Though there are only two Volkswagen
electric cars—the 2022 ID.4 and the 2019 e-Golf
—available in the US today, Volkswagen has huge plans for its electric car lineup. If there’s one thing the engineers at Volkswagen are known for, it’s innovation. From the revolutionary VW Beetle to their top-secret all-electric project (dubbed “Project Trinity”), Volkswagen has proven time and time again that it’s on the cutting edge of car design.
Here to walk you through Volkswagen’s EV lineup—and give you the inside scoop on Project Trinity—is Jerry
, the car insurance
shopping super app
. We’ll check out Volkswagen’s latest electric models, see how they stack up against the competition and show you how to find the best car insurance on the market. RECOMMENDEDNo spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
Does Volkswagen have electric cars?
Yes. As of 2022, Volkswagen has two all-electric cars in circulation: the critically-acclaimed ID.4 and the e-Golf, which was discontinued in 2019. In addition to their current models, VW is hoping to launch a handful of new electric cars in the coming years—more on that later!
2022 Volkswagen ID.4
Powertrain: Single rear-mounted motor (201 hp/229 lb-ft torque) or dual-motor, all-wheel drive (295 hp/339 lb-ft torque)
Charging time: 7.5 hours at 220 volts
If you took the VW Beetle
, streamlined its design, and electrified it with an incredible powertrain, you’d have something that looks like the Volkswagen ID.4. The ID.4 doesn’t just get an astonishing 100+ MPGe in city driving—it does it in style, with an aerodynamic and hyper-modern exterior. Though the rear-wheel drive version is slightly more fuel-efficient, we think it’s well worth it to install the $3,680 dual-motor, all-wheel drive powertrain, which cranks the horsepower up to 295 and propels the ID.4 from 0 to 60 in just 5.4 seconds. Plus, for a compact EV, the ID.4 has a stouttowing capacity of 2700 pounds, which is plenty to pull a lightweight travel trailer.
On top of its five-star NHTSA safety rating
, the Volkswagen ID.4 also offers a suite of stellar safety features: Active blind spot monitor
Here’s the bottom line: the 2022 ID.4 doesn’t have the biggest range of all EVs (the Mercedes EQS and Tesla Model S
are long-range rockstars), butit’s a sleek, affordable, zippy, and reliable electric car—perfect for a solo driver or a small family. MORE: How to choose an eco-friendly car
2019 Volkswagen e-Golf
Starting price: $32,790 new, $19,500 used
Powertrain: Front-wheel drive electric motor (134 hp/214 lb-ft torque)
Charging time: 5.3 hours at 220 volts
Though the VW e-Golf was discontinued in 2019, it’s still an excellent option for city commuters who don’t have a need for speed. With a relatively low driving range of 125 miles and a sub-par 8.5 second 0-60 time, the e-Golf isn’t going to win you any drag races!
However, if you’ve got a short commute and you need to navigate impossibly tight parking spaces (we’re looking at you, NYC
and San Fran
!), the e-Golf could be a perfect fit. Its handling is nimble and responsive, and it generates an outstanding 110 MPGe in the city. It’s even compatible with both 120-volt and 240-volt charging outlets! Though both the e-Golf SE and SEL have lots of handy features, the premium SEL trim level takes it to the next level with:
A self-dimming rearview mirror
An eight-speaker sound system
At the end of the day, the e-Golf’s lackluster range will be a fatal flaw to some buyers—but if you need a low-cost EV with excellent agility, the e-Golf should grace the top of your list.
How do Volkswagen’s electric cars compare to competitors?
Now that we’ve taken a look at VW’s EVs, it’s time to ask the million-dollar question: how do they stack up against other car brands?
Part of it comes down to personal preference. If you’ve got a lead foot, you’ll prefer the lightning-fast Tesla Model S
to the Volkswagen ID.4. And, if you’re balling on a budget, the 2022 Nissan Leaf
is an awesome choice for cost-conscious buyers. If you can’t resist the temptation of that superb German engineering, though, VW might have exactly what you’re looking for. To get a better idea of how VW’s models compare to their peers, let’s zoom in on three crucial categories: range and charging time, performance, and long-term affordability.
