the Bucket: Bucket Seat: Volkswagen ID.4 Pro

It's a subject that has the motoring world divided, it's something that was one of the causes of the greatest motoring trio the world has seen to stop what they loved the most, reviewing cars, the electric car. Jeremy Clarkson said at the end of their final Special for the Grand Tour, and I quote "There are lots of reasons why we're jacking this show in but for me, one of the main ones is I'm simply not interested in electric cars. They are just white goods, they're washing machines, they're microwave ovens. You can't review those, you can't enjoy them" and to an extent I will agree with him but what Jeremy and other hardcore petrol heads fail to see is the evolution of this technology. I disagree with him that you can't review them, I disagree with him that you cannot enjoy them. When I was a kid, my favourite toy from my collection was a remote (wired) controlled 190E Mercedes Benz DTM car. I had tonnes of fun with this toy running around the house driving it. In essence that is what an electric car is, electric motor and batteries and it brought me so much of joy, from a tender age of 11 I thought about how a normal car could use a battery to operate it but obviously it takes a lot more than what a toy has. There's the safety aspects that one has to take into consideration as well as all the latest technology and creature comforts that people expect in cars these days. There are a lot of components that make up a car and to the benefit of the manufacturers, they've revolutionized the way we see electric cars since the very first ones we saw no too long ago. One of the EV's which has changed the market's perception of these electric powered cars is the Volkswagen ID.4, while it was introduced to Europe almost 2 years ago, it's made its way onto South African shores this year, but its not for sale just yet. I attended the launch a few months back but recently got to spend some quality time with it and these are my thoughts.

DESIGN

Volkswagen aim for the ID.4 was to be an electric SUV and to an extent is fits the mold, with a decent ride height, ground clearance and spacious cabin and lots of luggage space, it ticks all the boxes. Whether or not I'd take it off roading is a different story altogether, not that I think it won't manage the dirt tracks, I'd be too scared to find out if it cannot but getting back to the design, the ID.4 has a very different look to the conventional VW design language, while signature elements are there, the overall look and shape of the car make it known that this is something different. The exterior of the Volkswagen ID.4 is a perfect balance of modernity and functionality. It features sleek, aerodynamic lines that give it a futuristic but approachable look. Unlike some EVs that go too far in terms of radical design, the ID.4 sticks to a more mainstream aesthetic, which will likely appeal to a broader audience. Up front, the ID.4 has a closed-off grille (typical for EVs) and VW's new illuminated logo, which gives it a premium feel, especially at night. The full-width LED light bar across the front and matrix headlights add to its futuristic look, while the sculpted hood and large wheels give it a commanding road presence. The rear of the car also features LED lighting and a subtle, integrated spoiler, which enhances aerodynamics.

PERFORMANCE

The ID.4 was launched in Europe in 2020 and was available in various configurations, starting with a single-motor rear-wheel-drive (RWD) model and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) dual-motor option for more power and better traction. The model that is brought down to SA is the Pro model which has a single electric motor that produces 150kW and 310Nm of torque. This equates to a 0-100km time of 8.5 seconds, nothing to write home about I know but bare in mind that this is a family vehicle and has a heavy payload with the batteries. The car, while doesn't feature a conventional gearbox has two driving modes, namely "D" and "B" which can be selected from the gear selector that extends out of the digital instrument cluster. Drive, being a more conventional driving experience and has a less harsher regeneration feel to it but does eat into the battery life, while "B" is more suited for your urban commute as it enhances the regeneration side of the breaks giving it a slightly more harsher feel when lifting off the accelerator. The ride quality of the ID.4 is tuned for comfort rather than sporty handling, which suits its family-SUV nature. It absorbs road imperfections well, making for a smooth and quiet ride, especially with the near-silent operation of the electric drivetrain. The steering is light and precise, but it lacks the sharpness that some drivers might crave.

