ID. Check – Volkswagen ID.4 electric SUV headed to Australia

Volkswagen has welcomed to Australia the first examples of the ID.4 electric SUV, ahead of a register-your-interest waitlist for customers going live by Christmas.

The two ID.4 electric SUVs arrive in Australia in overseas-market specifications – the 150kW ID.4 Pro Performance with 522km range, and the 125kW ID.4 Pure Performance with 345km range and sharing the Pro’s 310Nm.

A fully loaded ID.4 Pro Performance will most closely reflect Volkswagen Australia’s planned launch specification, while the ID.4 Pure Performance will likely join later and aim at fleet operators and government agencies.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is produced on a dedicated, modular battery electric vehicle (BEV) architecture known as MEB.

By producing the ID.4 on a dedicated platform it allows designers and engineers to minimise the front and rear overhangs of the vehicle. This ensures that more of the ID.4’s 4584mm body length goes into maximising cabin and boot space, which closely mirrors or exceeds that of the Tiguan SUV.

Rear seat space more closely resembles that of the larger Touareg SUV, with USB-C ports and three-zone climate control available. The family-friendly 543 litre boot volume can be expanded to 1,575L with the rear backrest folded.

The MEB platform also ensures the higher kerb weight inherent to BEVs is placed more beneficially to steering, ride and handling qualities than in an equivalent internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

The ID.4 Pro Performance and ID.4 Pure Performance utilise an 82kWh and 55kWh battery package respectively. Both are placed ‘flat pack’ under the central part of the chassis for more even weight distribution and to lower the centre of gravity.

Targeted at singles, couples, couples-plus-pet, families and empty nesters, the ID.4 Pro Performance’s long range will be complemented by up to 125kW DC fast charging enabling charging from 0% to 80% in 33 minutes and on to 100% in 42 minutes. The ID.4 Pure Performance’s 110kW DC fast charging is quicker by 7 minutes and 10 minutes respectively.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is rear-wheel drive and uses a multi-link rear suspension setup for the ride comfort and control typified by a Tiguan, or Golf. It is also rear engined, enabling 0-100km/h performance of between 8.5 seconds (Pro Performance) and 9.0sec (Pure Performance).

With specification still to be locked in for Australia, highlights of the Pro Performance above the Pure Performance in overseas specification include 19-inch alloy wheels (vs 18s), progressive steering, area view camera, augmented reality head up display, 12in infotainment (vs 10in) and 450W 7-speaker audio.