The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD now has a price tag. Starting at $44,875, adding a second electric motor will cost you $3,685 more versus an equivalent single-motor ID.4. You don’t seem to lose much though because the added traction and performance of the second electric motor doesn’t affect the crossover’s range very much. The ID.4 AWD Pro is good for 249 miles per charge while ID.4 AW Pro S is good for 240 miles. That’s a drop of 11 and 10 miles respectively versus their single-motor, rear-drive counterparts.
You get more capability in exchange for the drop in range. The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD can tow 2,700 pounds of payload, which is 20 percent more than its RWD sibling. Power increases significantly, too. Although the rear motor retains its 201 hp and 228 lb-ft of torque output, the addition of a front electric motor rated at 107 hp and 119 lb-ft bumps the combined output to 295 hp. This allows the ID.4 AWD to sprint to 60 mph in 5.7 seconds. The 82-kWh battery pack is also standard on the ID.4 AWD.
Despite the 94 hp bump, the ID.4 AWD is still down on power compared to its dual-motor long-range competitors. The Ford Mustang Mach-E is good for 346 hp and 428 lb-ft while the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 are good for 320 hp and 446 lb-ft. Nissan’s upcoming Ariya is expected to get up to 389 hp and 443 lb-ft in its long-range flavor.
Like the RWD variant, the ID.4 AWD can charge at a peak rate of 125 kW. This allows it to DC charge from 5 to 80 percent in 38 minutes. An 11-kW onboard charger will allow you to fully charge the battery overnight using a level 2 or 240-volt AC charger. All 2021 ID.4 models get three years of complimentary unlimited charging at Electrify America stations. Owners will be able to manage their charging plan via the Electrify America app. The Ioniq 5 and EV6 are able to charge at a peak of up to 350 kW while the Mustang Mach-E and Ariya peak at 150 kW and 130 kW respectively.
The AWD system works differently from a traditional mechanical setup. For most driving duties, only the rear motor is used. When the ID.4 senses wheel spin, the front motor will engage to give you more traction. Volkswagen’s brake-based XDS torque vectoring function is also used on the ID.4 AWD to help the car turn in better by braking the inside wheel during a corner. You’ll have five drive modes to choose from including a Custom and a Traction mode, the latter of which will be used for loose or slippery surfaces at speeds of up to 12 mph.
Every 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD gets a standard tow hitch and a heated windshield. The standard features mirror that of the RWD model, which includes Volkswagen’s IQ. Drive suite of driver assistance features. The crossover’s user interface has over-the-air (OTA) update capability, allowing it to receive software updates or upgrades remotely. The Pro S package builds on the Pro with adaptive LED headlights, a glass roof, a 12.0-inch touch screen, built-in navigation, leatherette upholstery, 12-way power front seats, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Gradient package adds 20-inch alloy wheels, a black roof, and silver roof rails.
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 AWD is eligible for the full $7,500 federal tax credit along with state incentives. Volkswagen says the ID.4 AWD will go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2021.
