Cars

Initial ID4 brings VW into SUV EV fray

Volkswagen ID4
Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID4

VOLKSWAGEN'S new electric family SUV, the ID4, has gone on sale, writes William Scholes.

Built on the same battery-and-motor platform as the ID3 hatchback, the company's latest EV will eventually be offered with a variety of battery sizes, motors and the option of four-wheel-drive as well as the standard rear-wheel-drive.

The first ID4 to reach these shores comes in limited edition '1st Edition' (see what they did there?) trim and a price tag of £40,800, though the government's plug-in car grant will shave £3k from that.

In 1st Edition guise, the ID4 gets a 77kWh battery and a motor with 201bhp and 229lb ft of torque.

Volkswagen ID4
Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID4

This is said to be good for a range of up to 310 miles on a full charge, though the usual caveats apply.

Top speed is pegged at 99mph and the 0-62mph time is 8.5 seconds.

The battery has an eight-year or 100,000-mile warranty.

It's a neat looking design, perhaps enhanced by the 'honey yellow' paintwork of the car in the photographs, a 1st Edition exclusive colour choice (you can also have grey, white or blue).

Standard equipment on this model includes 20-inch alloy wheels, LED headlamps and taillights, a reversing camera, heating for the front seats and steering wheel and a jumbo infotainment display.

Volkswagen ID4
Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID4

Should you be interested, there is also ambient lighting in up to 30 colours... The adaptive cruise control and parking sensors sound more useful.

It can tow a trailer weighing up to 1,000kg, too.

The ID4 1st Edition is due to reach dealers in March; other versions are expected to arrive soon afterwards.

Volkswagen ID4
Volkswagen ID4 Volkswagen ID4