At first glance, the 2024 Tesla Model Y and the 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 are very similar crossover SUVs, yet key differences emerge when one digs a little deeper. Both battery-electric vehicles (BEVs), the Model Y and ID.4 are about the same size, offer about the same cargo capacity, and are priced competitively.
But then essential differences emerge. The Model Y is 6 inches longer than the ID.4, enabling Tesla to offer an option of a third row of seats. The ID.4 can seat five maximum. Many Model Ys also seat five, but with the third row, it can seat seven.
Critical differences in mechanical components and configurations also emerge after a deeper look at the two models. While the Model Y and ID.4 are available with rear- or all-wheel drive (RWD or AWD), the Tesla offers more base horsepower, a longer range, and shorter charging times. As measured by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Model Y edges out the ID.4 in fuel efficiency.
While many factors favor the Tesla, the Volkswagen ID.4 offers compelling reasons to buy it. Many buyers might prefer its more conventional infotainment system, which offers familiar staples like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Many might also prefer its conventional instrumentation to the Model Y's central screen. Some might also favor buying their vehicle from a traditional car dealer rather than buying directly.
If you are considering a battery-powered crossover, the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4 are worthy of your consideration. This comparison will give you the data you need to make a successful choice.
2024 Tesla Model Y
The 2024 Tesla Model Y offers three trim levels: Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD), Long Range (LR), and Performance.
The base RWD trim is the entry-level Model Y, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $44,990. At the other end of the lineup, the ultra-quick Performance version has a suggested retail price of $53,490. These prices do not include the $1,390 delivery fee and don’t factor in the $7,500 federal tax credit. If you qualify for the full credit, you can get into a new Model Y for as little as $33,890 plus fees.
The 2024 Model Y offers complimentary roadside assistance coverage for four years or 50,000 miles but does not offer free scheduled maintenance. Tesla buyers get eight years of standard connectivity and a 30-day trial of premium connectivity.
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 offers 62-kWh or 82-kWh battery packs and RWD or AWD. The 62-kWh models come in base and S trim. The 82-kWh models, dubbed ID.4 Pro, come in three trim levels: base, S, and S Plus. All-wheel drive is only available with the larger battery pack.
The base trim is the lowest-priced ID.4, with an MSRP of $39,735. Pro models start at $44,875, with base prices extending to $57,055 for the Pro S Plus trim. These prices do not include the $1,425 destination charge. Like the Model Y, if you qualify for the full tax credit, you can purchase a new ID.4 for as little as $32,235 plus fees.
The ID.4 offers roadside assistance coverage for three years or 36,000 miles, and complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles. Volkswagen includes five years of complimentary VW Car-Net Remote Access EV connectivity. Plus Nav EV and Plus Speech EV are free for three years.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The Model Y offers longer roadside assistance and vehicle connectivity, but the ID.4 is potentially less expensive and includes two years of free maintenance.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
The Tesla Model Y is ineligible for Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS) and Initial Quality Study (IQS) awards because Tesla Motors does not allow JD Power access to owner information in the 15 states that require the automaker's permission.
The Tesla Model Y does not rank among the top three Premium BEV models in the JD Power 2024 U.S. Electric Vehicle Experience (EVX) Ownership Study, which examines satisfaction among EV owners.
The 2024 Model Y offers a standard four-year or 50,000-mile warranty and a powertrain warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles (120,000 miles for LR and Performance trims).
The Volkswagen ID.4 does not rank among the top three models in the Compact SUV segment in either the 2024 VDS or the 2023 IQS, and it also does not rank among the top three Mass Market BEV models in the 2024 EVX Ownership Study.
The Volkswagen ID.4's basic and powertrain warranties extend for four years or 50,000 miles. Volkswagen covers EV batteries and components for eight years or 100,000 miles.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The Model Y and ID.4 have comparable warranty coverage.
2024 Tesla Model Y
Tesla gives buyers of the 2024 Model Y three powertrain choices. The base RWD trim features a single electric motor reliably estimated to deliver 295 horsepower. At the top of the lineup, the AWD Performance trim adds a front motor to produce a combined 455 hp.
The mid-level LR trim offers front and rear motors to achieve 425 hp. In addition to its 310 miles of range, Tesla says it will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 4.8 seconds, while the Performance trim will accomplish that in 3.5 seconds. Reliable estimates say the RWD model can recharge in as little as 25 minutes using DC fast charging.
As of this writing, the EPA has yet to publish official mileage and range estimates for the 2024 Model Y. For comparison, the agency rated the mechanically similar 2023 LR AWD trim at 122 MPGe and estimated its range at 330 miles. It rated the 2023 Performance trim at 111 MPGe with an estimated range of 303 miles.
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 offers RWD or AWD and 62- or 82-kWh battery packs. Compared to the 2023 versions, the 82-kWh models get a considerable boost with a new performance drive unit. With RWD, it generates 282 hp, while the AWD versions deliver 335 hp. The ID.4s with the 62-kWh battery have an electric drive motor that puts out 201 hp.
Volkswagen claims the RWD ID.4 Pro will accelerate from zero-to-60 mph in 5.9 seconds, while the AWD Pro will scoot to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.
According to the EPA, a RWD 2024 ID.4 gets a 113-MPGe combined rating. The agency rates the AWD configurations at 102 MPGe. The RWD variants can travel an estimated 291 miles on a charge, while the AWD versions have an estimated range of 263 miles. Volkswagen says all 2024 ID.4s can DC fast-charge from a 10- to 80-percent state of charge "in around 30 minutes."
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Tesla has more power and more range on a charge.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
At this point, it is reasonable for any consumer to expect a brand-new vehicle to include the following safety features:
So, how do the Model Y and the ID.4 stack up? Let's take a look.
