The Volkswagen ID.4 is an Electric Beetle With Problems
Do you miss the classic Volkswagen Beetle? Well, maybe you don’t have to anymore. The Volkswagen ID.4 was recently launched with the hopes of being seen as the new electrified VW bug.
The Volkswagen ID.4 Wants to be the new Beetle
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 was recently revealed with the hopes of being a practical option that can’t be ignored. VW aspires for the ID.4 to be as popular as the iconic Volkswagen Beetle that was discontinued in 2019 to make way for new SUVs and crossovers.
However, there is a slight problem. The Volkswagen ID.4 EV is expensive, with a starting price of around $41,190. If you want the all-wheel-drive version, then the price jumps up to about $45,190.
Also, a cheaper base model version is expected to be available in 2022. It’s expected to cost about $35,000 and will have a smaller battery pack, so it could have a reduced range.
To make the price sound reasonable, according to InsideHook, the price is only $1,300 above the average cost of a new vehicle in the US Plus, the federal electric car tax could provide a credit of up to $7,500.
Volkswagen ID.4 power
The all-electric Volkswagen ID.4 has a range of 250 miles, which is less than rivals have to offer. For example, the Jeep Wrangler 4xe has a 400-mile range. However, it’s on par with the Tesla Model 3 that has a 250-mile range. The extended range version of the Tesla delivers a 322-mile range.
Until the AWD version is available, the first Volkswagen ID.4 models will be rear-wheel-drive, which is positive for delivering a sporty performance. They will have 201 horsepower and 228 lb-ft of torque. Again, these figures fall short to competitors. The Tesla Model 3 offers 258 to 271 hp. But the later models could produce up to 302 hp.
Edmunds suggests that the Volkswagen ID.4 will be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds, which is underwhelming. The Volkswagen Beetle is supposed to be a racer. It even had Beetle Adventure Racing, an older N64 video game based on it in the 90s.
Charging the Volkswagen ID.4
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is powered by an 82.0-kWh battery pack with 77.0-kWh available for daily charging. With a DC fast-charging station, this SUV will charge from 5% to 80% in about 38 minutes.
With a home or public L2 charger, the ID.4 can achieve a 33-mile range in about one hour. The best way to charge it at home is with an L2 wallbox, but the VW ID.4 only includes an L1 charging cable. You can also buy a home charging solution from Electrify Home.
The ID.Light is an intuitive light bar that runs across the dashboard to provide visual communications. It will let you know your charge status, brake warnings, telegraph incoming calls, and more.
Also, the Volkswagen ID.4 serves as the start to Volkswagen’s clean initiative. It comes with the promise to build one million EVs by 2023. As they work on their goal, we may see some interesting new upgrades and models arrive.
