Driven: The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Is Now More Affordable and Made in America

• The new 62-kWh Standard model starts at $37,495 (before destination).
• This version has a 209-mile range and rear-wheel drive.
• Volkswagen is switching production of the ID.4 to the U.S. for the first time.
• All 2023 ID.4s also have a bigger touchscreen and quicker DC fast charging.

How does it drive?

The 62-kWh-equipped Standard ID.4 is a clone of the Long Range rear-wheel-drive model, just with three fewer battery modules. We didn't expect drastic changes on the road and, sure enough, that was the case.

With only 201 horsepower and 229 lb-ft of torque, the ID.4 doesn't have the brute force of other mainstream EVs. In our previous testing, the rear-drive model took 7.7 seconds to hit 60 mph — the Standard should do the same, maybe a touch quicker with roughly 250 fewer pounds to push around. But for anyone coming from a gas-powered crossover, the ID.4's acceleration will feel like a step in the right direction. It's more than adequate for city and highway driving.

We're still disappointed that the VW doesn't offer full one-pedal driving. It retains the B mode that uses stronger brake regeneration. However, the car will not come to a full stop without using the brakes. It's one of the lacking features that hold the ID.4 back from besting some of its competitors.

Volkswagen says the car is good for 209 miles of range. We will of course run the car through our real-world EV range test to fact-check the claim, but that number wouldn't surprise us. With 97% state of charge, the car showed 211 miles to empty before we took off on our brief drive.

What else is new?

ID.4 production will be shifting from Germany to the company's Chattanooga, Tennessee, manufacturing facility for the 2023 model year. With this transition comes minor design modifications and an improvement in charging.

With new battery chemistry thanks to the switch in production methods, the ID.4 is capable of 170-kW peak charging at a DC fast-charging station. (Last year, it was 135 kW.) This should shorten DC charging times and help the ID.4 stay competitive with other electric SUVs, even if the Hyundai Ioniq 5 still wins out with its super-speedy charging. The ID.4 now offers plug-and-charge capability at Electrify America stations, allowing users to — as advertised — plug the car in and initiate charging without any further action.

The exterior gets some fresh color options, and the wheel designs are fresh across the board. S models now get light-up front and rear logos standard, to complement the car's rather large lightbars. Matte black trim pieces are now gloss black, and both fascias receive minor aesthetic tweaks.

Inside, the ID.4 now has what VW calls "an American center console," which is basically a larger cubby to fit more things. The armrest area is also bigger and more comfortable than before. The company also did away with the somewhat strange brown color option on the dash, but you can still get a white steering wheel if you're the daring kind.

All trim levels now come with the larger 12-inch touchscreen display that is running a new software version compared to earlier builds. We've detailed our lackluster experience with this buggy and slow-responding system in the past, and unfortunately, the software does little to improve the situation.

Edmunds says

The new Standard trim ID.4 does not alleviate all of our concerns, but its affordability cannot be ignored. Electric cars have a reputation for being too expensive, so a price point below $40,000 will be enticing to the masses. If the government confirms that it qualifies for an incentive, then this could quickly become the best bargain in the EV game.