On the exterior, model year 2023 cars receive new gloss black front bumper details and an illuminated rear Volkswagen logo. Otherwise, buyers face the choice of eight new paint colors and four interior colors for the eight trim levels. VW dictates the rest—the ID.4 essentially cannot be optioned specifically for wheel size and design, tire choice, or even heated massaging seats.
As the day in Tennessee wrapped up, VW also threw in a quick sample drive of the smaller 62-kWh ID.4 prototype. Available in rear drive only (and therefore, with just 201 horsepower), the entry-level ID.4 loses some of the pep that makes the 295-hp AWD models more fun. But at the lower price point, VW hopes city folks with good charging options will prize the ID.4’s excellent, if simple, interior design and standard tech package over maxed-out range stats, especially in comparison to competitors like the Toyota bZ4X or Hyundai Ioniq 5—though the similarly Spartan Hyundai Kona EV seems like a more apt comparison.
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As a final goodie, VW showed off a concept ID.4 built for the Tennessee Valley Authority with smaller 18-inch wheels, knobby all-terrain tires, and a roof rack. A planned run of 1,200 units will help phase out the TVA’s reliance on gas-powered trucks for linemen maintaining the state’s power grid.
A similar package tailored for the off-roading market seems less than likely, though, especially given recently announced plans to revamp the International Scout nameplate as an all-electric 4×4. In the meantime, the ID.4 will simply have to serve as VW’s electric car for the people, at least until a highly anticipated next-gen Beetle joins the expanding retro-futuristic EV lineup.
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