Latest news with #ID4
Top Gear
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Volkswagen ID.4 Review 2025
The crossover sibling of the ID.3 hatch, to absolutely no one's surprise. It's based on Volkswagen's designed-for-electric platform known as MEB, and it's available in rear- or all-wheel drive along with 52kWh or 77kWh battery variants. There's also a performance version called the ID.4 GTX, which gets a 79kWh battery. A GTI or R for the electric age? We'll see about that. Rivals are many. They include the ID.5 (essentially an ID.4 with a coupe roofline), Skoda Enyaq (and its coupe sibling) and Audi Q4 e-tron (and its Sportback sibling), all of which are closely related, sit on the same platform, and come from the VW Group megacorp alone. Advertisement - Page continues below There's also the likes of the BMW iX3, Ford Mustang Mach-E, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6 and Tesla Model Y. What's the range like? Entry-level ID.4s offer up to 221 miles of range with that smaller battery, mid-range models up to 339 miles courtesy of the bigger battery, while adding four-wheel drive into the mix means range takes a small hit. The range-topping all-wheel drive GTX (see below) claims up to 321 miles. Skip 10 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Turn on Javascript to see all the available pictures. 1 / 10 But. And it's quite a big but. The entry-level Skoda Enyaq supplies more range across the board... and is cheaper. Awkward. Advertisement - Page continues below Look past that and you'll find the ID.4 a comfortable, efficient and uncomplicated family cruiser. But it's also rather bland to drive. Does that matter in a family SUV? Arguably not, but the GTX doesn't add much to the picture either. Head over to the Driving tab for the full lowdown. How big is it? Think Tiguan outside but bigger inside. The wheelbase is actually the same as an ID.3, but sitting more upright means a sense of more legroom. Overall it's about 300mm longer than the ID.3, so the boot's a lot bigger. The cabin cleaves to the minimalist aesthetic of many EVs, although that's not necessarily a good thing. It also adopts the all-touch interface of the ID.3, which definitely isn't a good thing. And no, the touchy-slidey steering wheel buttons and main dash controls (which do at least light up now) aren't getting any less infuriating. How much does it cost? Prices for the smaller batteried variant start from £39,590, the bigger battery from £44,400, all-wheel drive ups that to £46,120, and the AWD GTX range-topper is £52,245. Full details over on the Buying tab. Want to know what the best electric cars are? Click here for the top 20 Our choice from the range VOLKSWAGEN 210kW Match Pro 77kWh 5dr Auto £44,335 See prices and specs What's the verdict? ' The Skoda Enyaq... is cheaper, has a more practical cabin, and goes further on a charge too ' Volkswagen missed the mark with the launch of the ID.4, with the overall experience let down by a cabin that's infuriating to operate. Recent updates have fixed most of the woes, meaning it's now a perfectly adequate family pod. The smooth, silent driving experience demands nothing of you (though won't appeal to you if you have even the slightest interest in driving enjoyment), it has a roomy cabin with loads of clever storage spaces, and it's pretty efficient too. But the bigger problem lies from within in the shape of the Skoda Enyaq, which is cheaper, has a more practical cabin, and goes further on a charge too. If it's the cool factor you're after, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 have it outflanked as well. There's nothing that the ID.4 is best at. Oh.
Top Gear
02-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
Skoda Enyaq Interior Layout & Technology
Interior What is it like on the inside? All very tasteful. And conventional too. It's less annoying than, say, the inside of an ID.4, chiefly because it has fewer of those infuriating touch sensitive buttons and sliders. For example, the steering wheel has a smattering of normal buttons and a clickwheel for volume: they're far easier to use than the VW's touchpads, and there's significantly less risk of accidentally muting the radio whenever you turn left. Ahead of the driver is an unusually small 5in screen – a far cry from some of the giant digital clusters we've become used to, it really only displays speed, charge, trip info and the status of the adaptive cruise control. But it's clear and easy to read, and useful info like satnav directions or radio station can be displayed on the head-up display. Advertisement - Page continues below What about the infotainment? The central screen is a generous 13 inches. It does take a little while to wake up when you switch the car on, which is annoying if you're in a rush. But after that it responds pretty quickly to your inputs and has a sensible UI. At the top of the screen sits a row of customisable shortcuts (to driver assist settings etc), while quick access to the climate controls/heated seats is via a band that runs across the bottom of the touchscreen – whether you're looking at the map, radio, Apple CarPlay or anything else. A touch slider directly under the screen does volume and temperature (a little awkwardly – don't rest your hand there to use the screen while you're driving). Meanwhile a row of proper physical buttons underneath the screens offers access to the driver assist modes (turning off the speed limit and lane keep assist is two presses away), drive modes, climate controls, de-mist functions and so on. Advertisement - Page continues below Will my passengers enjoy the ride? All the seats are comfortable and there's plenty of room for people and things. The flat floor means it's easy to sit three abreast in the back. Shame the rear bench doesn't slide about like it does in a Kodiaq, but there's decent legroom anyway. Up front the driving position is well judged. Clever Skoda-y touches include an umbrella secreted in the driver's door and an ice scraper hidden in the tailgate. There's no storage space under the bonnet like you get other EVs, but the big boot is 585 litres with the seats up and 1,710 litres with them all folded flat. That's more than you get in the VW ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron. Cable storage is under the boot floor with a compartment right by the lip, which means you don't have to empty out your clobber to get at your cables. But if you're fully loaded it still means shoving bits and pieces about. Hmm. Why no storage net under the parcel shelf like you get in the Elroq?