The 2024 Tesla Model Y offers its buyers the most common advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), as described earlier. At the same time, it gives buyers the availability of some sophisticated semi-self-driving systems, starting with the standard Autopilot. It combines adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assistance to steer the vehicle in its lane. The optional Enhanced Autopilot adds automatic lane-change ability, parking assistance, and self-driving on highways.
With a stiff added price of $15,000, Tesla’s Full Self-Driving Capability upgrades to include traffic-light and traffic-sign recognition. The automaker says the system will add automatic steering on urban streets in the future.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave the 2024 Model Y its top overall rating of 5 stars, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the SUV a Top Safety Pick+ rating—its highest honor—for the 2024 calendar year.
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 features a lengthy IQ.Drive roster of ADAS as listed above, plus adaptive cruise control, automatic post-collision braking, and traffic-sign recognition. Standard automatic emergency stop assistance can bring the SUV to a stop if the driver is incapacitated. The ID.4’s Travel Assist offers hands-on-the-wheel semi-autonomous driving. Car-Net Safe & Secure EV includes emergency assistance and automatic crash notification in a five-year free trial.
The 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 received a 5-star overall crashworthiness rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS did not name it a Top Safety Pick or Top Safety Pick+.
Advantage: Tesla Model Y
Why? The Model Y received a better IIHS rating and offers more sophisticated semi-autonomous driving systems.
2024 Tesla Model Y
Tesla takes the Model Y in an unconventional direction regarding infotainment. The standard setup includes a 15-inch touchscreen, navigation, natural-voice recognition, and wireless device charging, but it lacks AM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. In addition to Bluetooth connectivity, it features Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, and games. The Performance trim has a 13-speaker premium audio system.
Connectivity is vital in the Model Y. Its navigation system can function with standard connectivity, but live traffic, satellite-view maps, video streaming, music streaming, and the internet browser require premium service. Standard connectivity is free for eight years. Premium connectivity requires a paid monthly subscription.
The Model Y's 15-inch touchscreen is one of the SUV’s most talked about features. As expected, it is home base for infotainment, but it also houses the vehicle's instruments and many controls. Some might prefer a separate instrument display and conventional buttons and knobs for functions like climate control.
The 2024 VW ID.4 offers two infotainment displays tied to each SUV's battery capacity. Models with a 62-kWh battery get a 12-inch touchscreen, while Pro versions benefit from a 12.9-inch screen. Owners can customize the screen, and the system offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Every new 2024 ID.4 comes with a three-month trial of SiriusXM with 360L. The up-level audio package is a nine-speaker Harman Kardon system.
The 2024 ID.4 provides two Car-Net connectivity packages to enhance the navigation and infotainment at no cost for three years from purchase. The Plus Nav package enables online map updates, traffic reports, fuel prices, and parking information. The Plus Speech package offers natural-language voice controls. Owners can obtain in-vehicle Wi-Fi by purchasing a Car-Net Hotspot subscription.
The Volkswagen myVW app can start heating or cooling the ID.4 remotely. Connecting the ID.4 to a charger uses energy from the grid instead of the vehicle battery, preserving range.
Advantage: Volkswagen ID.4
Why? The ID.4 infotainment screen is smaller but offers a separate instrument display and more conventional infotainment apps like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
With a third-row optional, the Tesla Model Y offers five- or seven-passenger seating. Tesla calls its seat upholstery "vegan," and it resembles other synthetic leathers. Each rear seat folds flat independently, offering its owners various ways to seat people and carry cargo. The Model Y lacks a conventional instrument cluster and relies on the touchscreen for most function controls.
The Model Y offers power-adjustable front seats and heated front and rear seats. All 2024 Model Ys have a large glass roof with ultraviolet screening. Electronic controls in the rear cargo area trigger the rear seats to fold flat.
Five-passenger Model Ys offer 30 cubic feet of luggage space behind the second row, while the seven-passenger models have a much smaller rear cargo area. With the rear seats folded, the interior luggage space measures about 72 cubic feet. A power liftgate aids loading, and the front trunk or “frunk” holds an additional 4.1 cubic feet of cargo.
The Volkswagen ID.4 offers a minimalist cabin with plenty of space for five adults. Unlike the Tesla Model Y, the ID.4 does not offer an optional third row. The instrument pod in front of the driver is relatively small, but a large touchscreen protrudes from the dashboard's center. Lower-level trims offer cloth seats, while the better-equipped models feature leatherette seat upholstery.
Manually adjustable driver's seats are standard, while mid-level and upper trims offer 12-way power-adjustable seats with heat and massage functions. Even the base trim features standard heated front seats; heated rear seats are standard in the top trims. The ID.4 S with the 82-kWh battery also includes ventilated front-row seats. A panoramic fixed-glass roof is optional.
An under-floor storage compartment in the rear cargo area offers an excellent place to stow the charge cord, and the adjustable load floor helps the ID.4 accommodate more oversized cargo. The ID.4 has 30 cubic feet of luggage space behind the rear seats and 64 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded. A power hands-free liftgate is available on top trims.
Advantage: Neither
Why? The ID.4 offers a nicer cabin, discrete controls, and an instrument pod, while the Model Y offers three-row seating and more overall cargo space.
If you’d like to learn more about these crossover EVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the Volkswagen ID.4, Volkswagen ID.4 Pro and research the Tesla Model Y. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please remember that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on April 1, 2024, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He also managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine, JD Power, and Kelley Blue Book. Jack currently hosts the Sports Byline Network program "America on the Road," available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Audacy, and other outlets.
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