Western News: February 01, 2024

12
Thursday February 1 2024
Incorporating
best motorbuys
www.drivesouth.co.nz
Futuristic VW ID.4 goes the extra mile
Motoring with Bob Nettleton
THE ID.4 is a milestone on
the road to full electrification
for German automotive giant
Volkswagen, clocking in as the
company’s first vehicle built on a
dedicated EV platform.
There’s plenty going for the
ID.4 in terms of space, technology,
performance, and versatility.
For our market, it’s a two model
show comprising the generously
appointed PRO $74,990
that is under scrutiny in this
road test, or the more lavishly
appointed $79,990 PRO+. Both
go the EV distance better than
most, with real world electric
ranges of 519km. The ID.4 has
the standard SUV body shape
with its sibling, the ID.5, opting
for a more sophisticated coupelike
appearance. I preferred the
clean-cut and less intricate styling
of the ID.4.
The honeymoon is over for
EVs. In a double whammy
they lost the generous clean car
rebates on January 1, and from
April 1 they must pay Road
User Charges. This is the date
the RUC exemption EV owners
enjoyed for over five years comes
to an abrupt end. From that date
owners will be charged $76 for
every 1000km they travel in their
EV – the same amount light diesel
vehicles such as Utes pay.
Getting behind the wheel of
the ID.4 is a tad surreal with
the vehicle sensing your presence
and automatically starts
when you sit in the driver’s seat
Ratings out of 10: Performance 8; Handling 8; Build
Quality 8; Comfort 7; Passenger and Load Space 8; Value
for money 7; Safety – Five Star ANCAP crash rating.
Overall points out of 10: 8
using the smart key. The test car
had heaps of heft from a beefy
77kWh battery and an electric
motor producing 150kW of
power and 310Nm of torque.
This is more than enough and
with some to spare, to shift this
decent-sized SUV with genuine
zip. It cocoons you in silence,
whether it’s a laid back aroundtown
excursion, or a lively open
road dash.
Throttle response is exhilarating
and addictive. Standing
start acceleration provided by
the electrified system makes
most conventional engines look
slouches.
A roomy and welcoming cabin
has an abundance of usable passenger
and cargo space. Instruments
and controls are designed
with meticulous Germanic
attention to detail, and are easy
to read and use. There’s a 12-inch
central touch display, multifunction
steering wheel, push button
start, heated front seats and
steering wheel, with the latter
adjustable for height and reach.
A 30-colour ambient light palette
lets you have a lot of fun around
choosing the mood of the cabin,
from bright and bouncy
to laid back and chilled.
Safety is paramount,
and the ID.4 delivers in
emphatic fashion with a
coveted 5-Star ANCAP
safety rating. This was
earned through leading
edge safety tech such as
Front Assist with Predictive
Pedestrian and
Cyclist Protection. Side
Assist with Rear Traffic
Alert warns the driver of
collisions with other vehicles,
cyclists, pedestrians and static
obstacles.
All the excellent ride and road
holding traits associated with
Volkswagen are embodied in
the ID.4. The suspension sees
Macpherson struts fitted at the
front and a multi link set-up at
the rear. Both work their magic
to deliver an immensely satisfying
drive, right out of the top
draw. Rear-wheel drive offers
effective traction over most road
surfaces from the good, the bad,
and the down right hideous.
The high-voltage battery fits
snugly into the floor of the ID.4
between the axles, with its low
centre of gravity giving the
vehicle exceptional agility and
balance during brisk cornering.
With its solid and compact European
feel the test vehicle had
a genuine and desirable point of
difference over many of its peers.
This is decidedly advantageous
in one of the fastest growing and
most competitive segments of
our new car market.
The test vehicle was subjected
to an unrelenting assortment of
bruising bumps and potholes,
on a couple of lengthy drives
on rural roads that didn’t show
a shred of country hospitality. I
emerged from this experience
with a deeper respect of the ride
comfort and handling talents of
this outstanding EV.
Finance
available
(conditions apply)
CARS WANTED
– CASH PAID
We buy small
Japanese vehicles
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4 IN STOCK
REDUCED
2011 maZda aXELa
$7,995
1500cc, auto, 184,500kms.
2010 miTsUbishi RvR
$10,995
1800cc, auto, 2WD, 128,000kms.
2012 NissaN Tiida 5/haTch
$6,995
1.5 auto, new WOF, 127,000kms.
1997 TOyOTa Rav 4 L 3 dOOR
$4,995
2.0L, auto, two wheel drive, 242,000kms.
2014 TOyOTa cOROLLa GX haTch 1.8
was $11,995 NOw $10,995
Auto, NZ new 176,000kms.
2 AvAIlAblE
2012 NissaN Tiida LaTiO 4 dOOR
$5,995
1.5 auto, 131,000kms, new WOF, drives well.
2009 sUZUKi sX4
$8,995
5Dr Hatch, 2.0L auto, NZ new, 114,000kms.
2015 TOyOTa cOROLLa GX haTch
$12,995
1600cc, 147,000kms, rev.camera, NZ new.
2012 NissaN Tiida 5/haTch
$6,995
1.5 auto, 111,000kms.
2007 sUZUKi swiFT 5/haTch
$6,995
1240cc, 87000kms, auto, just arrived.
SOlD
REDUCED
2008 TOyOTa viTZ R/s 5/haTch 1300
$7,995
Auto, 73,000kms, arriving.
2015 TOyOTa yaRis 5/haTch
was $13,995 NOw $12,495
1.3L, auto, NZ new, low 56,000kms.
2012 hyUNdai i30 s/w
$8,995
NZ new, 1600cc, auto, 133,000kms, alloys.
2012 hyUNdai i30 5/haTch
$7,995
1.6L, auto, 173,000kms, alloys.
2002 sUZUKi aERiO 1.5
$3,995
Auto, 197,000kms
- 281 Ferry Road - 03 389 1121 - dougdrake@xtra.co.nz www.dougdrake.co.nz