Tested: 2026 Volkswagen ID 4 – Full review, price & features
The ID 4’s interior shares many hallmarks with the other cars in the ID range. That of the Volkswagen Golf loosely inspires the dashboard topography but, as with the ID 3, the cockpit is more minimalistic, and has a sleek, progressive look to it. The conspicuous lack of buttons and switches on it might even seem quite shocking to someone coming from and number of cars with more conventional, busier dashboard layouts.
Originally the car came with a steering wheel that featured haptic touchpads for controlling the music, display and cruise control, which were slow and frustrating to use, and far too easy to press by accident. Happily, Volkswagen changed these spoke-mounted buttons consoles for ones with conventional physical buttons as part of the 2026-model-year update.
Additionally, the ID 4 gained an upgraded interior with a larger, 12in central touchscreen in 2025, that operates with updated infotainment software and menus, and better accessibility to key functions; plus illumination for the touch-sensitive ‘sliders’ just underneath the screen that control the audio volume and the climate control. VW’s downsized gear selector rocker was replaced by a column stalk. All made meanful enhancements to the car’s usability.
Volkswagen’s infotainment systems were difficult to use in the recent past. They were slow, buggy and crashed repeatedly; but the brand has overcome many of these shortcomings with the latest version of its ‘MIB’ software. While the system in the ID 4 still isn’t as intuitive and user-friendly as it could be, it’s a big improvement.
Material quality is reasonable. The car’s attractive and superbly comfortable ‘Style’ seats – plus organic shapes in the door-card mouldings, and Volkswagen’s modern reluctance to use much in the way of a physical switchgear – do create quite a special ambience. And, yes, one that is genuinely very relaxing, not least because the scuttle is relatively low, and forward visibility good.
If you see the dashboard putting on a light show, that’s the ID Light concept, which blinks in different colours and patterns to relay everything from sat-nav directions to charging status to incoming phone calls. It’s moderately useful at times, albeit often something of a distraction. The cabin’s fundamental ergonomics are excellent, though, and you might not be expecting to find such generous rear leg room.
The ID 4 is akin to a Mercedes-Benz E-Class for rear passenger space, and overall it’s clear that Volkswagen has brought all its packaging know-how to bear with this first electric SUV. You really do get an impression of spaciousness, wherever you’re sitting.
It’s a genuinely practical car, with a boot measuring 543 litres, which is larger than the Kia EV6 (490 litres) and almost identical to the Renault Scenic (545 litres) – although like most SUVs of this size, it’s still outclassed by the Tesla Model Y for outright luggage space.
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