Volkswagen has entered the chat and brought the 2021 ID.4 with. The newest Volkswagen SUV crossover combination electric vehicle has some interesting features. From a white interior package and an integrated app, is the ID.4 ready to go up against Tesla?

What makes the Volkswagen ID.4 so interesting?

Many features make the new ID.4 worth taking a look at. Purely based on looks, the ID.4 has a glass roof, silver trim, and an interesting 20″ wheel design. It also has many white features on the interior, including the oddly-shaped gear selector and steering wheel.

Does it resemble the Volkswagen Beetle? It kind of looks like the beetle’s older cousin. Complete with a cool roof. Volkswagen wants this to be the all-electric competitor of the Honda CR-V or the Toyota RAV4.

Volkswagen’s new Modular Electrification Toolkit (MEB) is a core part of making the ID.4 versatile. It made room in the cabin due to the lack of an engine. This leaves 37.6 inches of leg space for four and 64.2 cu ft of cargo space.

The Volkswagen ID.4 has a 77.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a 201-hp electric motor. This is estimated to get 250 miles for the 1st edition and Pro S versions. A full charge usually takes an estimated eight hours on similar vehicles, which isn’t a great range-to-charge ratio.

Can the Volkswagen ID.4 live up to the competition?

Dan Neil of The Wall Street Journal said, “the ID.4 is five years behind the comparable Tesla.” That’s a harsh review, but does he have a point? Neil notes that the touch-screen interface looks a bit archaic and can be slow to respond.

The “Car-Net” app failed to work when prompted. Compared to Tesla’s streamlined remote interface, this one fell on its face. The good news is that Volkswagen can update this without going back to the dealership.

Neil noted that the ID.4 got less than 200 miles on a 90% charge, but the temperatures could have impacted that.

One of the complaints lodged by Car and Driver was that the touchscreen did not provide enough buttons for controls. More specifically, the climate controls, volume, and other menu items have touch-sensitive sliders that make it hard to adjust without looking.

These might just be quirks that Volkswagen works out down the line. Comparing the ID.4 to the Tesla Model Y isn’t necessarily fair right off the bat, but the comparisons are bound to happen.

How much will the ID.4 cost?

The 1^st Edition of the ID.4 is currently sold out and should start delivering soon. It started at just under $44,000 and included the standard features mentioned before. It is said to be available in Q1 of 2021, and it seems the all-electric vehicle might be on the roads soon.

2021 ID.4Pro is promised for mid-2021. The starting MSRP was at $39,995, and it included some extra features. These features include IQ.Drive, pro navigation with a 10″ screen and wireless charging. Heated front seats and steering wheel are also included.

Both of these versions include three years of unlimited charging at Electrify America Charging Stations around the country. Electrify America’s pricing varies by location, but the pass+ option costs $4 a month. In addition to that, you are charged $0.31/kWh (kilowatt-hour).

For the Tesla Model Y “long-range” version, the purchase price is $48,990 without the potential tax rebate. This gets an estimated 326 miles per charge. The “performance” option gets an estimated 303 miles per charge at $56,690.

For the price, some of the quirks might be worth a shot. Tesla has had a few years to work out the kinks on the vehicles offered, and Volkswagen will eventually figure it out.