There’s fashionably late, after which there’s Volkswagen ID.4 late.
Europe’s primary auto model has had a competitor for the favored Tesla Mannequin Y in abroad markets since 2021, however it’s solely simply touchdown in Australia now, years after it was initially promised, and practically half a decade after the remainder of the world.
Why the wait? Volkswagen Australia has lengthy battled with its international father or mother for extra environment friendly and electrified merchandise as Australia dragged its heels on emissions rules and gasoline requirements, however all that’s altering now.
Following the introduction of the New Automobile Effectivity Customary (NVES) and different legislative framework modifications Down Below, and negotiations round aggressive pricing, Volkswagen Australia has lastly managed to get its ID.4 and ID.5 mid-size electrical SUVs over the road right here.
It’s launching the ID.4 Professional and ID.5 GTX mid-year, with the ID.4 GTX and ID.5 Professional set to return by yr’s finish, giving the German model at least 4 gamers in a key a part of the market – mid-size electrical SUVs.
Whereas Australia is just a little late to the celebration, the ID.4 and ID.5 are launching right here of their upgraded iterations. Extra highly effective and environment friendly electrical motors and a extra polished software program interface headline the developments, along with extra premium cabin supplies – all three advances addressing key complaints of authentic variations.
VW’s native division has additionally managed to barter a lot sharper pricing than initially forecast – beneath $60,000 earlier than on-road prices and little or no in the way in which of extra-cost choices. Is that this late entry a correct contender in one of many quickest rising and most saturated elements of Australia’s new automobile market?
How does the Volkswagen ID.4 evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Volkswagen ID.4 towards equally sized autos.
Volkswagen
ID.4
How a lot does the Volkswagen ID.4 value?
The 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Professional is on sale now from $59,990 plus on-road prices, with deliveries to start in July.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-road prices |
|---|---|
| 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Professional | $59,990 |
| 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 GTX | $TBC |
Later this yr Volkswagen Australia will introduce the dual-motor all-wheel drive ID.4 GTX, which is able to draw upon the identical 250kW drivetrain because the associated however sleeker wanting ID.5 GTX.
Whereas pricing hasn’t been confirmed for Australia simply but, CarExpert expects the efficiency mannequin to shave just a few grand off the ID.5 GTX’s $72,990 sticker and dip slightly below the $70,000 barrier earlier than on-roads.
The ID.4 Professional’s pricing is surprisingly aggressive towards largely Chinese language-built competitors (the VW is made in Zwickau, Germany for Australia) such because the Tesla Mannequin Y (from $58,990), BYD Sealion 7 (from $54,990) and even the VW Group’s personal Cupra Tavascan (from $60,990).
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
What’s the Volkswagen ID.4 like on the within?
It’s just a little open plan and minimalist, as has been the case with most up-to-date VW releases, however the ID.4 and ID.5’s mid-life replace has led to extra premium finishes than seen in earlier variations.
Delicate-touch surfaces for the doorways and dashboard together with stitching particulars on the latter elevate the atmosphere, and there’s a no-cost Florence Brown inside choice that provides flashes of tan to brighten issues up a bit.
You can too preserve the usual black and gray inside must you please, however it’s just a little boring to me. There’s a mixture of silver trim highlights for some distinction, however in any other case the one different floor breakup you’ve is gloss black or white stitching.
The entrance seats are comfort-focused models trimmed in a mix of leather-based for the bolsters and Artwork Velour suede for the inserts, and so they even have extendable thigh cushions – hurrah!
As customary, the ID.4 Professional comes with entrance seat heating, in addition to full electrical adjustment with lumbar help. Even higher, the entrance seats provide a massaging operate, which is fairly distinctive nonetheless at this finish of the market. You additionally get fold-down armrests like in a Vary Rover!
It’s pretty straightforward to discover a comfy driving place by way of a variety of adjustment each for the seats in addition to the steering wheel, and when you’re perched you’ve a pair of shows maintaining you knowledgeable.
In contrast to some rivals like Tesla, Volkswagen has retained a driver’s instrument cluster of kinds. The small 5.3-inch Digital Cockpit is acquainted from different autos primarily based on the MEB EV platform, just like the Cupra Born and Skoda Enyaq, providing a easy however clear show of highway pace, driver help options in addition to journey pc data.
Sadly, the augmented actuality (AR) head-up show isn’t supplied in our market, and as we all know from the associated Skoda Enyaq it might be a worthwhile inclusion. The fiddly contact capacitive steering wheel controls are one other ergonomic fake pas in my ebook, as they will typically end in mis-presses and get dirty with finger prints.
The 12.9-inch touchscreen runs an up to date interface in comparison with earlier fashions out there abroad, and brings updates like always-on HVAC shortcuts and illuminated contact sliders. All of them sound like small issues, however they’re a giant enchancment on the earlier iteration which has been out there within the Golf regionally.
