Interested in an EV with a practical side? The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 have plenty of passenger space and roomy cargo holds. They’re also relaxing to drive, and because they’re entirely electric, they’re eerily quiet in all driving situations.
During many miles of road tests, we’ve come to appreciate things like the Ford’s intuitive infotainment system and steering agility, along with the VW’s smooth ride and excellent outward visibility. Does one of these EVs hold a clear advantage over the other?
Let’s compare the highlights of the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 to find out.
2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E
Starting at $41,890, including the factory-to-dealer delivery charge, the Ford Mustang Mach-E comes in four trims: Select, Premium, GT, and Rally. The Select and Premium models are rear-wheel drive (RWD), with all-wheel drive optional. The GT and Rally have dual electric motors and AWD as standard.
Ford Mustang Mach-E Highlights
Premium model: Care to have the Mach-E with the longest legs? The RWD Premium model fitted with the 91-kilowatt-hour extended range battery pack delivers an EPA-tested 320 miles of range. That bests the ID.4, not to mention many other similarly sized and similarly priced electric SUVs.
Mach-E Rally model: Have you dreamed of owning both a rally car and an EV? Allow us to present the Ford Mustang Mach-E Rally. The Rally edition, introduced for the 2024 model year, has a suspension raised 0.8 inches and comes with underbody skid plates, beefy all-terrain tires, a sizable rear spoiler, and 19-inch alloy wheels. Pricing for the Rally begins at $61,890.
User-friendly infotainment: During road tests, we found the vertical 15.5-inch infotainment touchscreen attractive and straightforward to use. Because of its sheer scale, the icons and various are large and easy to navigate while driving. Even better, it has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless device charging, satellite radio, four USB ports, and navigation.
Drainable front trunk: We love this clever feature in the Ford Mustang Mach-E. The 4.7 front trunk (“frunk”) has removable drainage plugs. Toss some ice inside, load in your favorite drinks, and you have a Mustang-badged tailgating champion.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Mustang Mach-E models near you.
2024 Volkswagen ID.4
The Volkswagen ID.4 starts at $41,160, including the destination fee. Now entering its fourth model year, the big news with the 2024 ID.4 is a boost in range and performance provided by the larger of two available battery packs. For example, an RWD ID.4 with this 82-kWh battery sees its horsepower go from a ho-hum 201 hp upward to 282 hp. Also new this model year is a 12.9-inch touchscreen placed in upper trims.
Volkswagen ID.4 Highlights
IQ.Drive: Fitted to every ID.4, this bundle of driver aids includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and more. The ID.4 has earned a “5-Star” rating from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). It also scored the highest rating of Top Safety Pick+ from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Improving range: More driving range is always a good thing. We like that the ID.4 now boasts a maximum of 291 miles for every charge. The upgraded extended-range battery is a notable improvement in this 5-seat electric SUV.
Cargo volume: Open the rear tailgate, and you’ll find 30.3 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the rear split-folding seatback. Fold the second row, and this area expands to more than 64 cubic feet. That’s great for a small SUV — though one caveat is that the VW lacks the handy “frunk” found in the Ford.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the ID.4 models near you.
Similarities
The Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 are both accommodating for routine driving needs, not to mention zippy and fun to drive when you’re less encumbered by various adulting demands. They also have similar warranties, cargo bays almost identical in size, and plenty of headroom and legroom in each row.
Conclusion
We wouldn’t dissuade an EV shopper from taking both the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Volkswagen ID.4 for test drives. They’re very evenly matched in several ways. So, we’ve touched upon some highlights of each. Now, what are some things we think need improvement?
Well, the Mustang Mach-E’s DC fast charging times aren’t as quick as some rivals. And let’s not overlook that the base ID.4 has only 206 miles of range.
Are these deal-breakers? We don’t think so. But when the dust settles, the Ford Mustang Mach-E will rank higher in our Best Electric Vehicles of 2024.
| 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E | 2024 Volkswagen ID.4 | |
| Starting Price | $41,890 | $41,160 |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | Single electric motor | Single electric motor |
| Horsepower | 266 hp | 201 hp |
| Torque | 317 lb-ft | 229 lb-ft |
| Transmission | Single-speed automatic | Single-speed automatic |
| Range | 250-320 miles of range/103 MPGe | 206-291 miles of range/113 MPGe |
| Also Available | Dual electric motors, extended range battery pack, AWD | Dual electric motors, extended range battery pack, AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | N/A | 5-Star |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 117.5 inches | 108.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 186.0 inches | 180.5 inches |
| Width | 74.1 inches | 72.9 inches |
| Height | 64.0 inches | 64.5 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 38.1 feet | 31.5 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 38.9 inches | 40.6 inches |
| Headroom, Rear | 38.2 inches | 37.9 inch |
| Legroom, Front | 43.3 inches | 41.1 inches |
| Legroom, Rear | 38.1 inches | 37.6 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 57.6 inches | 57.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Rear | 55.9 inches | 55.9 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 29.7 cubic feet | 30.3 cubic feet |
