Tesla makes the most popular electric cars in the world. Folks love their long ranges, class-leading efficiency, lively performance, unmistakable looks, high-tech interiors, and slick driver-assistance systems. There are quibbles, sure, but there’s one main reason to consider another electric vehicle: price.
Take the Tesla Model Y compact crossover. While prices vary wildly as Tesla raises and lowers them, or adds and removes different variants, the Model Y currently starts at $53,990 as we write. Especially if you consider that Teslas qualify for fewer tax incentives than most electric vehicles, you can pay tens of thousands of dollars less for some other brands’ EVs. For today’s article, we’re looking at the all-new 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 — a compact all-electric crossover that’s priced from $39,995 before a $7,500 federal tax credit. We tested both the ID.4 and the Model Y so we could evaluate the VW as a wallet-friendly alternative to the Tesla. We’ll name a winner in eight categories, then share our top pick overall.