the ID 4 that’s the real treat, it’s cool and minimalist approach emphasising the generous amount of space on offer. More muted colours give it a more grown-up feel than the ID 3, but fun features such as the accelerator pedal branded with a play symbol and brake with a stop logo remain.

The controls have been kept to a minimum, with most of the switchgear replaced by a large 10-inch touchscreen in the centre of the dashboard, while the driver gets a small screen that displays vital info such as speed and battery level.

The gear selector has been moved to behind the steering wheel, freeing up space for extra storage down below, including a vast lidded cubby, cupholders and all manner of places to lose your phone or keys.

Speaking of space, those riding the back will have very little to complain about, with loads of headroom and, thanks to a flat floor, lots of room to stretch their legs. Behind them is a vast boot that’s bigger than you’ll find in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 and benefits from underfloor storage for all your charging cables.