CHATTANOOGA, Tennessee — “Location. Location. Location.” That’s the mantra from page one of the Opening A Restaurant guide, and it’s increasingly part of the play book for selling electric vehicles in North America. That’s certainly how Volkswagen sees it, as the company has invested over a billion dollars to build its all-electric 2023 ID.4 at its existing factory here in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The first of what is expected to be 7,000 vehicles a month rolled off the factory floor in July, with all those new ID.4s destined for North American addresses.
That’s great news for Canadians who have been stymied and frustrated by EV inventory issues that have stretched waiting lists from days to weeks to months in the past couple of years. With global demand for EVs at an all-time high, the simple reality is that Canada is low down on the priority list for those global automakers to ship their vehicles to with closer markets in Europe and Asia receiving the lion’s share of new EVs. So, a factory connected to Canadian markets by rail lines and roadways rather than shipping lanes means shorter wait times for potential ID.4 customers from Victoria to Halifax.
In addition to new wheel designs, there are eight available all-new paint colours (with optional black roof). CREDIT: Andrew McCredie
And after driving one of those all-new ID.4 Pro AWDs produced in Tennessee from Nashville to its cradle of creation in Chattanooga, that shorter wait time isn’t the only good news for those customers. The 2023 ID.4 improves on the outgoing version with a smaller battery version option, increased charging speed on Pro models, some slight cosmetic changes inside and out and some new and improved onboard technology. The ID.4 is produced in five locations around the world, but only those built in Tennessee get these upgrades. It truly is a built-in-North America EV for North Americans.
The big news is that smaller battery option, a 62-kWh pack that gives the entry level, rear-wheel drive ID.4, which starts at $43,995, an estimated full-charge range of 336 kilometres. It shares the same power output as its larger battery, rear-wheel-drive sibling, the ID.4 Pro, of 201 horsepower (150 kW). The battery for both Pro models, rear-wheel and all-wheel-drive, is the same size as previous years, an 82 kWh pack with estimated ranges of 442 km (RWD) and 410 (AWD). Power output also remains the same at 295 hp (220 kW), as does the one-speed electric transmission. The ID.4 Pro RWD starts at $47,995 and the Pro AWD at $52,995.
Pro models see their charging speed upped to offer 170-kW DC fast charging, which according to VW can achieve a 10 per cent to 80 per cent state of charge in approximately 30 minutes. The standard model maintains its 140-kW charge speed.
What hasn’t changed about this new ID.4 from the 2002 version is its appeal to first-time electric vehicle owners. The ID.4 is the most ‘gas-like’ EV vehicle I have driven, not in terms of its performance but in terms of the overall driver experience. Apart from the driver gauge console-mounted gear selector — which I am not a fan of — you’d be hard-pressed to guess you were sitting in an EV when settled into the cockpit. This kind of design —which eschews the odd-ball, first-adopter nature of so many EVs — is essential for automakers to get that next generation of EV buyers into their vehicles. And some of those new upgrades, including new cloth/leatherette seats in the entry model, a new centre console between the seats and a larger, 12-inch display as standard equipment, improve what already was a first-rate and very roomy cabin, both in terms of design, ergonomics and build quality.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
Where those new-to-EV customers will find a big difference, as with all electric vehicles, is in the performance department. There have been no tweaks to any chassis or powertrain components in the 2023 versions, but that’s not a bad thing as the handling, braking, steering and overall stability of the 2022 model was as good as it gets in its class. Personally, I’d like to see more regenerative mode settings than just the one available in the new ID.4, which is engaged by selecting the ‘B’ setting on the gear shifter. That setting is not quite strong enough to qualify as one-pedal driving, however when I had it engaged during some spirited mountain road travel, I barely touched the brake as the strength of the regen served as a powerful downshift. It was during this part of the drive that I noticed how comfortable the driving position is, with well-postioned armrests enabling an easy and relaxed nine-and-three hand position on the steering wheel. Acceleration for the model I drove was zero to 96 km/h in just 5.7 seconds.
Those tech updates, apart from the larger display screen, include assist plus with memory parking and assisted lane changing functionality as an enhancement of the existing travel assist suite of technologies. That former system enables the vehicle to ‘learn’ a specific parking route then perform it repeatedly with no driver assist other than pressing a button, while the latter allows for a hands-free lane change with the simple application of the turn signal.
As to those exterior design changes, the front bumpers get gloss black highlights and diamond designs that help to funnel air around the car to slightly improve aerodynamics. An optional illuminated light line stretches toward the centre of the vehicle and includes illuminated VW logos front and rear to create a unique light signature.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
No frunk in this electric vehicle. Photo by Andrew McCredie
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
2023 VW ID.4.
The 2023 ID.4 will be available in eight new exterior colours—Pure White, Silver Mist Metallic, Pure Grey, Deep Black Pearl, Tourmaline Blue Metallic, Opal White Pearl, Aurora Red Metallic, and Arctic Blue Metallic. Pro AWD models add a tow hitch with a towing capacity of 1225 kg (2,700 lbs.) with a braked trailer.
It’s somewhat rare in a First Drive review to highlight the factory in which it is built as the most important aspect of the vehicle, but in the case of the 2023 VW ID.4, from a Canadian consumer’s perspective, that’s the headline in this review. And when we get into the coming soon ID.Buzz and ID.Aero for their respective First Drives, that will be the headline two. Both are scheduled to be built in North America (Chattanooga) for North Americans.
Keyword: First Drive: 2023 Volkswagen ID.4