By chance, I was able to get a test drive car from the manufacturer through the 42nd garage and experience it deeply for a few days. Let’s see whether the electric cars from traditional auto makers can pass the test.
ID Family
As we all know, Volkswagen’s pure electric platform products are named the ID series.
ID series products have a uniform design language and a strong family identification symbol. Volkswagen is attempting to express a positive attitude and determination towards the evolution of electrical design through the ID family.
At least in effect diagrams and concept car stage, the design of the models is very science-fictional and futuristic.
Perhaps traditional auto makers need to consider too many constraints, or the product’s positioning still needs to consider the public’s acceptance, so there is a large gap between the final design of the mass-produced models and the concept cars.
Of course, I also understand that the styling of electric “Golfs” and electric “Tiguans” cannot be too unconventional:
- As an entry-level model, the ID.3 is naturally positioned as the most lively and cute small hatchback.
- ID.4 has a traditional SUV styling.
- ID.5 is the coupé version of ID.4, with an even sportier tuning.
- ID.6 is a 7-seater SUV with more practical space (bulky and heavy).
- And there is also the ID. BUZZ, an electric MPV/VAN with its own halo.
ID.4 CROZZ Design
The positioning of the ID.4 is very clear, being the highest-selling model in the ID family. It doesn’t need individuality, sportiness, or niche market appeal; it needs to meet the needs of the majority of the market.
ID.4 was released in 2020 and was touted as having a drag coefficient of only 0.28 cd, combining excellent aerodynamics research. Its exterior design is clean, sleek, and aerodynamically styled.
At the same time, the modern appearance of the ID.4 can be seen through its distinctive headlights and the iconic light strip between them.
To distinguish the naming of ID.4 between FAW-Volkswagen and SAIC Volkswagen, FAW added a suffix “CROZZ” to their version, while SAIC added “X” to theirs. FAW-Volkswagen’s version of the front and rear bumper covers is more inclined towards the European version (introverted), while SAIC Volkswagen’s version is more inclined towards localization (bold).
From a design perspective, the overall proportion of the car is very good. The streamlined exterior of the body and passenger compartment is obviously pulled towards the back, and the silver decorative line is used to highlight the roof contour and the power of the C-pillar, giving it a bit of a “Golf-like charm”. The C-pillar also visually enhances the dynamic streamlining and weakens the large and practical protruding shape of the trunk.
The upward sloping shape of the rear of the car, combined with the treatment of the waistline at the rear wheel, gives the entire rear a powerful feeling.
The overall design of ID.4 still leans towards conservative and mediocre traditional car design, although it maintains Volkswagen’s brand style with well-proportioned and well-crafted details. However, the first impression is not particularly stunning.
Looking at the 200,000-300,000 RMB electric SUV market in China, Tesla Model Y is an irresistible target for all target consumers. Tesla Model Y has broken through the old system and created a successful model with a completely new design architecture. Tesla’s minimalist and streamlined design has created a new direction for electric vehicle design.
Tesla’s design puts minimizing wind resistance as the absolute first goal- a low nose, streamlined body, and minimalist design focus on functionality (without extra decorative pieces). This unprecedented design has won the favor of the EV target audience. Although it has a low nose, it still has a practical front trunk through internal intensive design!
Compared to Tesla, ID.4’s design proportion still follows the traditional SUV style, especially the tall and rugged nose, which is not easily associated with electrification. I thought it had a big V8 engine inside… Of course, there is no front trunk set up either. I believe that this design language is not very friendly to wind resistance.
Of course, this extravagant waste can differentiate the front structure and create extremely spacious front suspension cross-space. Coupled with the rear-wheel-drive setting, it has an exaggerated turning angle when turning or reversing. It feels like the old times with my two-door Smart!
The interior is not distinctive either, sharing the same design language as other ID models. I personally think that this design technique is more youthful and lively, suitable for a product like ID.3 with its white interior design, which is perfect. However, for more upscale products, this language does not quite fit the tastes of Chinese target consumers. After all, people who seek novelty and freshness at this price range would have already bought Tesla or domestic new force brands, while those who seek oily and luxury feelings are the target customers of domestic brands.
