Used Volkswagen ID 4 2021-present review

In the market for an electric SUV that's both spacious and has a good range? A used version of the smart-looking VW ID 4 could well be the answer.

It sits between the smaller VW ID 3 and the coupé-styled VW ID 5 in the German firm's line-up. As an electric car, you of course get zero emissions at the exhaust pipe, but VW says the ID 4 is carbon neutral full stop, because it uses renewable energy in the manufacturing process and trees are planted to offset any CO2 produced.

Power: To make it even more enticing, you can have your ID 4 with a healthy choice of power outputs: there are 146bhp, 168bhp, 201bhp or 295bhp versions.

Trims & equipment: Trim-wise, entry-level Life comes with plenty of kit, including climate control, adaptive cruise control, heated front seats and rain-sensing windscreen wipers. The next-up Style trim adds in, among other goodies, a height-adjustable boot floor, an extra climate 'zone' for your rear passengers and a boot net with dividers.

Performance, ride & handling: The entry-level 148bhp motor (called the Pure) or the 168bhp (Pure Performance) have acceleration that is acceptable, if not stunning. The 201bhp Pro Performance accelerates more swiftly, with 0-60mph taking 7.8sec in our tests. Mind you, that's quite a lot slower than rivals like the Kia EV6 or Tesla Model 3. The range-topping GTX has two electric motors, giving it more power and four-wheel drive. Acceleration (0-62mph in 6.2sec officially) is roughly on a par with cheaper EV6s and the Ford Mustang Mach-E, so it's certainly quick enough.

Entry-level Pure versions have a 52kWh battery for an official range of up to 213 miles (expect 150-170 miles in the real world). The Pro models and the GTX have a 77kWh battery, increasing the official range to 324 miles (our testing suggests 230-260 miles is more realistic).

There are smoother-riding electric SUVs than the ID 4 – including the closely related Audi Q4 e-tron, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the EV6 – but it's still comfortable. True, the versions equipped with 20in alloys will jostle you around more, though, but the ID 4 is still more forgiving over rough roads than the sportier Model 3.

It steers well, too, and there’s also plenty of grip, and body movements are far better controlled than in the Mach-E, which is why driving the ID 4 is an altogether calmer, more harmonious experience. If you want something more fun and agile, try the Model 3 or the ID 4's smaller sibling, the ID 3.

Interior & practicality: The ID 4's driver's seat is supportive, especially through corners, and its manual controls are easy to use. The steering wheel extends a good amount for height and reach, and the pod for the digital instruments moves with it so you can always see the display.

Sadly, usability generally isn't so good. There are no physical buttons and the touch-sensitive controls on the steering wheel are hard to operate and easy to trigger accidentally. It’s a similar story with the air-conditioning – the touch-sensitive sliders for the temperature settings are a faff and, to make matters worse, are not backlit so you have no hope of using them accurately at night.

On top of that, the high-set dashboard scuttle and the thick, acutely angled front pillars are a nuisance. They obscure the end of the bonnet and what’s around you nearby, such as kerbs.

The standard 10.0in touchscreen infotainment system is quite small compared with the massive 15.0in portrait screen you get in the Mach-E and Model 3, and the operating system is nothing like as slick as either rival's. The ID 4's Infotainment pack plus (standard on Max versions) gives you a larger 12in screen but no noticeable improvements in usability.

Inside, the ID 4 delivers a big improvement in interior quality over the ID 3, with more gloss black, shiny silver and soft-touch surfaces. There are more hard plastics in the ID 4 than you’ll find in the Mach-E, but the Mach-E isn’t as well screwed together in places. Likewise, the Model 3 has some more upmarket interior materials but built quality is inconsistent.

Space up front is plentiful, and if you often need to carry tall rear-seat passengers, the ID 4 is a great choice. Indeed, it's roomier in the back than the Model 3. There isn't as much leg room as in an Ioniq 5 or EV6, but there is more head room, and the ID 4 offers a more upright, comfortable seating position.

Boot-wise, the VW ID 4 can squeeze in nine carry-on suitcases below its parcel shelf, which is two more than the Mach-E, EV6 and Ioniq 5. The Model 3 matches the ID 4's carrying capacity, but don’t forget that car is a saloon, with a narrower and less usable boot opening. The ID 4’s broad aperture means you can load it with much bulkier items.

If you're interested in finding a used ID 4, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

Used prices for the VW ID 4 begin at around £19,000. That’ll get you a good 2021 example. These will feature the less well-equipped trim levels, such as Life, but will most likely come with the 146bhp or 168bhp versions. Spend between £20,000 and £24,000 on good 2021 and some 2022 cars and expect to pay more than £24,000 for 2022 models. You'll need between £24,000 and £34,000 on good 2023 and 2024 cars.

Check the value of a used Volkswagen ID 4 with What Car? Valuation

Cheaper Pure versions can accept up to 100kW from a suitably powerful CCS charger, meaning a 10-80% top-up should take around 35 minutes in ideal conditions. Pro and GTX versions can take 125kW, but because they have larger batteries, that same 10-80% charge isn't any faster.

Insurance costs are low and servicing costs should be reasonable.

The 201bhp Pro Performance accelerates quickly enough for most, with 0-60mph taking 7.8sec in our tests) and is still very efficient.

We reckon Style trim is worth the extra because you also get the height-adjustable boot floor, an extra climate 'zone' for your rear passengers and a boot net with dividers.

Our favourite Volkswagen ID 4: Pro Performance Style

You could go slightly smaller and cheaper. There’s the 2019-2022 Kia e-Niro and the Hyundai Kona Electric for example. Both have great real-world ranges, spacious interiors and good levels of equipment. Price-wise, the Kona Electric tends to sell for less than the ID 3 and e-Niro, which is worth taking into consideration.

The Nissan Leaf is good to drive and easy to live with. You'll get good performance, it's easy to live with, there's loads of standard kit and it's generally cheaper to buy than the ID 4. Later models badged e+ also get an impressive amount of range, although still not as much as the ID 4, e-Niro and Kona EV can offer.

Among same-size EVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 is a fine car. Its soft suspension makes for a comfy ride. On 19in alloy wheels, the car wafts along, smothering most bumps really well. It's not the sharpest handling car, but things improved after a 2022 facelift that brought in a bigger battery, too. It also looks terrific.

The Ioniq 5's arch-rival is our 2022 Car of the Year – the Kia EV6. The pair share a mechanical basis (due to Hyundai being Kia's parent company), but the EV6 offers a better interior and driving experience. The only catch is you'll have to pay at least £5000 more for a used one.

If you're interested in finding a used ID 4, or any of the other electric cars mentioned here, head over to the Used Car Buying pages to find lots of cars listed for sale at a great price.

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