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Independent review & score by Carivo
| Seating Capacity | 5 passengers |
|---|---|
| Body Style | EV |
| Base Price | $36,158–$44,959 |
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov & manufacturer data. Figures reflect base trim; actual specs vary by trim level.
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 is a ev that earns a Carivo score of 7.3/10 — rated Good. Its strongest dimension is Reliability at 8.0/10, while Safety at 6.7/10 is where it trails the competition most noticeably. It's a capable but unexceptional ev — stronger alternatives exist if you're willing to shop the segment carefully.
Reliability and safety are the two dimensions that matter most for long-term ownership costs. The reliability picture is solid rather than spectacular: 8.0/10, which puts it comfortably above the class median. Safety is a notable gap at 6.7/10 in our scoring — below what the best in segment deliver. Check the official NHTSA ratings for the trim you're considering before deciding.
With 7.8/10 for performance, this is a car tuned for daily driving rather than excitement — perfectly capable on the commute, unremarkable on a back road. At 7.7/10 for technology, the infotainment and driver-assist package does its job without setting benchmarks — check which features cost extra on lower trims.
Priced from $36,158–$44,959, 107 MPG, seating 5, the Volkswagen ID.4 sits in the mid-market bracket of the ev segment. The value score of 6.9/10 is a red flag — comparable alternatives offer meaningfully more for the same outlay. Shop the segment before deciding. At 5 years old, it's worth checking whether a newer generation or refresh has addressed any weaker dimensions — compare it to the current model year before buying.
Verdict: The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 sits in the middle of the field. Until its value and safety scores improve, stronger options exist at this price. Worth a look if it fits a specific need; otherwise use our compare tool against the segment leaders first.
Carivo scores are our own editorial assessment, informed by NHTSA safety and recall records, EPA fuel-economy figures, and manufacturer-published specifications. Scores are reviewed periodically and updated when new data becomes available. See our full methodology →
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 ranks #203 of 268 evs in the Carivo database — better than 25% of the segment. Its 7.3/10 overall score is 0.3 points below the segment average of 7.6/10. Its $36,158 starting price undercuts the segment's median of $52,750 by about 31%.
Rankings are recalculated as new vehicles and scores are added. See the full EV ranking → · Best EVs under $50k →
Across the ID.4 model years we've scored, the 2021 holds its position — we didn't find an older year that delivers similar scores for meaningfully less money.
| Year | Score | Starting price (MSRP when new) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7.7/10 | $40,927 | Read review → |
| 2025 | 7.7/10 | $40,927 | Read review → |
| 2024 | 7.5/10 | $39,735 | Read review → |
| 2023 | 7.5/10 | $38,542 | Read review → |
| 2022 | 7.5/10 | $37,350 | Read review → |
| 2021 (this review) | 7.3/10 | $36,158 |
The following recall campaigns have been filed with NHTSA for this model and year. Recall repairs are performed free of charge by franchised dealers; check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Steering / Gear box (other than rack and pinion) 03/11/2021 · 21V852000 | Volkswagen Group of American, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling one 2021 ID.4 vehicle. The steering gear may have an incorrectly assembled or missing drive bushing. |
|---|---|
| Seat belts / Rear/other / Retractor 04/08/2021 · 21V607000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect rear outboard seat belt assemblies without an automatic locking retractor (ALR) function may have been installed, which can prevent the child restraint system… |
| Seat belts / Rear/other / Retractor 05/08/2021 · 21V606000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 Volkswagen ID4, Audi A4 Allroad, A4 Sedan, A5 Cabriolet, A5 Coupe, A5 Sportback, A6 Allroad, A6 Sedan, A7, A8, E-Tron Quattro, E-Tron Sportback Quattro, Q3, Q5, Q5 Sportback, Q7, Q8,… |
| Exterior lighting / Headlights 02/06/2021 · 21V413000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID.4 vehicles. Caps were installed on the headlight vertical aim instead of the horizontal aim, allowing for horizontal adjustment of the headlight beam. As such, these vehicles… |
| Electrical system / Propulsion system / Traction battery 16/03/2022 · 22V162000 | Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2021 ID4 vehicles. Incorrect soldering of the flexible printed circuit assembled (FPCA), inside the high voltage (HV) battery, may cause an unreliable connection. |
Showing 5 of 11 campaigns — see the full list on NHTSA's site.
We rate the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4's reliability 8.0/10 — one of the stronger records in its class. It has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns on record for this model year (details in the recalls section above — repairs are free at dealers).
11 NHTSA recall campaigns matched this model and year as of our latest check. Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
It scores 7.3/10 overall, ranking #203 of 268 evs in our database (better than 25% of the segment). Stronger-scoring alternatives exist at similar prices — use our compare tool before committing.
The 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 starts at $36,158 and ranges up to $44,959 across trims (MSRP when new). At 107 MPG, expect roughly $491/year in fuel at 15,000 miles/year.
Explore the full lineup of Volkswagen models scored by Carivo — ranked by overall score across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.