This kind of Euro-style minimalist design is like IKEA furniture. The elderly don’t like it “because they think the workmanship is not good enough,” while the young can’t afford it… It is obviously not suitable for Chinese market target customer needs.The car attempted to meet the preferences and demands of the traditional target customers by adding artificial leather lining and ambient lighting. However, the design language was too young and simplistic, and spoiled consumers in China are estimated to be unsatisfied.
However, the traditional automakers’ aesthetic taste for details is still up to par. For instance, the displays and center console have a tinge of Apple-style, with a black background and simple content, weakening the screen to emphasize the core content – which I found to be impressive! In contrast, domestic car brands have ostentatiously decorated-screen content and UI, like an auto-parts store. Of course, what exists is reasonable, and I won’t comment further.
ID.4 CROZZ Charging Experience
Firstly, let’s talk about charging. According to the official recommendation, I chose FAW’s K-Mate supercharging pile for charging.
From a 35% charge to 75%, the experience of fast charging in half an hour is indeed impressive.
But while quick-charging, it seems the battery is consuming a bit quickly as well. Seeing the battery percentage gradually dropping was quite frustrating…Of course, most electric cars are like this. It’s just that with a range of over 500 kilometers, the car needs to be charged every 2-3 days with daily usage.
ID.4 CROZZ Driving Experience
Particularly noteworthy is the feeling when in D mode and you release the throttle (pedal), there is no dragging sensation from energy recovery, and the feeling of the vehicle sliding is consistent with that of other gasoline-powered cars, and even the maintenance of sliding speed is quite smooth. Just based on this alone, it’s quite friendly for traditional gasoline cars’ drivers.
Daily driving quality is good and reflects the tuning expertise of a large manufacturer. However, as an electric SUV with a somewhat bulky body, the feeling of swaying while driving is still quite obvious, especially when dealing with large road bumps, which results in noticeable bouncing. Combined with the electric car’s characteristic of fast acceleration, I subjectively think that passengers are prone to motion sickness.
Perhaps due to its excessive weight, there is a noticeable nodding of the car’s front end every time I brake and use auto hold, making me feel like I am driving a tank 300.
Some shortcomings of the ID.4 CROZZ
First of all, the angle of the center console, why make it vertical at 90 degrees? It’s obviously against ergonomics! During the driving process, I always unconsciously lower the seat height to adapt to this screen, but find it impossible to do so.
Another issue is the built-in voice assistant. I don’t know how many times I’ve argued with her… it’s better to use Siri in CarPlay instead…
Secondly, the capacitive keys are a thumbs down, especially the temperature adjustment slider below the screen, which not only lacks a backlight, but is also prone to being touched unintentionally by the hand while touching the screen, making it an annoying gimmick! I strongly suggest canceling this feature!
I don’t even know which brother who test drove the car before me accidentally opened the 0:00 Saturday air conditioning reservation function. As a result, I found out that the air conditioning had been on all night when I went downstairs to do a nucleic acid test on Saturday morning… utterly speechless!
Regarding the UI interface, although it is very Apple-like, it not only has the ability to swipe left and right, but also up and down. This is very contrary to the usage habits of mobile phones/tablets. I didn’t even know it could be scrolled down (I thought the right status bar was decorative) until I found the mood light button on the last day… the logic is a bit confusing…
Summary
The ID.4 CROZZ is a practical and well-crafted electric car that Volkswagen Group hopes will sell well in the Chinese market. However, its positioning is too vague, and it faces strong competition from Tesla and domestic new energy brands. Additionally, many of its superficial features do not quite meet the tastes of local consumers in China.
In the new energy race, how much of the shine of “German” and “Volkswagen” brands remains? This is a serious question for Volkswagen’s marketing team.
But does this new era of Volkswagen still have an exciting totem?
Yes, the ID.BUZZ!
However, it is highly unlikely that it will be brought to market, since there may not be many buyers for it.
Returning the ID.4 CROZZ, I got back into my old-fashioned, noisy, bumpy, fuel-consuming, and non-intelligent petrol car, and continued to make do with it. After all, in this era, there aren’t many interesting and personalized cars.
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.