While EVs are a comparatively new idea in the automotive industry, Volkswagen already has over 80 years of experience under its belt building excellent automobiles. In a world where unproven startups are prioritizing the chase for efficiency and performance over user-friendly features, VW built an electric vehicle that aims to be approachable for those making the switch from internal combustion.
Put a Volkswagen badge in front of just about anyone and they’ll be able to successfully identify it. Despite being such a large company, VW hasn’t fallen into the design-by-committee nature of other heavy hitters and has remained committed to focusing on customer feedback. Thanks to over-the-air updates—tech that has rapidly become the industry standard for EVs—the German automaker will be able to actively tend to what buyers want.
Volkswagen’s intentions with the ID.4 AWD are clear. The German automaker’s electric runabout has to accomplish just about everything that an average automobile is capable of. Among other things, it needs to be easy to drive at low speeds, comfortable, and approachable to those that are making the change from internal combustion to electric power.
While the two-wheel-drive ID.4 was no slouch—putting down 201 horsepower and 228 pound-feet of torque to the rear axle—the all-wheel-drive vehicle is simply different gravy. Thanks to an additional motor at the front axle, which adds another 107 hp and 119 lb-ft of torque, the end result is 295 hp and 339 lb-ft. Compared to other AWD electric vehicles including the Tesla Model Y (with 384 hp) and the Ford Mustang Mach-E (with 346 hp) it might not sound like a ton. But trust us, it’s plenty.