Auto Express
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
New Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 Black Editions turn family SUVs to the dark side
Volkswagen is introducing new Black Edition versions of its all-electric ID.4 family SUV and ID.5 coupe-SUV. They will be available to order from 29 May, with prices starting from £46,180 and £47,680, respectively. The Black Edition model will sit above Match trim in both model's line-ups, and injects a little more more style into the electric SUVs with a set of 19-inch Onyx black alloy wheels and a panoramic glass sunroof, while the side mirrors, roof, C-pillar and badging on the bootlid are black. Meanwhile the interior benefits from Volkswagen's 'Top-Sport Plus' pack, which includes sport front seats with integrated head restraints, adjustable lumbar support and massage function, wrapped in suede upholstery. Advertisement - Article continues below Perhaps the best part is that Volkswagen claims Black Edition trim provides up to £4,625 worth of extra kit and options, but for a relatively small price rise of around £1,800 over the existing Match versions. Among the standard equipment are a 12.9-inch central touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, matrix LED headlights, wireless smartphone charging pad, keyless entry, a powered tailgate, 30-colour ambient lighting and plenty of driver-assistance tech, including adaptive cruise control. Every ID.4 and ID.5 Black Edition is powered by a 77kWh battery that provides up to 336 miles of range in the SUV, or 341 miles in the more aerodynamic coupe. Both also produce 282bhp, which is sufficient for 0-62mph in under seven seconds, while a 10 to 80 per cent top-up will take about half an hour from most DC rapid chargers. However, while the ID.5 Black Edition is only going to be available with a single motor and rear-wheel drive, the ID.4 Black Edition will be offered with the option of a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive '4Motion' set-up for an extra £1,720. There's no extra power, with the additional motor used instead to provide better traction in slippery conditions. Range is reduced to 322 miles, though. Come and join our WhatsApp channel for the latest car news and reviews...
NZ Autocar
05-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Is Ford about to resurrect its hot-selling Fiesta?
Back a few years, the Ford Fiesta was Britain's best selling nameplate. So what did Ford do? Axed it. Evidently it couldn't make any profit from the five-door hatch. What have Ford sales done since in the UK? Rhetorical question. However, thanks to a technology sharing tie up with Volkswagen, Fiesta might yet make a comeback. Volkswagen's Martin Sander told Auto Express that there may be opportunities for further EV platform sharing. Ford already uses the ID 4 and 5 underpinnings for its Explorer and Capri EVs. If it returned, it is likely a reborn Fiesta would use MEB Entry platform mechanicals. Those are the same underpinnings set to find use in ID.1 and ID.2. A future Fiesta might therefore have up to 450km of range and DC fast-charging speeds of up to 125kW. The initial agreement with Ford enabled Volkswagen to scale up and this could be repeated with a second round of smaller family cars. While Puma remains a big seller for Ford in Europe, it is no longer the affordable entry-point it originally was. However, Ford ditched Fiesta and Focus because they couldn't make a profit on city cars or small family hatchbacks. However, Ford has said it is confident in its ability to compete in the right segments, meaning it is keeping its options open. The outgoing Fiesta was 4068mm long which is marginally longer than the ID. 2all concept. But the VW's wider stance and low-mounted battery should give a future Fiesta that typical dynamic character present in modern-day Fords. Styling is an unknown but a blanked off front end, slimline headlights and aero wheels are a given for the five-door only hatch. Ford and VW may cooperate again the future, this time resurrecting the Fiesta. Add to the mix Ford's California-based Skunkworks team that is working on a 'new affordable electric vehicle platform'. However, that project seems to be developing 'a medium-sized pick-up'. That would be better suited to US conditions than a compact hatch. Ford has said it will update the market on its future EV strategy in August, along with results for the first half of 2025.
