Volkswagen ID.4 review - Interior, design and technology

Volkswagen’s MEB architecture has been developed solely for its all-electric vehicles, underpinning the ID.4 and a host of other VW Group cars, such as the VW's ID.3 hathcback and ID. Buzz minibus, plus the Audi Q4 e-tron and Skoda Enyaq iV. From the outside, the ID.4 looks smart enough, with its sleek, stylish lines helping to create a premium air.

It’s a shame that this quality feel isn’t carried over into the ID.4’s cabin. The typically minimalist style that has become prevalent in so many EVs is all present and correct in the ID.4, but it doesn’t feel particularly refined. Look even closer, and you’ll notice that the material quality is average at best, while the interior lacks the fizz and flair needed to set it apart from rivals like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 or Kia EV6. One irritation we had with the ID.4's cabin is the touch-sensitive, piano-black steering wheel-mounted controls, which are awkward to use and feel like they belong in a much cheaper car.

Buyers won’t be left wanting for standard kit, however. Leaving aside its steel wheels, the entry-level Life Edition model features LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and sat-nav, while luxury additions include heated seats, a heated steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging function, dual-zone climate control and a heated front screen to help combat those frosty morning starts.

Upgrading to Style Edition trim brings bigger alloy wheels, privacy glass and a panoramic glass roof, while the range-topping GTX and GTX Max gets kit like a larger 12-inch infotainment touchscreen and an augmented reality head-up display as standard.

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Sat-nav, stereo and infotainment

The large central touchscreen in the ID.4 controls virtually everything in the cabin, including the climate settings, which is a frustrating design decision. Combined with its fiddly layout, you often find yourself making erroneous adjustments on the move. It’s made worse because the buttons on the steering wheel are also touch-sensitive and are awkward to use, so there’s not even a respite with the real switches. Everything from adjusting the volume of the radio to resetting the trip is more of a faff than it needs to be.

Loading times are quick, though – particularly with route mapping. We also like the small 5.3-inch digital dial display which adjusts with the steering wheel so it’s always visible. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also really convenient and useful features that work better than the built-in software.