When Volkswagen introduced the ID.4 compact electric crossover SUV to Americans in 2021, it faced few rivals. Today, that segment is the most popular among EV buyers, from the best-selling Tesla Model Y on down. In 2024, nine electric models from mass-market brands are vying for consumer attention. Add the Tesla and a slew of premium-brand models, and an EV buyer looking for a zapped compact crossover has a hard decision to make.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Enter the updated 2024 Volkswagen ID.4, one of the OG offerings in the now swollen segment. The changes for 2024 include:
As you can see, many of the updates for 2024 pertain to the Volkswagen ID.4 Pro. So, what's that? Let's break things down.
When buying a 2024 ID.4, you'll first decide if you want the standard 62-kilowatt-hour (kWh) or available 82-kWh battery. All ID.4s with the larger battery wear the Pro model designation.
Then, you'll decide what trim level you want. The standard ID.4 62-kWh models come in base and S trim. The ID.4 Pro 82-kWh models come in base, S, and S Plus trim. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available only for the ID.4 Pro.
Prices for the ID.4 62-kWh models range from $39,735 to $44,855, plus a destination charge of $1,425. Step up to the ID.4 Pro, and you'll spend anywhere from $44,875 to $57,055, plus destination. In 2024, the ID.4 qualifies for the $7,500 federal income tax credit for both a purchase and a lease. That status could change, so research this when you're ready to sign on the dotted line.
Previously, JD Power reviewed the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S. This review focuses on the ID.4's updates for 2024 and how they potentially impact its overall consumer appeal.
The Volkswagen ID.4 competes in the Compact SUV market segment. According to data collected from verified new-vehicle buyers for the JD Power 2023 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study, ID.4 owners rated their electric SUVs in 10 primary categories.
Listed below in descending order, you'll find their preferences, from what they like most about the ID.4 to what they like least:
In the 2023 APEAL Study, the ID.4 ranks 22nd out of 23 Compact SUV models.
In the following sections, our independent expert analyzes a 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro S with extra-cost Aurora Red paint. The test vehicle's price was $51,815, including the $1,425 destination charge to ship the SUV from the Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant to your local dealership.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Though people who bought the 2023 ID.4 ranked "driving feel" as one of their favorite things about the SUV, more power and extra driving range can't hurt. In fact, it can only make the ID.4 more competitive with rivals that frequently offer quicker acceleration and longer distances between visits to the charging station.
To that end, the Pro-spec (82-kWh) versions get a new rear electric motor good for 282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque. Choose AWD, and it pairs with a front electric motor to deliver a combined 335 horsepower, with 99 lb-ft at the front wheels and 402 lb-ft at the rear.
As expected, the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 acceleration times improve substantially. With rear-wheel drive (RWD), it reaches 60 mph in 5.9 seconds, according to VW. That's 1.8 seconds faster than last year. With AWD, the acceleration to 60 mph is a claimed 4.9 seconds, an improvement of nearly a second.
Usually, more power and faster acceleration means lower efficiency. But the new electric motor also consumes less electricity. Official EPA ratings peg the Pro RWD at 30 kWh per 100 miles (down from 32 kWh/100 mi), while the Pro AWD is now rated to get 33 kWh/100 mi (down from 34 kWh/100 mi).
Since the new electric motor consumes less electricity, driving ranges improve. With Pro RWD models, the estimate rises from 275 miles to 291 miles. The Pro AWD sees a bump from 255 miles to 263 miles.
In addition, Volkswagen says the 2024 ID.4 models use SK On batteries made in the U.S., making the ID.4 the only import-brand EV to qualify for the $7,500 federal tax credit. This year, you get the money at the point of sale instead of waiting until tax season rolls around.
Volkswagen invited me to Pasadena, California, to drive the 2024 ID.4. Sharing the route with a co-driver, I spent no more than an hour behind the EV's steering wheel traveling on city streets, multi-lane freeways, and a mountain road. Fortunately, the improvements are instantly evident.
My test vehicle had RWD, so it wasn't the quickest ID.4 available, but it was the most efficient. In a mix of driving conditions, it averaged 3.5 miles per kWh, which translates to 28.6 kWh/100 mi. That's better than the EPA estimate, and I achieved it while driving in Normal mode with maximum brake regeneration turned on.
The last time I drove an ID.4 was in 2021. The latest version of the SUV is much improved, offering plenty of power for accelerating onto fast-flowing freeways, passing slower vehicles, and climbing mountain grades. It still won't spank a dual-motor Tesla Model Y, so drag racing remains off the menu (bad idea anyway), but most people are unlikely to want more power, most of the time.
Otherwise, the ID.4 remains a pleasure to drive, especially now that VW has taken steps to reduce range anxiety further. However, last year's generous Electrify America (EA) charging plan is off the table.
Previously, when you bought an ID.4, you got three years of complimentary 30-minute charging sessions at EA DC fast-charging stations. Now, you get 500 kWh of free charging, and after you burn through that, a complimentary three-year EA Pass+ membership promises lower rates for charging.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Another significant change to the 2024 ID.4 Pro is a new 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. In addition to a larger screen, new layout, and standard conversational voice recognition, the touch-sensing sliders controlling stereo volume and cabin temperature are now backlit at night, making them easier to find and use.
In addition, the infotainment system now has a Home screen showing four data panels, such as the navigation map, radio station, and more. The climate controls are always visible in a strip at the bottom of the screen, and it's easy to find and use all the menu tiles that give you access to deeper functionality. Plus, you can customize the arrangement of information to set it up the way that works best for you.
A complimentary three-year subscription to the Plus Speech connected service is standard with the new infotainment system. It equips the ID.4 with a digital voice assistant named Ida (you can change the name if you wish). So, you can just say something like, "Hey, Ida. Find the nearest Starbucks."
During my evaluation, Ida could not find the nearest Starbucks. Or the closest Chipotle. But she succeeded at giving me what I sought about half the time, an improvement over the previous infotainment system's standard voice recognition technology. Progress!
Naturally, you can bypass this issue by pairing your smartphone and wirelessly running Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. But then, you can't take advantage of the navigation system's new ability to program charging station waypoints on longer trips. Better yet, as you get closer to the programmed charging station waypoint, the battery automatically pre-conditions itself to accept up to 175 kilowatts of power the moment you plug in.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Other updates to the 2024 ID.4 are minor. The transmission selector is now a stalk on the right side of the steering column. VW also revised the touch-sensing steering wheel controls, though it remains too easy to accidentally activate things, like the heated steering wheel, without knowing it.
In addition, the Pro S and S Plus add standard ventilated front seats, making it more pleasurable to live with the artificial leather upholstery and panoramic sunroof in places like Tampa or Tucson. The Pro S Plus models also get a new nine-speaker Harman Kardon premium sound system as standard equipment.
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Undoubtedly, the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro is the best version of VW's electric SUV yet. However, even with the $7,500 federal tax credit, it faces more competition in the Compact SUV segment than ever.
In the 2023 JD Power APEAL Study, the three top-ranked models in this class were the Kia EV6 and Nissan Ariya in a tie, followed by the Ford Mustang Mach-E. All three are electric models, and all three directly compete with the VW ID.4 for customers.
I think the ID.4 Pro's improvements can help Volkswagen attract more EV buyers, but the automaker has a mountain to climb. The new electric motor should help make the journey easier.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with nearly 30 years of experience in test-driving vehicles. In addition to JDPower.com, his work has appeared in numerous new and used-car buying guides, newspapers, and automotive industry trade journals.
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