Whereas all the pieces labored fantastic throughout our launch drive, there have been a few niggles. The shortage of embedded navigation as seen in different VW fashions is a disgrace, and is a typical problem with MEB-based fashions as this characteristic is tied to related automobile {hardware} that isn’t supplied regionally.
You additionally don’t get wi-fi Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, not less than from launch, which means a USB-C cable is required to hook up your telephone.
VW says it’s working with manufacturing unit on a retrofit resolution, as per early deliveries of the ID. Buzz vans, although the corporate assures us that Wi-fi App-Join can be customary from April manufacturing onwards, which means most autos delivered from the second half of 2025 can be include it as customary.
Storage up entrance can also be respectable because of the minimalist and open plan design. There’s a protracted centre console with cupholders, USB-C ports and a wi-fi smartphone charger, all lined by a sliding lid. Forward of that, there’s a divided storage cubby within the gloss black-trimmed part – thoughts these scratchy keys!
Giant door bins include felt lining on the base to minimise rattling of bottles and different unfastened gadgets, and so they’re deep sufficient to hold huge bottles.
The panoramic sunroof lets heaps of sunshine in but in addition has an electronically operated shade which is helpful, given quite a lot of different EVs do with no shade which isn’t supreme in Australia’s sizzling solar. You possibly can even use the IDA digital assistant to open it for you or toggle the local weather controls.
Being a mid-size SUV, rear seat house is nice for even bigger adults. I’m 6’1″ and will sit comfortably behind my most popular driving place with loads of leg, knee and head room to spare.
The huge and flat rear bench means that you can squeeze three throughout at a pinch, and the flat ground means you gained’t be enjoying footsies typically should you’re sat within the rear-centre seat – although the console juts out just a little into your footwell.
Different facilities embody a 3rd zone of local weather management with directional air vents on the rear of the centre console, map pockets behind each entrance seats in addition to smartphone pockets, along with a fold-down rear-centre armrest and decent-sized door bins as properly.
As you’d anticipate, there are additionally ISOFIX baby seat anchors on the outer rear seats in addition to top-tether factors behind every rear pew as properly. You additionally get a ski port if it is advisable to transport erm… skis… in addition to different longer gadgets.
Behind the second row Volkswagen quotes 543 litres of boot house with the rear seats in place, which expands to a wholesome 1575 litres with them folded. For reference, the outgoing Tiguan claims as much as 615 litres with the rear seats slid ahead and 1655 litres with them folded.
Whereas the ID.4’s combustion-powered stablemate has a space-saver spare wheel beneath its rear ground, VW’s electrical SUVs make do with a tyre mobility equipment as a substitute – one thing to contemplate should you head out of city typically.
| Dimensions | Volkswagen ID.4 Professional |
|---|---|
| Size | 4585mm |
| Width | 1852mm |
| Top | 1640mm |
| Wheelbase | 2766mm |
| Boot capability | 543 litres – seats up 1575 litres – seats folded |
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
What’s beneath the bonnet?
At launch, the single-motor Professional is the only variant on provide, with the dual-motor GTX because of arrive later in 2025.
| Specs | Volkswagen ID.4 Professional |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Single-motor electrical |
| Battery | 77kWh – internet Lithium-ion |
| Energy | 210kW |
| Torque | 545Nm |
| Drive sort | Rear-wheel drive |
| Weight | 2170kg – tare |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 6.7 seconds |
| Vitality consumption (claimed) | 16.7kWh/100km |
| Vitality consumption (as examined) | 17.2kWh/100km |
| Claimed vary | 544 kilometres – WLTP |
| Max AC cost charge | 11kW |
| Max DC cost charge | 175kW |
Our indicated effectivity determine within the ID.4 Professional was admittedly achieved throughout fairly spirited driving via the winding roads out of Canberra and in the direction of regional NSW – not unhealthy.
Afterward with one other journalist driving on calmer freeway and freeway sections, we recurrently noticed the indicated determine dip under 16kWh/100km, and another drivers reported sub-15kWh/100km.
Little doubt in city situations with extra alternatives to make use of regenerative braking, the ID.4 might properly higher its effectivity and vary claims.
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
How does the Volkswagen ID.4 drive?
There’s quite a bit using on this one, and Volkswagen is aware of it. To drive the ID.4, you twist the wand-like steering column-mounted drive selector forwards to have interaction Drive – or ‘B’ mode if you need extra regen.
VW’s staff claims one of many ID.4’s factors of distinction towards its rivals is the extra resolved and refined driving manners the corporate is thought for. And, proper from the get go, I might see that was extra than simply advertising and marketing spin.
