[michael]

A few publications released their first or second drive write-ups this morning:

2021 Volkswagen ID4 First Test: VW's Everyday Electric SUV

In VW’s new EV, tomorrow is today.

www.motortrend.com

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Achieved 190 Miles of Range in Our Testing

In rear-wheel-drive 1st Edition form, VW's new electric crossover is bested by the Tesla Model Y Long Range in our real-world 75-mph highway range test.

www.caranddriver.com

2021 Volkswagen ID 4 is calm, cool and refreshingly normal

Our second go with VW's upcoming EV leaves us convinced that electrification is the way forward.

www.cnet.com

What Do You Want to Know About the Electric 2021 VW ID.4?

Meet what VW calls "the most important car we've made since the Beetle." Can it kickstart an electric revolution?

www.thedrive.com

Volkswagen ID.4: Should Tesla Worry About This New Electric Rival?

Probably not. Volkswagen’s first EV for the global market is long on curb appeal, light-footed among its competitive set—but comes up a bit short in engineering design, writes Dan Neil

www.wsj.com

 

[FredT]

A few publications released their first or second drive write-ups this morning:

2021 Volkswagen ID4 First Test: VW's Everyday Electric SUV

In VW’s new EV, tomorrow is today.

www.motortrend.com

2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Achieved 190 Miles of Range in Our Testing

In rear-wheel-drive 1st Edition form, VW's new electric crossover is bested by the Tesla Model Y Long Range in our real-world 75-mph highway range test.

www.caranddriver.com

2021 Volkswagen ID 4 is calm, cool and refreshingly normal

Our second go with VW's upcoming EV leaves us convinced that electrification is the way forward.

www.cnet.com

What Do You Want to Know About the Electric 2021 VW ID.4?

Meet what VW calls "the most important car we've made since the Beetle." Can it kickstart an electric revolution?

www.thedrive.com

Volkswagen ID.4: Should Tesla Worry About This New Electric Rival?

Probably not. Volkswagen’s first EV for the global market is long on curb appeal, light-footed among its competitive set—but comes up a bit short in engineering design, writes Dan Neil

www.wsj.com

Thanks. Pretty underwhelming set of reviews so far. Could there be a worse, more misleading headline than that of Car and Driver. These are why a usually avoid the traditional auto media and look to the video reviews from the little guys.

 

[ErickF]

Here's an ungated copy of the WSJ article. This guy is just flat-out anti-VW (as evidenced in prior articles). Misstep on VW's part to let him even receive a media car.

Volkswagen ID.4: Should Tesla Worry About This New Electric Rival?

AS THE PRESENCE of our visitor makes clear, world auto makers are beginning to get severe about delivering electrical automobiles.

www.onlineev.com

 

[brivodivo]

Thanks. Pretty underwhelming set of reviews so far. Could there be a worse, more misleading headline than that of Car and Driver. These are why a usually avoid the traditional auto media and look to the video reviews from the little guys.

Indeed - I'm looking for Doug DeMuro's video on the car, which should come out on March 1.

 

[egolf2id]

Thanks. Pretty underwhelming set of reviews so far. Could there be a worse, more misleading headline than that of Car and Driver. These are why a usually avoid the traditional auto media and look to the video reviews from the little guys.

Not only is it a garbage take because Tesla EPA is higher, but they tested the id.4 at 40 degrees vs Tesla at 75!

 

[corfam]

Could there be a worse, more misleading headline than that of Car and Driver.

Not only is it a garbage take because Tesla EPA is higher, but they tested the id.4 at 40 degrees vs Tesla at 75!

Agreed. The Car & Driver article has errors too. They also quote the Model Y LR battery as an 80.5-kWh battery pack, but the actual size of the LR MY battery is 75 kWh total and 72.5 kWh usable. They compare the ID.4's 77 kWh usable battery capacity to a wrong 80.5 kW Tesla Model Y LR battery capacity....which is completely wrong, not just misleading.

 

[stuartm]

I'd like to see what the WSJ article says are the shortcomings, but that article is behind a paywall.

 

[corfam]

I'd like to see what the WSJ article says are the shortcomings, but that article is behind a paywall.

Look at the link Erick posted above. It's the WSJ article republished elsewhere with free access.