CHARGING

One of the most important aspects of any EV is its range, and the Volkswagen ID.4 performs admirably here. The RWD model comes with an 77 kWh battery pack that provides an EPA-estimated range of around 531km on a full charge, as per the brochure but a full charge gave me a range of 431km, this fluctuated with my driving styles as I drove the car, if you drive it properly, the ID.4 will show you its worth, even with the range saying 431km, it could easily have done more with the power regeneration thanks to those massive 235 tyres. Range anxiety is a thing of the past with the ID.4 and even when my range dropped to below 70km, and the colours in the car started to turn red, I was note phased at all. I was not brave enough to take it to 0% battery life but other media colleagues did and it still managed to do an extra 10km till it got to the charging station. The car is responsive like any EV would be, but flicking between the driving modes really shows you how the character of the car can change. The silence is something I've gotten used to and the smoothness of the drive is just superb. When it comes to charging, the ID.4 supports DC fast charging up to 150 kW, which allows it to charge from 5% to 80% in around 30 minutes at a fast-charging station. The fastest charging station I had access to was the DC charging station at Gateway Shopping Center which was a 66kW station which manage to charge the ID.4 from 7% to 100% in just under an hour, or just long enough to have my lunch. Home charging whether with a wall box or direct from your wall socket will take in excess of 7 hours or overnight but when it comes to charging, unless you know you're doing a lot of running around the next day, one would only be charging this car once a week.

COMFORT

The interior of the ID.4 is minimalist but loaded with tech. The layout is clean and clutter-free, with a focus on simplicity. The centerpiece is a 10-inch (upgradable to 12-inch in higher trims) touchscreen infotainment system, which controls most of the car's functions, from navigation to climate control. The cabin feels open and airy, helped by the available panoramic sunroof and large windows that provide great visibility. The materials used are mostly high-quality, though some harder plastics are present, especially in lower trims. However, the overall build quality is solid, and the seats are comfortable for long drives. There's plenty of space for passengers in both the front and rear seats, making it a practical choice for families. The ID.4 offers 543-liters of luggage space behind the rear seats, expanding to `,575-liters with the seats folded, which is competitive for the segment. Volkswagen has equipped the ID.4 with a suite of advanced tech features that enhance both convenience and safety. The infotainment system is responsive and integrates wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring seamless smartphone connectivity. The system also supports voice control, which Volkswagen calls “ID. Light,” a system of visual cues integrated into the dashboard to communicate certain information (such as navigation prompts or incoming calls). The digital instrument cluster is fully customizable, giving drivers quick access to important information. The ID.4 also comes with a variety of driver-assistance features, including adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and automated emergency braking, as part of VW’s “IQ.Drive” suite of safety systems. Higher trims include features like a 360-degree camera, park assist, and an augmented reality head-up display that projects navigation directions onto the windshield.

VERDICT

The Volkswagen ID.4, to me just goes to prove what EV's can offer, while this is an old model that we're only getting to experience now, it just goes to show what brands are doing with the technology and its no surprise why it was an excellent choice for buyers in Europe who were looking to transition to electric driving without compromising on the practicality and comfort of a compact SUV. Its competitive range, spacious interior, and advanced tech make it a strong contender in the rapidly growing EV market. While it may not offer the high-performance thrills of some competitors, its well-rounded nature, combined with Volkswagen's strong build quality and brand recognition, makes it an appealing option for families and environmentally conscious consumers alike. Like all cars, it does come with some pros and cons, with the pros outweighing the cons and for the type use one would get an ID.4 for, it really makes the competition look weak. While we can't really compare it to other EV's on the market since VWSA won't be putting it on sale anytime soon, even with the upcoming leasing option it would be hard to judge it against other brands in the market. It still is a conundrum to me as to why Volkswagen Group are taking this stance since its sister company, Audi is selling their e-trons to the market, it remains to be seen if they change their stance on the matter as I personally believe they have a winning car in their pocket.