The Independent
09-03-2025
- Automotive
- The Independent
Volkswagen Tayron review: The popular family SUV goes hybrid, but loses two seats
Pop over to the Volkswagen website and you'll count nine new SUVs available right now. In theory, there should be something for every type of SUV buyer, with a couple of fully electric models (the ID 4 and ID 5) and three coming with plug-in hybrid options (the Tiguan, Tayron and Touareg). The Tayron (pronounced 'tie–ron') is the newest of the lot, slotting between Tiguan and Touareg and replacing the old seven-seat Tiguan Allspace model. And yes, there are seven seats in the Tayron, but not in the plug-in hybrid model we're testing here. The PHEV system's battery sits under the boot floor, where the sixth and seventh seats would usually be. So unless you want more room in the back seats and a huge boot that offers 705 litres, rather than the Tiguan's 490 litres, we'd stick with the smaller, cheaper and equally appealing car. However, if you're swayed by all that space then the Tayron gives you exactly what you'd expect from a Volkswagen SUV: smart looks, excellent quality, a comfortable drive and decent kit levels. The problem for both the Tayron and Tiguan are its many east Asian competitors that, while lacking the sophistication of the Volkswagen cars in terms of drive and quality, offer space and kit in abundance for much less cash. How we tested We drove the Volkswagen Tayron in the south of France on a route that took in everything from tight and twisty mountain roads to fast autoroutes and quaint towns, riding in the front and back, and checking out the space in the boot, too. Independent rating: 7/10 Battery, range, charging, performance and drive There are two versions of the Tayron plug-in hybrid, both with a 1.5-litre petrol engine plus a 19.7kWh battery connected to an electric motor. Combined power for the two are either 201bhp or 268bhp. We drove the lower-powered version, which is predictably silent and reasonably swift in fully electric mode. For most people most of the time, that's all you'll need – especially with the decent range of well over 70 miles on a full charge. If you do put your foot down, the petrol engine is surprisingly vocal under acceleration, but eventually calms itself down. Maximum charging speeds for the battery are 11kW on an AC charger and a reasonable 50kW on a fast charger, although with a plug-in hybrid you're more likely to fill up with fuel away from home on a longer journey than fill up with electricity. The Tayron is a comfortable car to drive, although it does feel big at 4,770mm – 231mm longer than the Tiguan. It looks bigger, too. That extra length does it no favours, while from the driver's seat, the high bonnet makes you feel like you're in a big SUV. It's an easy car to control though, and doesn't wallow around when you go through corners, with nicely reactive steering. The ride is pretty comfortable thanks to the adaptive dampers the car comes with, and ride comfort tends to be one area where many cheaper rivals fall down. Visibility is good, even through the rear window which seems a long way away. There are myriad cameras to help manoeuvring, too. Interior, practicality and boot space Inside the Tayron it's typical Volkswagen fair: not especially adventurous, but beautifully built and easy to use. There's a bit of sparkly back-lit patterning in front of the passenger and on the doors, the obligatory ambient lighting and – following criticism about the brand's touch-sensitive pads on the steering wheel – a return to real buttons where your thumbs sit on the wheel. Volkswagen describes the Tayron's cabin as a 'wellness interior'. It features acoustic glass to keep it quiet inside, a full-length panoramic sunroof on some models and the availability of 'ergoActive-Plus' seats with heating, fancy massaging and approval from German back specialists. The big story – and we mean big – is the space in the back. Legroom is huge, and rear passengers' wellness hasn't been forgotten with sun blinds, heated seats and a clever storage system that pops out of the fold-down centre armrest. The boot door opens wide to reveal a huge 705 litres of storage with a flat floor when the rear seats are folded to increase space to 2,090 litres. Technology, stereo and infotainment Volkswagen hasn't had the best reputation for in-car tech recently. The Tayron soldiers on with a touchscreen system that the brand has done its best to improve with new software. That means that the usability is now acceptable, while the touch-sensitive temperature and volume adjustment sliders that sit directly underneath are, at least, now lit. You're still likely to inadvertently adjust the heating or sound level if you rest your thumb there, though. There is voice control to help overcome those problems, with ChatGPT integrated into it, while VW's digital driver display has always been one of the best. A crisp head-up display is also available as well as twin wireless smartphone chargers and a reasonable Harman Kardon audio system. As chrome is out of fashion these days, Volkswagen illuminates its front and rear badges – which might be a bit too glitzy for some tastes – while there are also HD Matrix headlights. Being family focused, you'll be pleased to know that there's a full suite of advanced safety and driver assistance features, plus the car will even park itself via the Volkswagen app. Price and running costs When you look at the prices some of the new Asian car makers are charging for their plug-in hybrid SUVs, the Tayron looks expensive – as it does against the slightly smaller Tiguan. If you need the space, you'll struggle to find more than you will in a Tayron. But it's a shame you can't get seven seats in the plug-in hybrid version, which would really give it a unique positioning. The electric-only range is impressive and better than the claims from most rivals, which could usefully slash your running costs. The claim of nearly a 600 mile total EV and petrol range is slightly fanciful however. Volkswagen Tayron rivals Volkswagen Tiguan Jaecoo 7 BYD Seal U DM-I FAQs How long does it take to charge? The Tayron can fast-charge it's 19.7kWh battery at up to 50 kW, with a full charge taking well under 30 minutes. How much does it cost – is it worth it? The Tayron is expensive when you look at rivals from the far east, but it has more space than rivals and better quality, too. Does Volkswagen replace batteries for free? Volkswagens come with a standard three-year manufacturer warranty. The verdict: Volkswagen Tayron Volkswagen's SUV range is about as crowded as it gets, and the Tayron might just be one model too many. Without the seven seats of the petrol and diesel models – the PHEV battery has to go somewhere – I'm struggling to see the point over the cheaper and still nicely spacious Tiguan PHEV.