The ID.4 presents easy efficiency, because of a whopping 545Nm of twist being out there from the second you hit the ‘Play’ pedal. It might not be fairly as pressing as its outputs suggests, however it builds momentum very easily.
Our drive began simply out of Canberra and took in a mixture of B-roads, highways, and all the pieces in between on NSW rural roads.
Whereas cruising on the straights and placing round suburban areas, the ID.4 was a delight. Its easy efficiency, soft journey, gentle controls and insulated cabin make for a really refined commuter.
On cross-country freeways it’s the same story, with the ID.4 settling into a really comfy cruise. The journey settles considerably and is much less floaty, whereas the minimal exterior noise and intuitive help programs add to the relaxed vibe.
Dialling it up a bit, the ID.4 reveals keener dealing with traits than quite a lot of electrical SUVs at this value level, with fast steering and a pointy entrance finish, although the light-steering is just a little devoid of suggestions and might really feel a tad disconnected even within the Sport drive profile.
That stated, it doesn’t really feel prefer it needs to sort out corners shortly on this spec, and whereas there’s good grip and well-sorted physique management, eager drivers can be greatest served by the ID.5 GTX (or the ID.4 GTX due later this yr).
I additionally discovered the usual ‘Consolation’ seats on this Professional spec aren’t actually made to carry you in properly throughout dynamic driving. The shortage of stronger facet bolstering means you get thrown round a bit via successive corners and fast modifications of path, regardless of the chassis’ keener steering cababilities.
Followers of one-pedal driving modes can be disillusioned to study the ID.4 solely presents minimal regen energy in D and a bit extra in B, however there’s no correct one-pedal mode like in different EVs, if that issues to you.
If something although, that makes the ID.4 really feel like a standard automotive, or a hybrid with a delicate quantity of vitality recuperation. Some will lament the rear drum brakes as many have within the feedback sections of our critiques of different MEB vehicles however, to be frank, you gained’t even discover that in regular driving given the rear-end does the majority of regen.
We additionally received to line up the ID.4 Professional towards the outgoing Tiguan 162TSI R-Line in an airstrip drag race. VW’s justification was that each vehicles are priced inside a few hundred {dollars} of one another and, even when utilizing launch management within the Tiguan, the single-motor ID.4 simply walked away from it with its immediate torque.
I’d have an interest to pit the dual-motor GTX towards the incoming Tiguan 195TSI R-Line, since they each provide all-paw traction and quote sub-6.0-second 0-100km/h time.
Lastly, the help programs. Aside from perhaps the Mannequin Y, the ID.4 presents among the most user-friendly and intuitive lively driver assists within the phase.
As we’ve present in different Volkswagen vehicles, Journey Help labored a deal with in each the ID.4 Professional and ID.5 GTX, precisely maintaining the vehicles within the centre of their lanes with out yanking the steering out of your arms, and likewise precisely maintaining a protected hole from main visitors the place acceptable.
The motive force consideration monitor barely makes itself identified, and also you don’t must consistently apply steering torque to cease it from pinging at you for not holding the wheel. Aspect Help additionally combines lively blind-spot and rear cross-traffic assists to keep away from facet swipes or a rear collision when reversing.
Customary encompass cameras make parking this 4585mm-long, 1852mm-wide electrical SUV a breeze, as do the usual entrance and rear parking sensors.
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
What do you get?
The ID.4 is launching in a single, high-specification trim stage in Australia, with the one extra-cost choices being metallic paint ($1000) and the Exterior Styling Pack ($900) – extra on the latter additional down.
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 Professional tools highlights:
- 19-inch Hamar alloy wheels
- IQ.Mild HD Matrix LED headlights
- Dynamic Mild Help – adaptive excessive beam
- 3D tail lights incl. dynamic indicators
- Privateness glass
- Aspect mirrors incl. kerb view operate
- Encompass lighting incl. welcome gentle
- Illuminated entrance LED entrance strip
- 5.3-inch Digital Cockpit
- 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment
- App-Join
- Apple CarPlay – wired
- Android Auto – wired
- IDA voice management
- 30-colour inside ambient lighting incl. ID.Mild
- Consolation entrance seats
- Electrical adjustment incl. lumbar
- Therapeutic massage operate
- Heating operate
- Tri-zone local weather management
- Panoramic glass roof incl. sunblind
- Cargo administration system
- Mode 2 and Mode 3 charging cables
- 5yr GoConnect subscription
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
Choices
Volkswagen Australia has gone for a really streamlined choices construction for the ID.4, restricted to only one styling package deal reasonably than a number of tools packs.
Exterior Styling Pack: $990
- Distinction black painted roof
- Roof rails – silver anodised
- Silver bumper trim entrance, rear
- Silver roofline strip
- Silver rear pillar trim
Metallic paint: $1000
Florence Brown inside: $NCO (particular order)
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
Is the Volkswagen ID.4 protected?
