The electric car war is just getting started. In the beginning, it was only Tesla who seemed to be taking the throne. However, for the past couple of years, many car manufacturers who were in the past at the top of their game with gas cars are now seeming to get a handle on electric cars too.
From names like Ford to Volkswagen, everyone seems to be going green. Tesla has, however, managed to still stay ahead of its competition one way or another. All this can be attributed to them starting the electric journey earlier than their competition.
Tesla vehicles from the Model S to the Model Y have all had one thing in common; premium touches that come with an affordable price tag. While Tesla is yet to announce any new addition to their S3XY lineup, they seem to be building on what they already have. Some people would argue that they are improving perfection.
Volkswagen, on the other hand, is joining the electric race with long-term experience in building cars. This is the skills and knowledge that the brand has amassed over the past one hundred years. And with this, they are proving to be worthy contenders for the electric throne. The Volkswagen ID.4 is one of the many cars from the Volkswagen electric lineup that has gained notoriety among VW enthusiasts and those who feel that Tesla is overrated.
Nonetheless, we would like to have a side-by-side comparison to see how the Tesla Model Y matches the Volkswagen ID.4 and vice versa.
Here is how the Tesla Model Y compares with the Volkswagen ID.4.
Brief History Of Both Cars
If we are going to be pitting these two cars against each other, it is only fair that we get a bit of background on both before drawing any conclusions.
Let us start with the Tesla Model Y. The Model Y was first unveiled in 2019, and it was not until 2020 that it went into production. This car is the last car for now on the Tesla full-size S-3-X-Y lineup. Like the other before it the Model Y is a fully electric car, it is the second car built on the Tesla Model 3 platform, which has seen it share a little over 75% of similarities with the Model 3.
The model Y is a compact crossover SUV that features five doors. It comes in rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.
Now let us have a look at the Volkswagen ID.4. The VW ID.4 is an all-electric crossover compact SUV that made its debut in 2020. This vehicle was the first fully electric vehicle from Volkswagen, making it the company’s electric flagship vehicle. It is a five-door SUV that features a rear motor and comes in both rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive.
Comparison Of The VW ID.4 And Tesla Model Y
You might be wondering why we have waited until now to do a head-to-head comparison of these two electric beauties. Well, in case you didn't know, Volkswagen announces that it is set to launch the sale of its first all-electric SUV in North America. This has been Tesla’s territory for a long time, to be precise, since the debut of the Model S.
Size And Storage
While both cars are compact crossovers, they do not measure the same. The Model Y measures 187 inches in length, 75.6 inches in width, and 63.9 inches in height. On the other hand, the VW ID.4 measures 180.5 inches in length, 72.9 inches in with, and 63.9 inches in height. From this, we can see that the ID.4 is slightly smaller than the Model Y but not by much.
When it comes to storage space, it is not easy to pinpoint which car has more space. This is because Tesla has only presented a total figure of the car’s storage which is 69 cubic feet. This figure includes both the rear truck with the seats pulled down and the front trunk.
Volkswagen, on the other hand, has only given figures of the car’s rear trunk with the seats folded, which are 64.2 cubic feet but they have failed to give the size of the front trunk or as it is also known as the frunk.
With the Model Y, you can get either a five-seater or a seven-seater. The Volkswagen ID.4, however only comes as a standard five-seater.
Performance And Drivetrain Of The Model Y And ID.4
By April 2021 there were already two versions of the Tesla Model Y. Both versions included a pair of motors that provided the car with an all-wheel-drive drivetrain. The VW ID.4, as of today, comes with a standard single motor which gives the cars a rear-wheel-drive drivetrain. The company has announced that by September, all ID.4s sold in the US market will come with a dual-motor, all-wheel-drive option.
When it comes to performance, TESLA has proven that it has what it takes to take on anyone. Remember those Tesla Vs … videos on YouTube? The Tesla Model Y entry-level trim is what the company refers to as the Long Range. It has a top speed of 135 MPH and on a 0 to 60 MPH run, the Model Y clears a 4.4 second time.
If you are eyeing a top-tier Model Y, then you can get the performance of top speed 155 MPH and a lower sprint time of 3.5 seconds. The ID.4 has a top speed of 100 MPH and 0 to 60 MPH time of 8.5 seconds.
Range Of The Tesla Model Y Vs ID.4
One last thing to look at when comparing these two SUVs in the range. The Tesla Model Y is categorized as a Long Rang electric SUV by Tesla. It has an estimated 326-mile range in the standard trim and 303 in the higher performance trims.
The Volkswagen ID.4 has a 260-mile range which is an improvement from the first ID.4, which has just sold out.