Used 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD) Consumer Reviews
Used ID.4 for sale
Disappointing! Buggy software, laggy response.
Potamus, Salt Lake City, UT, 09/27/2022
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)
21 of 25 people found this review helpful
In April 2021 my husband and I test-drove five electric cars. He opted for a Tesla Model 3, I liked the feel of the ID.4 since it had real buttons and seemed more like a "normal" car. We ordered both cars the same day. He got his Tesla two months later and when my old car started breaking down I drove the Tesla quite a bit and got used to that. My ID.4 (AWD Pro-S) arrive exactly 1 year after I ordered it. It's a beautiful car (I got the red) and I get many comments about it. It seems very well-built both outside and inside. Unfortunately, I hate driving it. Here are some of the reasons why: 1) The software is super buggy and really slow to respond. It seems like it is based on CPU technology from a couple decades ago. If I tap something, there is a lag of a second or two, and I'm never sure if my tap was registered. 2) I cannot listen to audio via AirPlay from my iPhone. It works for a while, but then starts cutting out or stops altogether. I brought it to VW service and they said that it overwhelms the infotainment system, so their solution was to disable the onscreen map. What?? It's 2022, folks! That didn't fix it, so now I not only cannot listen to my podcasts, but I don't have the map, either. 3) The voice command feature is worthless. It's almost hilarious how poor the voice recognition is. Even simple things 3-word requests aren't recognized. The Tesla is super smart and can understand long commands, and I've never had problems with that. I got used to that, so the VW is extremely irritating. I've given up trying to speak to it. 4) Driving is laggy. I hate to keep comparing to the Tesla, but if I press on the accelerator, the Tesla responds immediately, zero lag. With the VW there's maybe a half-second delay. It's sort of like driving an old GM, so people transitioning to a VW from a gas-powered car might not recognize the difference. But I do. Again, there is just no excuse for that. 5) There is no one-pedal driving. Believe me, once you get used to one-pedal driving, you'll never want to go back. With the Tesla, regenerative braking is strong and taking the feet off both pedals brings the car to a complete stop. It's such a natural way to drive. Although the ID.4 does have regenerative braking, it is comparatively weak and requires frequent use of the brakes (with associated brake pad wear). Most irritatingly, taking the feet off both pedals causes the car to creep forward. THERE IS NO REASON AN ELECTRIC CAR SHOULD CREEP! (Sorry, frustration.) It is programmed that way to make it "feel" like a gas-powered car, and there is no setting to turn it off. (I understand that the 2022 models do allow it to be turned off, so that is...progress?) About a month after we got the ID.4 my husband rear-ended a car at a stop sign (slow speed, thankfully) because he was used to electric cars coming to a complete stop. I've come close myself. It's as if VW doesn't want to acknowledge that an electric car should be a different—and superior—driving experience and has programmed it to be "dumb" like a gas-powered car. 6) You cannot put a bike rack on the back. That is not entirely true, but here's the issue: My ID.4 came with a trailer hitch receiver and I have a fold-up bike rack installed on that. When folded up (or down, with bikes) the rack obscures a bit of the back-up camera, which interprets it as something I'm about to run into. So, every time I put the car in reverse there is a loud warning sound, and if I am going in reverse at more than about 2 miles an hour the car slams on the brakes, scaring the bejeezus out of me and anyone else in the car. There is no way to turn it off. Actually, the VW guy said that if I get a particular doodad and plug it in to the trailer hitch socket it will stop it. I tried and it didn't work at all. Thankfully that doodad cost only about $10. 7) Road trip charging is a chore. The ID.4 came with free charging on the Electrify America network (3 years, I think). Yay! Unfortunately, the car cannot tell you where the chargers are. So, I have to download an app to do that, and then estimate myself whether I have the range to make it to the next charger. Tesla is light years ahead here. It would seem that many of the software issues could be resolved with updates. However, as of this writing (Sept 2022) no updates have been rolled out in the U.S. None. Ever. Apparently, updates are available elsewhere in the world, but for some reason they are not available in the U.S. So, I'm still stuck with the same buggy, irritating, laggy, frustrating car. Would I recommend the ID.4? Frankly, no. Not when there are more solid alternatives out there. I do hope that new versions of the ID.4 include modern, fast computer chips and that all the software bugs and driving hiccups are fixed. I also hope that VW embraces the new EV paradigm and stops trying to make EVs feel like legacy gas-powered cars.
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GREAT CAR!
Steve R, Webster, NY, 07/26/2022
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
After about 1000 miles we are very happy with the ID4. Very quick and quiet. Road manners are excellent and the sound system is great too. The Infotainment system is much better with V3.1. Love this car!
2021 Volkswagen ID.4 for sale near you
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Great SUV EV
Douglas S., Virginia Beach, VA, 02/12/2023
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Dollar for dollar the id4 is probably the best mid-size EV on the market today. Great ride, solid German build and decent mileage compared to other EV's out there. Software is a little glitchy but in the process of being upgraded soon by VW.
Love my ID4.
Ronald B., Chicago, IL, 04/10/2022
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
My wife and I traded in our 2016 Buick Envision Premium Trim 1 for our Volkswagen ID4 Pro S All Wheel Drive. We wanted an electrical SUV to replace our gas powered SUV. We ordered it online and had it shipped to us from Germany to our dealer. I totally loved the entire experience of selecting the car this way. No hassle at the dealer, the car is exactly what and how you want it. It drives just like our gas powered SUV. Great acceleration for a suv of this size. Faster than our Buick Envision. Charges quicker than our Chevy Bolt does at the Electrify America Stations on DC fast charging. I like the quirkiness of the controls (no buttons or levers all touch screens), I love the sureness and smoothness of the ride, and I also like that the (trickle charge) portable charging level 1 cord can be plugged into a regular outlet. I plan on getting a Level Two charger at home. I would recommend this suv to anyone that is thinking of making the leap from gas to electric but wants an suv that still feels like a car and not a spaceship.
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very cheap materials inside and out -
AAA, Laguna Hills, CA, 07/08/2021
Volkswagen ID.4 AWD Pro S (Statement) 4dr SUV AWD (electric DD)
26 of 152 people found this review helpful
this car is a joke - the mileage is about 100 miles per charge - if you drive very slowly and not push it at all you might get 150 or so. The back up camera is very distorted. not a find car to drive - after owning several luxury vehicles. you need to shop around before you buy this car
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