 

[FinleyFinn]

I agree that Dan Neil seems to have a bias against VW products but the other reviews were generally positive. Motor Trend's conclusion:
"We came away impressed by the 2021 Volkswagen ID4, an electric SUV with one set of tires in the present and one in the future. It's good fun to drive, novel but not baffling, and most important a reasonably practical SUV.

 

[Twizter]

embargo was monday but WSJ messed up and ran the print edition so everyone else ran theirs

 

[Aero247]

There are probably a lot of publicists screaming at Car & Driver right now for their article. Everything they said is factual but it could have been presented a lot better.

 

[ericy]

I'd like to see what the WSJ article says are the shortcomings, but that article is behind a paywall.

The Urinal is likely to do an even worse job of it.

 

[egsell]

Here's an ungated copy of the WSJ article. This guy is just flat-out anti-VW (as evidenced in prior articles). Misstep on VW's part to let him even receive a media car.

Volkswagen ID.4: Should Tesla Worry About This New Electric Rival?

AS THE PRESENCE of our visitor makes clear, world auto makers are beginning to get severe about delivering electrical automobiles.

www.onlineev.com

Is it just me or is the writing style on that article bizarre? Was it translated or something? Scraped maybe?

 

[ErickF]

Is it just me or is the writing style on that article bizarre? Was it translated or something? Scraped maybe?

It certainly was more alien than intellectual, like most WSJ writing.

 

[egsell]

I think these are all right on. I think it was ErickF or someone else on this forum that reminded us not to make the ID.4 into something it isn't. I am reading that the 4 is a solid, fun ride, with some good utility. If you want something more than that, there are other options now. But I am curious how the Q4 will differentiate itself.

 

[ErickF]

Redline Reviews just posted that VW delivered a car for their review. Should be seeing a video in the coming days.

 

[Aero247]

https://www.motortrend.com/cars/volkswagen/id4/2021/2021-volkswagen-id4-ev-first-test-review/. I'm a little through this review and it seems pretty even.

And what of range? Like its acceleration, the ID4's EPA-rated 250 miles is not the stuff of headlines, but it's an honest number. In ordinary driving, including quite a bit of time on the freeway (generally a range-sponge for EVs), we found the ID4 eagerly met or slightly exceeded this figure. More aggressive driving clipped our range by about 10 percent, but we don't test cars or scream through the curves every day, and an overnight charge was sufficient for four or five days' worth of ordinary driving. A 300-plus-mile figure would give the ID4 bragging rights, but for electric-car owners charging at home, the ID4 need cause no range anxiety.

 

[stealthg]

I think these are all right on. I think it was ErickF or someone else on this forum that reminded us not to make the ID.4 into something it isn't. I am reading that the 4 is a solid, fun ride, with some good utility. If you want something more than that, there are other options now. But I am curious how the Q4 will differentiate itself.

I wonder about that too. The longer I wait for my AWD, the more appealing it looks. They will probably wait until October to announce, so prevent people from jumping over if it hits the mark. There is still no reference to it on the Audi USA website at all (which is way less informative than the international site). 🙄

 

[ChristophW]

Not only is it a garbage take because Tesla EPA is higher, but they tested the id.4 at 40 degrees vs Tesla at 75!

I did some quick math, using Chargeway's range estimates for a given temperature and speed to adjust the ID.4 range:
Chargeway estimates a 192 mile range for ID.4 at 75F and 75 mph, 172 mile range at 45F and 75 mph. So that gives an additional 20 miles at 75F. or an estimated 212 miles had Car&Driver run their test at 75F. So:

Tesla Model Y LR has 35% lower range in their 75 mph test than the EPA number. 220 vs 326 miles.
VW ID.4 at 75F might have had 18% lower range in the 75 mph test than the EPA range. 212 vs 250, and a mere 8 miles less than the Tesla.

At face value, and not correcting for temperature, the ID.4 only lost 24% range vs. the Y LR's 35%.

I'd call this a nice and reliable result.

 

[eVDub]

I think these are all right on. I think it was ErickF or someone else on this forum that reminded us not to make the ID.4 into something it isn't. I am reading that the 4 is a solid, fun ride, with some good utility. If you want something more than that, there are other options now. But I am curious how the Q4 will differentiate itself.

Viewed as a regular EV that's suitable for the average car buyer, because its exactly that, the ID.4 is a great option. It will be interesting to see how it compares to the new Bolt EUV, a direct rival. Anyone here trying to decide between those two models?