The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 crossover has been revealed to compete with the Chevy Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona EV, and Kia Niro EV. In most parts of the world including the U.S. and the UAE, it should arrive in the first quarter of next year. In this post, we will specifically discuss its powertrain and drive range.
Riding on the VW’s MEB platform, it houses an 82-kilowatt-hour battery against the Bolt’s 66 kWh, Niro EV, and Kona EV’s 64 kWh, and Mustang Mach-E’s 75.7 kWh. Surprisingly, the bigger battery does not translate to a longer range. The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 delivers 250 miles of range on a sing charge, after the Bolt’s 259 miles and the Kona’s 258 miles. It is slightly better than the Niro’s 239 miles and the base Mach-E’s 230 miles, though.
There is just one electric motor fixed at the rear axle creating 201 horsepower (150 kilowatts) and 228 pound-feet (309 newton-meters), which seems good for a crossover EV considering Kona and Niro offer almost the same power. However, the ID.4 falls behind in the torque: we are talking about the ID.4’s 309 Nm against the Kona and Niro’s 395 Nm of torque. Even the Bolt offers 361 Nm of torque. The Mustang outclasses all of these with 255 hp (190 kW) and 415 Nm of torque. The question is what does this big battery provides to the riders if not the desired torque and range.
| Volkswagen ID.4 | Chevrolet Bolt EV | Ford Mustang Mach-E | Hyundai Kona EV | Kia Niro EV | Nissan Leaf Plus | |
| Battery Capacity | 82 kWh | 66 kWh | 75.7 kWh | 64 kWh | 64 kWh | 62 kWh |
| Range | 250 miles | 259 miles | 230 miles | 258 miles | 239 miles | 226 miles |
| Base Power | 201 hp (150 kW) | 200 hp (149 kW) | 255 hp (190 kW) | 201 hp (150 kW) | 201 hp (150 kW) | 214 hp (160 kW) |
| Base Torque | 228 lb-ft (309 Nm) | 266 lb-ft (361 Nm) | 306 lb-ft (415 Nm) | 291 lb-ft (395 Nm) | 291 lb-ft (395 Nm) | 250 lb-ft (339 Nm) |
Well, the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 with a dual-motor setup can beat all its front-drive competitors once it hits markets later next year. With an all-wheel-drive configuration, the dual-motor ID.4 will be able to yield a healthy 302 hp (225 kW) – the torque figure is unknown yet. However, it should not be anything less than 325 lb-ft (441 Nm). The drive range with an all-wheel drive is also a mystery. We hope the two motor all-wheel setup does not put a big dent on its range.
The good news is the 2021 ID.4’s buyers will be able to enjoy three years of unlimited charging at Electrify America stations countrywide. The company proclaimed this a few days back to help diminish the range anxiety. That said, Electrify America will charge idle fees for not unplugging the car inside 10 minutes after it juiced it up. Commercial customers will also not be able to enjoy this deal from the company.
There is a lot much more about the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4, which we will discuss in our next post. Stay tuned!
Source and Images: Motor1