Built upon the TNGA-K platform, the slim LED headlamps and full-width LED taillight bar, sloping roof and large 19-inch multi-spoke “super chrome” two-tone alloy wheels on the Limited grade Darpan evaluated make for quite a handsome product, actually. At 4,740 millimetres long the size is just right. Not too big or small.
Though smallish in appearance, the inside is quite roomy. Rear seat legroom is decent —— due to a slim seat back design utilizing ultra-light “giga-steel” in its construction — and the cargo area can accommodate 690 litres of stuff when the second row is upright, or 1,422 litres when folded down.
Designers have moved the A pillars back almost 50 millimetres, stretched out the wheelbase by 35 millimetres and widened the rear track 12 millimetres giving the profile a distinctive appearance. Even the roof is 50 millimetres shorter than the predecessor thanks to the liftgate being made of a lightweight composite material, allowing the hinge mechanism to be pulled outwards thus flattening the area.
Both cars in single-motor form are fine for driving around town, but dynamically the ID.4 is the better-driving SUV. With its higher real-world range and quicker acceleration, the Volkswagen is the superior choice in this matchup.
The only EVs with starting prices under $30,000 (including shipping) now are versions of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. Both are smaller than a typical gas-powered compact SUV. The Mini Cooper Electric, Mazda MX30 and Hyundai Kona Electric are in the $30,000s, according to Edmunds.
The Bolt EV used to cost more than $30,000, but for the 2023 model year, Chevrolet dropped the starting price to $26,595. Even a more well-equipped the Bolt EV 2LT model tops out at around $31,000. Which one is the better buy? Edmunds car experts compared both EVs to find out.
