As expected, there are single motors with front-wheel drive and twin motor configurations with four-wheel drive. The former comes with an option of 63kWh or 87kWh batteries, which provide 215bhp and 239bhp, respectively. The latter configuration, branded e-4ORCE, is only available with the bigger battery and produces a useful 302bhp in ordinary form or 388bhp in the top Performance edition, suitable for 0-62mph in 5.1 seconds. Regardless of the battery and motor combination you choose, the Ariya is composed and competent to drive, but it is unlikely to set your heart beating. The steering is light and accurate, but the body control is soft and fidgety, and you feel as if you’re sitting high above the car’s roll axis as it turns, acutely aware of every degree of body lean.
So, although it’s not the game changer that the original Leaf was, there’s a lot to enjoy here.
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Number 5. Volkswagen ID 4
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The ID 4 is Volkswagen’s second vehicle to be introduced on the group’s MEB platform, after the ID 3. It’s a larger, more expensive vehicle than the previous model, but it’ll be just as important in helping VW become a major player in the worldwide EV industry. After all, the world is passionate about SUVs, and Volkswagen believes that the ID 4’s design enables it to deliver Touareg-level utility in a Tiguan-sized vehicle. That seems to be a great combination.
In practice, it also works rather well. There’s enough more room in the front, and the trunk is 531 litres bigger than the Tiguan’s. Even better, since the battery is housed under the floor, the back area is comparable to that of a Mercedes E-Class. The one minor drawback is that the rear seat sits a little higher than you may want, limiting head space.
When it comes to batteries, there are two sizes available, and they match the output of the rear-mounted electric motor. The 146bhp and 168bhp variants have 52kWh batteries, while the 201bhp model has a 77kWh battery with a WLTP range of 324 miles. The range’s flagship model is a dual-motor, four-wheel-drive 295bhp GTX, which is more of a quick cruiser than a real GTI for the electric era.
The standard 201bhp version’s performance is also very quick, and it’s quite smooth, especially on huge wheels. But there’s enough personality to keep you interested: precisely calibrated control reactions, crisp initial performance, clever tiny design signals, and a feeling of maturity on the go.
The ID 4 provides a sleek, streamlined, and easy electric-car experience, while the interior ergonomics are too simplified. Despite a highly pleasing interior, the lack of most buttons means the ID 4 is not particularly user-friendly, which is a typical issue with new Volkswagens.