Australian variations of the ID.4 don’t have an ANCAP security ranking but, although the German EV scored a five-star ANCAP end in New Zealand primarily based on 2021 Euro NCAP testing.
| Class | Volkswagen ID.4* |
|---|---|
| Grownup occupant safety | 93 per cent |
| Baby occupant safety | 89 per cent |
| Susceptible highway consumer safety | 76 per cent |
| Security help | 76 per cent |
*Scores apply to New Zealand-market variants solely right now
Customary security tools consists of:
- Space View – encompass cameras
- Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
- Pedestrian detection
- Bike owner detection
- Adaptive cruise management with cease/go
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Driver consideration monitoring
- Emergency help
- Lane departure warning
- Lane-keep help
- Parking sensors – entrance, rear
- Proactive occupant safety
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Journey Help
- Adaptive cruise management
- Adaptive lane steering
- Site visitors Jam Help
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
How a lot does the Volkswagen ID.4 value to run?
The ID.4 is roofed by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre new automobile guarantee, whereas the high-voltage battery is warranted for eight years or 160,000 kilometres.
| Servicing and Guarantee | Volkswagen ID.4 |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, limitless kilometres – automobile 8 years or 160,000 kilometres – EV battery |
| Roadside help | 2 years – customary 12 months service initiated after 2 years |
| Service intervals | 2 years or 30,000 kilometres |
| Capped-price servicing | As much as 10 years or 150,000 kilometres |
| Whole capped-price service value | $1785 – 6yr/90,000km $2350 – 8yr/120,000km $2890 – 10yr/150,000km |
Volkswagen has additionally dedicated to supporting ID house owners with 10 years of battery provide from end-of-production (EOP) and 15 years of reparability from EOP. The MEB platform’s pouch cell development additionally permits for particular person battery modules to be repaired and changed reasonably than requiring a complete new unit within the occasion of harm.
The corporate’s supplier community may also activate a Service Initiated Roadside Help coverage for 12 months every time you’re taking your automobile in for scheduled upkeep at an authorised supplier.
For those who get in fast, the primary 500 ID.4 and ID.5 consumers may also get a complimentary AmpCharge 7kW wallbox thrown in with buy, together with set up. That is valued at $1899 and is available in a number of colors to match your automotive.
VW Australia is establishing a better partnership with Ampol, which in future may also embody charging presents for ID prospects and different member perks – additional particulars are coming quickly.
To see how the Volkswagen ID.4 traces up towards its rivals, take a look at our comparability device
CarExpert’s Tackle the Volkswagen ID.4
Sure, it’s taken far too lengthy, however I believe these not already enamoured by present EV choices will discover one thing compelling within the Volkswagen ID.4, which might additionally compel many to make the electrical swap, exiting VW house owners or in any other case.
I reckon if VW had launched it in its earlier iterations it might have been lifeless within the water with larger pricing and much much less aggressive specs and expertise – so for a lot of, it is going to be well worth the look forward to the most effective model but.
The ID.4 Professional now presents actually aggressive efficiency and vary for the cash, in addition to basic poise and refinement in the way in which it rides and handles, which quite a lot of challenger manufacturers merely can’t match. Likewise, VW’s glorious driver help tech shines a light-weight on some rival manufacturers which are but to get it proper for Australia.
It might not have a ‘frunk’, however the inside is spacious for households each within the rear seat and the boot, and basic ergonomics and user-friendliness aren’t far off the German model’s combustion-engined fashions both. Talking of VW’s different merchandise, this ID.4 Professional shapes up as glorious worth subsequent to even the outgoing Tiguan.
Nonetheless, there are just a few criticisms…
The shortage of manufacturing unit related programs (even when the third-party resolution supplies a superb vary of primary capabilities) and native satellite tv for pc navigation is a blot within the copybook in comparison with key rivals, as is the shortage of an all-wheel drive choice at launch – and I’d prefer to see the ID.4 Professional 4Motion out there right here in addition to the incoming GTX.
I’d additionally prefer to see the choice for the extra bolstered sports activities seat develop into out there, along with the totally different wheel designs out there abroad to decorate it up just a little. The very tender comfort-focused suspension tune may very well be tightened ever so barely too, and I wouldn’t be mad if the ID.4 Professional was given the ID.5 GTX’s sharper adaptive chassis tune.
However as it’s, the ID.4 is a robust providing in an ultra-competitive a part of the market, and it offers present VW house owners (and others) who might not desire a Tesla or an EV from an rising Chinese language model a extra competitively priced and packaged various from a legacy European producer.
Has it been well worth the wait? Aside from the caveats listed above, sure.
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