AUTO

Updates to the 2024 VW ID.4: What Are Its Biggest Changes?

March 8, 2024

Base versions of the 2024 VW ID.4 lose a small bit of range from previous years.
A new motor boosts the power and range on the larger battery option.
All 2024 ID.4 models get new interior controls, but the head-scratching button system still remains.

The Volkswagen ID.4 really should be a no-brainer.

At an affordable price, with decent range and a comfortable ride, the ID.4 has been a pleasant EV option since it first debuted in 2021. Now, Volkswagen has introduced several upgrades to keep the ID.4 fresh into 2024.

The question is, are these the upgrades the ID.4 really needs?

New this year, the 2024 VW ID.4 gains more horsepower and a larger optional touch screen. It also has redesigned climate control buttons, an updated operating system, and a different gear shifter for easier use. These improvements figure to make the 2024 ID.4 a better rival to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai IONIQ 5 and, of course, the Tesla Model Y.

But Volkswagen didn’t address the electric elephant in the room: its buttons. The ID.4 uses “touch capacitive” controls for functions like the windows, temperature and stereo volume. The technology uses sensors to detect your touch and, in theory, respond quickly. But they’ve been difficult to use from the start, and in fact the VW ID.4 interior will eventually do away with them — just, apparently, not yet.

Still, that doesn’t negate the 2024 VW ID.4 as a viable option in its class. Let’s dive deeper into the new EV to see how it stacks up.

VW ID.4 Price

Updates to the 2024 VW ID.4 - lcd infotainment

Pricing is a strength of the ID.4. It may not be flashy, but there’s value to be found in that egg-like shape.

Starting MSRP for the 2024 VW ID.4 is $39,735 for the smaller 62-kWh battery and rear-wheel drive (201 horsepower and 229 pound-feet of torque). It also comes with a standard 5.3-inch digital cluster display and a 12-inch touch screen.

To get the larger 82-kWh battery, the price starts at $44,875. The battery is the same from before, but the motor and inverter are more performance-minded now (282 horsepower and 402 pound-feet of torque). These models get a larger 12.9-inch screen with standard navigation. This is also the version with the most total range, as outlined below.

Finally, the 2024 VW ID.4 price is $52,795 for the 82-kWh battery with a new performance motor and inverter, boosting its muscle to a whopping 335 horsepower. There are also more creature comforts like rear climate controls and rear heated seats.

The ID.4 has the lowest starting price compared to the Model Y, IONIQ 5, and Mustang Mach-E. It’s not quite as exciting or cutting-edge, to be sure. But the VW ID.4 tax credit also qualifies for the full $7,500 because its final assembly is done in North America. For qualified buyers, that can even be applied as the down payment for the vehicle.

VW ID.4 Range

Updates to the range are a mixed bag. On the VW ID.4 trim levels with a 62-kWh battery, range actually decreased compared with 2023 versions, dropping from 209 miles to 206 miles for 2024. Bummer, right?

If you step up to the larger 82-kWh battery, though, you’re rewarded. The rear-wheel drive ID.4 Pro and ID.4 Pro S now boast a maximum estimated range of 291 miles. That’s up from a max of 275 miles in 2023.

As for the top-level AWD models, range is still a respectable 263 miles, which is up from 255 miles last year.

Range is on the low side for the class. Ford, Hyundai and Tesla all offer versions that extend to the 300-mile range and beyond.

In the future, Volkswagen will switch to the Tesla-standard NACS (SAE J3400) charging port system. For now, though, the ID.4 uses a traditional yet bulkier CCS design. This is the standard used at Electrify America public charging stations, which Volkswagen owns and operates. Buy an ID.4 and get 500 kWh of charging for free at EA stations, which is a nice gesture.

Standard 62-kWh versions of the ID.4 have a maximum charging rate of 140 kW on a DC fast charger under the right conditions, while the 82-kWh ID.4 Pro models can charge at up to 175 kW.

What’s the Verdict?

The promise of the Volkswagen ID.4 is one that EV advocates can get behind: practical, affordable all-electric transportation. And we’re eager to drive the updated 2024 model to see whether it continues to deliver.

It would have been nice to see Volkswagen address the biggest elephant in the room with this update. It appears we’ll have to wait for a new generation of the ID.4, likely in 2028, for that to happen.

In the meantime, the Volkswagen ID.4 plays it safe. That’s a perfectly reasonable gamble for a company and a vehicle trying to convert the masses. With its 2024 changes, the VW ID.4 remains a must-drive for EV shoppers.

Silly buttons or not.