Volkswagen ID.4 interior, dashboard & comfort

Similar to many of Volkswagen’s latest models, there aren’t many buttons in the cabin of the ID.4. Things like the air-conditioning are all controlled through the touchscreen on the dashboard or via touch-sensitive buttons. But although this all looks neat and has a futuristic feel, it can frustrate when you’re driving. A tiny gear selector on the centre console and buttons on the steering wheel are the only 'real' controls in the car.

Volkswagen ID.4 dashboard

There are some signs of cost-cutting when it comes to materials used in some places, but generally the feel is of a well built and nicely designed cabin. The lack of buttons does have a plus point as it does look very modern inside. The materials inside contrast with the screens and touch panels, though, as there are a few too many hard, scratchy plastic surfaces. It’s not unpleasant, but we'd expect better in a car at this price.

Equipment, options & accessories

The ID.4 First Edition is well equipped. In the cabin, it gets a 10-inch touchscreen sat-nav setup that includes Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, as well as dual-zone climate control, a reversing camera, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control and a digital dashboard. You also get a three-year subscription to the We Connect Plus service, which gives you access to the We Charge network’s 150,000 charging points at exclusive charging rates.

Following on from the introductory First Edition, the regular ID.4 range comprises Life, Style, Family and Max trim levels. The first two are available with the Pure or Pure Performance drivetrains (in other words, the 52kWh battery), while the last three get the same Pro Performance drivetrain as the First Edition: a 77kWh battery and 201bhp electric motor.

The ID.4 Life features a 10-inch touchscreen, a heated windscreen, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Style trim gets a few styling tweaks and upgraded 18-inch wheels and 3D design taillights. While Family adds 19-inch alloy wheels, LED matrix headlamps, privacy glass, a large panoramic sunroof, tri-zone climate control, a luggage net, a rear-view camera, keyless entry and keyless start.

The range-topping Max benefits from a larger 12-inch infotainment system, an augmented reality head-up display, heated sports seats with integrated headrests, 12-way powered seat adjustment, remote boot unlocking and hands-free tailgate opening, adaptive dampers, progressive steering and a heat pump – the latter can be added as an option to the Life or Family models.

Infotainment, apps & sat nav

The interior is dominated by an infotainment system, which operates mostly from a large central touchscreen. We found the system to be less than intuitive, feeling a little clunky and complex – you may need to take some time to get to know it.  There's also a smaller readout in front of the driver, while the augmented-reality head-up display on our test car was functional, offering overlaid stopping-distance and sat-nav information. The wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto work well on the screen, which is sharp, responsive and looks good.