Volkswagen executives made their intentions clear at a recent launch event in Brooklyn: the new ID.4 electric SUV isn’t meant to compete with Tesla. Instead, the company is targeting popular gas-powered compact SUVs like the Ford Escape, Honda CR-V, and Toyota RAV4. This strategic focus places the ID.4 squarely in the mainstream automotive market, aiming to convert buyers from traditional internal combustion engines to electric vehicles.
During a brief test drive across Manhattan, the goal was to evaluate how the ID.4 stacks up against these established rivals. Compact SUVs dominate the American car market, and as an owner of a 2010 Subaru Outback, I felt well-positioned to assess the ID.4’s quirks and capabilities in real-world conditions.
The drive lasted about 45 minutes, covering a range of urban scenarios. From bumper-to-bumper traffic in upper Manhattan to congested midtown streets and the West Side Highway, the ID.4 navigated through it all. The route also included numerous potholes, sinkholes, and other road imperfections typical of New York City, providing a harsh test of the vehicle’s build quality and handling.
This wasn’t a glamorous, cinematic drive through empty landscapes or misty mountain roads. It was authentic city driving—crawling through crowded corridors, squeezing between trucks and buses, and sharing tight spaces with other drivers. Such conditions reveal a car’s true character, beyond marketing hype.
