Volkswagen wants ID.4 to be the electric crossover for the masses

All-new Volkswagen ID.4 can travel for 520 km in a single charge

An all-new electric crossover is here; it makes over 200 PS and can travel for more than 500 km on a single charge. This is the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, and it serves as the company's first-ever all-electric SUV.

With crossovers and SUVs continuing to dominate the global auto market, Volkswagen's decision to launch the ID.4 after the ID.3 makes sense. And unlike ID.3 which will be offered only in select markets, the ID.4 crossover will be arriving in global markets and could be touted as the people's (electric) crossover.

Taking inspiration from the ID Crozz² concept, the ID.4 looks somewhat like an ID.3 on stilts. From its signature headlights, huge glass area, as well as a sleek set of taillights, the ID.4 looks stylish in every direction. And just like the ID.3 hatchback, the ID.4 also makes use of the company's MEB architecture. With it, Volkswagen claims the ID.4 will offer plenty of room not just for passengers, but luggage as well.

And speaking of luggage, the ID.4 is rated to carry 543 liters of cargo with the rear seats up. Fold down the rear seats, and VW claims this electric crossover can lug 1,575 liters worth of luggage. Impressive figures for a crossover that measures less than 4.6 meters in length. But since the ID.4 doesn't have an engine and has fewer mechanicals, Volkswagen was able to maximize the available cargo and cabin space. It also has a frunk although Volkswagen has yet to state anything about it.

Don't expect to see plenty of physical buttons and switches inside the all-new ID.4. Like the ID.3 hatchback, the crossover also makes use of digital displays for the instrument and infotainment displays. The former measures 5.3-inches while the latter is available in either 10- or 12-inch sizes. Other available features inside the ID.4 include a heads-up display, gestured-based controls for the infotainment system, wireless phone charging, two USB-C charging outlets, and a storage compartment near the footwell.

The driving force of the ID.4 is a rear-mounted electric motor that generates 204 PS and 309 Nm of torque. It can go from 0 – 100 km/h in 8.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 160 km/h. All of this is made possible thanks to a floor-mounted battery pack that provides 77 kWh of energy, and a maximum range of 520 km.

This allows the crossover to go on cross-country road trips without having to recharge the battery pack. And if you do need to quickly recharge the ID.4, a DC quick-charging system can easily give the crossover 320 km of range in just 30 minutes.

With the ID.4 set to disrupt the compact crossover market, Volkswagen may have just found themselves a winner in the global EV market. With its sleek looks, high-tech, and spacious cabin, along with its efficient powertrain, the ID.4 could indeed become the 'people's electric crossover'.