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A personalized start looks different. At the start of the one-year endurance test in December 2021, the then-brand new VW ID.4 GTX would go the long haul: 700 kilometers from Zurich in the direction of the Harz mountains in northern Germany. After Stuttgart, things get tough for the first time: The 480 kilometers promised in the prospectus quickly drops to under 300 kilometers on the motorway – even with a slight electric current and a maximum of 130 km/h.
While the first mandatory break of around 40 minutes can easily be overcome with a sandwich, waiting another 250 kilometers in the commercial area near Fulda is even more frustrating. A maximum of 125 kW on the fast charger is too slow for long distances by today’s electric car standards and is one of the ID.4’s biggest weaknesses for us.
Best place, quality flop
But the 4.58-metre-long compact SUV isn’t VW’s electric best-seller—it’s even ahead of the Golf-sized ID. This is probably due in part to the optics: the GTX stands out repeatedly in the test, especially with its dark red and black double paintwork and cool 21-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the ID.4 convinces with very objective values: Thanks to the raised trunk, it is very easy to climb into the Alcantara and leather-covered sports seats in the 1st row, where we give the highest marks for long-distance suitability. There’s also plenty of space and family-friendly luggage compartments at the rear, where even taller passengers can enjoy plenty of freedom.
The interior is not entirely without complaints, however: the infotainment system sometimes boots up too slowly, the screen of the digital instruments is too small for our taste, and the material quality is mediocre for this price range. Especially the large surface of the built-in piano lining is impractical in daily use as it scratches quickly and makes every fingerprint visible. There are also cutouts for the front overview. Due to the high hood you can hardly see where the ID.4 ends. The result: In the test, three members of the author’s editorial team abused the right front edge of the pavement.
GTX delivers sporty driving
It’s a pity, because the ID.4 GTX is really good at driving! On the one hand, the SUV is a silky glider that runs quietly and has a very low noise level indoors, absorbing bumps smoothly. But if the driver so desires, a maximum of 299 hp from the two electric motors creates a powerful punch, allowing the almost 2.4-tonne GTX to show off stylish LED taillights to supposedly sportier road users, even in mountain passes. Thanks to its low center of gravity, the GTX hardly wobbles even in tight corners, and the all-wheel drive’s control electronics ensure the best possible traction at all times. Wolfsburg Sportstromer managed to completely convince us on the road.
There are also smart assistants: before entering the city, the ID.4 starts to slow down on its own and regains optimum power until it’s driving exactly 50 km/h on the city sign. Even if the traffic ahead slows down, ID.4 adjusts the speed to be as efficient as possible on the road. On routes with a large number of country roads and inner city sections, we were able to achieve even more than 480 kilometers, sometimes tested as standard. The head-up display with augmented reality functions is truly futuristic. For example, when the navigation system is activated, direction arrows are projected into the field of view when turning.
Result after 20,000 kilometers
At Wolfsburg Sportstromer, not everything that shines is gold. We would have liked more efficiency and faster charging performance on long-distance journeys, as well as more optimal route planning – at least the last two points have been improved by VW with the software 3.0 update (see box on ID. The Wolfsburg-based company can only address other points of criticism, such as the quality of materials in the interior, with a makeover a year later. However, we would like to point out that the ID.4 GTX is definitely not a bad electric car. But in detail, we noticed that the ID.4 is the first generation electric vehicles of the VW Group. And we know: every beginning is difficult.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
