Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Nissan Leaf

Safety
Warranty
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Leaf doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Leaf have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ID.4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Leaf’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The ID.4 has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Leaf doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The ID.4 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Leaf doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

Both the ID.4 and the Leaf have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 417 to 1368 pounds more than the Nissan Leaf. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

	ID.4	Leaf
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	169	216
Neck Injury Risk	18%	26%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	250 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	11 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	393/348 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	118	270
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	150 lbs.	233 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	5/20 lbs.	209/461 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Nissan Leaf:

	ID.4	Leaf
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	76	131
Chest Movement	.8 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	137 lbs.
Hip Force	356 lbs.	377 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	257
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	887 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	13 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Leaf:

	ID.4	Leaf
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	41	211
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.14 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	245 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.1 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	357 lbs.	1093 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	1.54 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.38 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	6 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	937 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Leaf has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Leaf’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 3 years and 40,000 miles longer than Nissan covers the Leaf. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Leaf ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Leaf’s (7 vs. 5 years).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Leaf.

Engine

The ID.4’s standard electric motor produces 54 more horsepower (201 vs. 147) than the Leaf’s standard electric motor. The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 81 more horsepower (295 vs. 214) and 89 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 250) than the Leaf PLUS’ standard electric motor.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motor is faster than the Nissan Leaf 0.0:

	ID.4	Leaf
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	7.5 sec

As tested in Consumer Reports the Volkswagen ID.4 (295 HP engine) is faster than the Leaf PLUS:

	ID.4	Leaf
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	3.2 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.1 sec	3.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Leaf on a full charge:

			Miles
ID.4
	RWD	Electric Motor	275 miles
		S Electric Motor	275 miles
		Standard Electric Motor	209 miles
		S Electric Motor	209 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	255 miles
		Pro S Electric Motors	255 miles
Leaf
	FWD	SV PLUS Electric Motor	212 miles
		Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Leaf:

	ID.4	Leaf
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	11.1 inches

The ID.4 stops shorter than the Leaf:

	ID.4	Leaf
60 to 0 MPH	134 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Leaf (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 205/55R16). The ID.4’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Leaf (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 215/50R17).

The ID.4’s standard 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Leaf S’ standard 55 series tires. The ID.4 S’ 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Leaf SV PLUS’ 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the Leaf S. The ID.4 S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 17-inch wheels on the Leaf SV PLUS.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen ID.4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Nissan Leaf has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4 AWD’s wheelbase is 2.4 inches longer than on the Leaf (108.7 inches vs. 106.3 inches). The ID.4’s wheelbase is 2.6 inches longer than on the Leaf (108.9 inches vs. 106.3 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ID.4 is 2 inches wider in the front and .5 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Leaf.

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the Leaf’s (57.3% to 42.7%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the Leaf pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Leaf S’ (31.5 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has 7.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Leaf (99.9 vs. 92.4).

The ID.4 has 2.7 inches more front hip room, 3.2 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 4.1 inches more rear legroom and 3.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Leaf.

Cargo Capacity

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus’ power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Leaf doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The Leaf has no towing capacity.

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Leaf doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Leaf doesn’t offer a memory system.

The ID.4 Pro S’ standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Leaf doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ID.4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Leaf’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the ID.4 and the Leaf have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the ID.4 is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Leaf prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The ID.4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Leaf’s passenger windows don’t open or close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the ID.4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Leaf can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ID.4’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The Leaf’s power window (except driver window) and power lock switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The ID.4’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Leaf’s intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Leaf doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The ID.4’s LED headlights produce a whiter, brighter light (up to 3x) using five times less power than the Leaf S’ standard halogen headlights. LED lights also light instantly and last over twenty times longer than halogen.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/Pro S has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Leaf doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/Pro S also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The ID.4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Leaf SV PLUS.

When the ID.4 Pro S Plus is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Leaf’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ID.4 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Leaf SV PLUS. The ID.4 Pro S Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has a standard center folding armrest for the rear passengers. A center armrest helps make rear passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Leaf doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Leaf.

The ID.4’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Leaf doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the ID.4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The Leaf doesn’t offer rear vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The Leaf doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The ID.4’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Leaf doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

The Volkswagen ID.4 outsold the Nissan Leaf by 71% during 2022.

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