- we tested the 2021 volkswagen id.4 1st edition in our 75-mph highway range test.
- it achieved a result of 190 miles, compared with an epa combined range estimate of 250 miles.
- that compares with a result of 220 miles for the tesla model y long range in the same test.
the id.4 crossover is the first member of vw's new electric-vehicle family, and we've now gotten a chance to run it through our real-world range testing. a 2021 id.4 1st edition model achieved a result of 190 miles in our 75-mph highway range test, against an epa combined range estimate of 250 miles. the id.4 recorded 82 mpge in our test, which is close to the epa's 89 mpge highway estimate.
the version of the id.4 we tested was a rear-wheel-drive model with a 201-horsepower electric motor and a lithium-ion battery pack with 77.0-kwh of usable capacity. it carried an as-tested price of $45,190. an all-wheel-drive model is coming later on with an additional motor up front to produce a total of around 300 horsepower, and a cheaper version with a smaller battery pack will also join the lineup eventually.
how does the id.4's result stack up against other comparable evs? the tesla model y long range, which has all-wheel drive and an 75.0-kwh battery pack, bested the volkswagen in the same test, achieving a range of 220 miles and an average of 94 mpge. but the tesla was further off from its own epa ratings of 326 miles of range on the combined cycle and 117 mpge on the highway. see our explainer on tesla's adjustment factor for more information on how teslas put up big numbers in the epa's tests.
it's worth noting that the vw performed this efficiency test in 40-degree temperatures and the tesla ran it in 75-degree weather. we've previously measured how cold weather can affect ev range, so we would expect the id.4 to do better in this test in warmer weather.
we'll have a full review and more instrumented test results for the id.4 soon.