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By Jonathan Crouch

Ten Second Review word count: 57

Volkswagen's most significant global EV is this one, the mid-sized ID.4 crossover, here usefully improved. An upgraded motor brings significant increases in both pulling power and driving range, while inside, the cabin's more media-savvy and user-friendly. As before, this contender's practical, decent to drive and reasonable value. And there's the option of AWD if you want it.

Background word count: 165

The ID.4 was Volkswagen's first global EV, launched in 2020 and tasked with accounting for a third of all the brand's EV sales around the world. It's that important, built not only in Germany (at VW's Zwickau plant) but also by factories in China and the US. Under the skin (and dimensionally) the ID.4 is much the same as its cousin, the Skoda Enyaq iV and (like that car) uses an extended version of the predominantly rear-driven MEB platform we first saw on the smaller ID.3. All though, hasn't really gone to plan for Volkswagen with this car. From launch, its fortunes were hit by Pandemic-related shutdowns and lockdowns, then production suffered due to the global semiconductor shortage and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As well as all of that, there were criticisms of the original model's performance, driving range and cabin quality. All of which makes the introduction of the updated model launched in late 2023, the car we look at here, particularly significant.

Driving Experience word count: 463

There's an entry-level 52kWh ID.4 model available with the brand's Pure 170PS motor (which goes up to 222 miles between charges) but the big news with this updated model applies to the mainstream 77kWh variants. These come with Volkswagen's latest APP550 Pro Performance electric motor, first seen on the ID.7, which delivers 286PS and puts out a massive 75% more torque than the original model's motor (up from 310 to 545Nm). There's a dual-motor AWD 4MOTION variant too - which might avert the need to stretch to the top sporty ID.4 GTX 4MOTION flagship sporty derivative, which now puts out 340PS (41PS more than before), enough to get you to 62mph in 5.4s. Despite the APP550 motor's extra torque, Volkswagen's managed to make the upgraded 286PS powerplant more effcient too: the rear-driven ID.4 77kWh variant is now supposed to make it up to 349 miles between charges (22 miles further than before) - or 326 miles in 4MOTION form and 319 miles in GTX guise. The battery is a reworked version of the previous 77kWh unit, which has a new charging management system. The brand claims that the steering now has greater feedback than before too. Otherwise, the whole ID.4 experience should be familiar if you've tried one previously. If you haven't, there's a bit to adapt to if this is your first experience of EV motoring. No gearstick, no handbrake, no ignition key and just the sound of silence as the fixed ratio transmission blends an almost endless wave of torque into meaningful and surprisingly rapid forward progress. Like Volkswagen's original post-war Beetle, base versions of this car are rear-driven and when you drive such an ID.4 in town, you quickly realise the real advantages of placing the powertrain - the electric motor and its associated single-speed auto gearbox - on the back axle, thereby freeing up the front wheels for steering duties; the result is a London taxi-like 10.2-metre turning circle. Beyond the city limits, that drive format allows for a near-50:50 almost perfect weight distribution which, together with the low centre of gravity provided by the central battery pack placement, helps disguise the portly weight this SUV must carry around. Traction through the turns is excellent and body roll is checked by firm damping cleverly engineered for suppleness over poor surfaces. All of which ought to provide the recipe for a decently sporting EV - and in some ways it does. There are four drive settings common across the model line-up - 'Comfort', 'Sport' and 'Individual'. Plus you get an 'Eco' setting that, to maximise range, you'll need to frequently use in combination with the available 'B' regenerative braking function, which slows the car significantly when you come off the accelerator. The GTX models has an extra 'Traction' mode too.