This is not our first encounter with a Volkswagen electric vehicle, we have driven such before on roads overseas.
But, world launch events separately and Israeli reality separately.
Only in the last few weeks, the first Volkswagen electric car arrived here in Israel.
Maybe it's time to point out that there are already some of these here, but under the design and logo of other brands.
But before we get to those, maybe we should stop at the first one, the one that started this whole story and never arrived in Israel.
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When Volkswagen understood the global mindset and the emerging electric revolution and reacted quite quickly.
The ID.3 was the first electric car presented as a sort of Golf replacement for the European audience.
Like golf, the goal here was not to be the flashiest or coolest, but definitely to be pleasant, useful and high quality.
From its electric modular platform, Volkswagen branched out into different segments under different brands, and it still continues to do so.
The Germans' electric attack is fast and significant enough to top the sales chart in Europe during 2022.
Due to various global crises and excessive attention to its local market, Volkswagen did not bring its electric revolution to Israel.
However, Skoda already markets a sister electric to the same platform here (Aniac), more than a year before the parent company itself.
The same ID.3 that has not yet arrived here, is already about to undergo a mid-life facelift and will arrive only at the end of the year.
In the meantime, the ID.4 lands here, which uses the assemblies we have already met in the aforementioned Skoda Aniac.
At a time when every minute a new electric manufacturer is born, it is difficult for a two-year-old car to attract extraordinary attention and the data sheet is also accordingly.
The ID.4 is powered by a single electric motor, located at the rear of the chassis and driving the rear wheels.
The power is 204 hp and the torque is 31.6 kgm when the electricity supplies an 82 kWh battery, which guarantees an official range of 519 km.
The design is nice.
There is no fuss or shouting here.
The lines that may appear soft and almost feminine in photos translate to a harmonious and present look on the road.
There is no breath of unnecessary sophistication here except, perhaps, the sophisticated lighting units.
Inside the passenger compartment, the same line is maintained and it offers a significant and pleasant space in front and behind.
A large screen dominates the center of the cabin, another smaller one in front of the driver and this minimalism creates an even more airy feeling.
From the moment you open the door, the materials and the choice of colors stand out.
All of these radiate quality.
The seats, for example, beyond the correct structure and the comfort that will be revealed later, combine pleasant fabrics in a very elegant and smart way.
Every switch is in place and the weight of each one is accurate.
Smart lighting runs along the furthest part of the dashboard, such that it welcomes entry with one shade, informs of departure with another shade and even warns with a bright shade if necessary.
There are of course other things.
But what is clear from the start is the suspension action here.
Volkswagen are not suspension wizards, despite the improvement they have shown in various models in the last decade.
And maybe this is where the surprise comes from.
The ID.4, unlike any electric car in these price ranges, is a comfortable and absorbent car.
She also has to deal with a tremendous weight of batteries, she also moves on the same roads, she just does it in a very pleasant and impressive way.
The drive system responds well, aligning with the performance customary at the same electric power levels.
Feels very efficient, solid, that word again.
Accelerations are good, not unusually fast and not too slow.
The good ride quality in the broken city, improves even more on the highway with good isolation from noises and an increased feeling of isolation and absorption.
The information for the driver is concentrated on a small digital display in front of him, and what is not here and necessary for driving is on the central screen.
After we finished playing between the modes on the small side and concentrated on the semi-active driving display possible here, we switched to central.
Here too, contrary to what is common in the genre, there is a feeling of a slightly deeper thought.
There are touch surfaces here on the one hand but they know how to respond to pressure on the other hand.
The menu has many options but the order is clear and easy to access.
As far as human engineering is concerned, this is once again a very effective example that lacks oppressive attempts at cleverness of one kind or another.
The road behavior also continues in the same solid and unsurprising direction.
The level of grip is high, the responses are predictable, at high load a lack of restraint will appear and, as in the entire automotive industry, the steering wheel here feels light and lacks nutrition.
Speaking of steering wheel, and back into the city, there are quite a few turns from lock to lock.
On the other hand, there is also an impressive side angle for the front wheels and maneuverability accordingly.
For the trivia fans - the diameter of the round here is smaller than that of any supermini on the market.
Those who want to drive their tram with one pedal will find that Volkswagen does not yet offer such an option.
The regeneration produced by braking while leaving the accelerator pedal does not feel significant from the point of view of the person holding the steering wheel.
The vehicle slows down, but it is not possible to choose different modes for this braking, which is a shame.
The official driving range is quite impressive, but during the busy test days we were unable to restore us.
458 km of real range registered with us the ID.4, and this should satisfy every need and opinion.
The tested ID.4 naturally includes a variety of advanced safety systems.
Their performance felt very mature and inspired a lot of confidence.
The option of crawling the traffic jams in the test vehicle worked better than other systems we tested and became a very effective tool in Gush Dan traffic jams.
The Volkswagen ID.4 doesn't make any headline-grabbing statements, no flamboyant styling or a cabin with space shuttle levers.
What you can find here is a car, in this case a family leisure, made in a quality way.
One that offers high usability, clear human engineering and a relaxed and comfortable ride.
Of course, there is all the technology you could want here, but no one finds it necessary to shout it out.
While in other places they tried very hard to launch the best electric car around, at Volkswagen they concentrated on producing a good car that is simply powered by electricity.
Volkswagen ID.4
Engine: electric, rear
Power: 204 hp
Torque: 31.6 kgm
Wheelbase: 277 cm
Weight: 2,208 kg
Driving range (test): 458 km
From 0 to 100 km/h: 8.5 years
Maximum speed: 160 km/h
Price (tested model): NIS 273,000
Pros: feelings and performance
Against: regenerative braking
Bottom line: complete and high quality
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