Volkswagen promised to make a splash in the EV segment when the German auto giant announced it was making a big pivot into the space several years ago. One of the early spearhead models was the ID.4 Pro.

The ID.4 talked a big game, but came up consistently short when it came to delivering some of the core things that EV buyers demanded the most. VW has said it’s made some improvements but is the ID.4 still handicapped by some of its perssten short comings?

ID.4 Pro stylig is a matter of taste

When it comes to the exterior styling of this EV, taste will still play a big role in how its received by an observer. Some will say that the CUV has a no-nonsense look with the front end having an aerodynamically smooth front end that features slick looking headlights. Others will say that it still looks like a formless blob with the rear end looking like it was styled by designers with a melting candle.

For this author, my perception of our tester was a mixed bag. The side profile does have a sporty profile and the large alloy wheels in our tester also helped fill the wheel arches nicely. That said, the rear end is a glaring weak spot in terms of styling. The lightbar looks out of place and the whole space has a blob-ish look. That’s a real shame since the ID.4 is yet another example of how colors play a big part in looks with the dark blue paint on our tester doing its part to make the EV visually pop when out and about in traffic.

ID.4 interior benefits the most from imporvements, but still needs some more

Slip inside and you’ll find that the ID.4’s interior has benefitted the most from some of VW’s improvements. Material quality is better than before and there are more soft touch surfaces at key contact points. While the ID.4 is still far from crossing the boundary between it and Audi, the revisions in materials finally makes it feel actually worth its $50,000 plus price tag and allows owners to truly appreciate the generous amounts of space they have in both rows of seats.

The interface for the touchscreen infotainment system is also improved and we didn’t notice any instances of lag or frozen software during its time with us. The one proverbial fly in the ointment is one that we have also talked about in other VW products, the haptic controls. These controls are notably used for the climate adn udio system and they are still very frustrating to use with slow responses when using the various slider controls. Cargo room with the second row seats up is usable but folding them down allows the ID.4 to shine as a cargo hauler.

Slow and steady wins the race

Performace for the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 continues to come from two different electric powertrains. A single rear-mounted electric motor powered our Pro grade tester and allowed it to make 201 horsepower. Buyers looking for more performance can get a dual-motor variant that makes a combines system output of 330 hp and also gets standard AWD.

That said, the ID.4 was never about raw speed. Instead, it’s all about efficency which was not only evident by ourr tester’s rather sluggish over 7 second 0 to 60 time, but also its range with this version of the ID.4 getting 291 miles of range on a single charge. The all-wheel drive dual-motor versions make owners pay for their enhanced vigor with those versions getting 240 miles on a single charge.

Steering and handling response is not going to set the world on fire but its comfortable and the ID.4 is more than capable of handling urban commuting with little fuss and drama. Unfortunately, when you pull up to a charging station, make sure you check what type of connector it has. Unlike many other EVs in recent years, the ID.4 still uses an older SAE connection which puts it behind the pack when it comes to usability.

Value Quotient

Pricing for a rear-wheel drive Pro model like our tester starts at $45,095 but the AWD Pro variant pushes the EV into the $50,000 range after options and assorted fees are factored into the mix. Our tester arrived with several options that caused the price to venture very close to the aforementioned $50,000 mark.

This pricing creates a problem since the Volkswagen is facing off against a very strong crowd of rivals. Many of these rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and the Tesla Model Y all offer higher levels of standard equipment, range, and long-term value. While the 2025 Volkswagn ID.4 is a better EV, it’s still missing some of the core improvements that it needs to really land a clean knockout punch in its hotly contested segment.