Driving range and charging time
Two of the most important measures of an electric car’s success are range and charging time. Range tells you how far your EV can go in between power-ups and charging speed determines how convenient your car will be on a daily basis.
Volkswagen’s vehicles—especially the e-Golf—don’t rank super high when it comes to driving range. On the flip side, they have excellent charging speed!
Don’t just take our word for it, though. Here’s how VW’s cars compare to a list of their fiercest competitors:
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2022 Hyundai Kona Electric | | | |
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Performance
A long driving range is great and all—but what good is range if you can’t accelerate fast enough to merge? For an electric car to be truly impressive, it needs to have sufficient range and stout performance on the highway.
Though it’s too early to say just how reliable the ID.4 and e-Golf will be in the long run, Volkswagen is as dependable as it is well-known, and we expect that dependability to carry over to their EVs. As for power, the e-Golf is relatively sluggish for an electric car, but the dual-motor ID.4 holds its own against other top-notch electric SUVs.
Here’s how it all shakes out:
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2022 Hyundai Kona Electric | | | |
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Cost of ownership
Here’s another area where Volkswagen’s EVs lead the charge—they’re some of the most affordable electric SUVs on the streets.
At just over $40,000, the ID.4 already has a low starting price. Plus, with a $7,500 federal incentive to buy electric and several state-based electric car incentives
, you could easily see that price tag fall into the low 30s! Where the ID.4 really shines, though, is in long-term ownership costs. This is what you can expect to pay over the course of five years:
Tax credit: -$7,500 (and possibly more!)
When all’s said and done, you’ll likely pay about $34,941 over five years—significantly lower than the starting price!
Of course, if you really want a low down payment, there are a few EVs that are even cheaper
than the ID.4, including the Chevy Bolt
($32,495), Hyundai Kona
electric ($35,245), and Nissan Leaf
($28,425). MORE:Are there hidden costs of owning an electric vehicle?
How to decide if going electric is right for you
If you’re thinking about ditching gas and going electric, but you’re still on the fence, we’ve got a quick list of questions to help out with your decision. Before you decide to dive into the electric car market, ask yourself these questions:
Are there charging stations near you? Adding solar panels to your roof and using a home charging station is the best way to power up your EV, but it’s a huge help to have some go-to public charging stations.
How far is your daily commute? As long as your daily drive is fairly short, you won’t have to worry about range anxiety
, and an electric car could be a perfect fit for you. How often do you road trip? If you take monthly voyages across the country (especially through less populous states like Wyoming
and Montana
), you might have trouble finding consistent charging stations. Do you have a garage? A home charging station is super convenient—and, if you live in an apartment and park on the street, it’ll be harder to charge up your EV.
Do you need a high towing capacity? Though there are a few EVs (for example, the F-150 Lightning
or Tesla Cybertruck) with serious towing strength, hauling heavy payloads will sap your EV’s energy.
Here’s the bottom line: Volkswagen’s electric cars come with a $7,500 tax credit, a quiet and high-tech cabin, and incredible fuel efficiency. On the other hand, electric vehicles often come with higher upfront costs and the logistical problem of planning your charging stations.
Want to dip your toe into the electric universe without diving head-first? Consider a used Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
, which gets the best of both worlds: killer fuel efficiency and a 500+ mile driving range. Volkswagen’s electric future
Volkswagen enthusiasts, hang on to your hat—because Project Trinity is on the way. Project Trinity is Volkswagen’s commitment to designing a revolutionary electric sedan. As the name suggests, the project has three main goals:
Developing state-of-the-art software
Simplifying the Volkswagen supply structure
Preparing the Wolfsburg plant to produce Project Trinity cars
So, what do you have to look forward to? According to the company’s news release
, the sedan will “set new standards in terms of range, charging speed, and digitization.” As icing on the cake, the car will be capable of autonomous driving in virtually every situation. The brand-new car is set to debut in 2026—so mark your calendars, because Tesla’s fleet of EVs will soon have some serious competition!
Plan for the future with affordable Volkswagen car insurance
In recent years, few things have advanced as quickly as electric cars. Better batteries, more reliable powertrains, faster tech—it seems like there’s a new innovation every few seconds!
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