Compare the2023 Hyundai Kona Electric VS 2023 Volkswagen ID.4

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Kona Electric are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Kona Electric has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The ID.4 doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

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

The Kona Electric comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The ID.4’s 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 10,000 miles sooner.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona Electric 2 years longer than Volkswagen covers the ID.4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the ID.4 ends after only 8 years or 100,000 miles.

The Kona Electric’s 7 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the ID.4 runs out after 100,000 miles.

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona Electric for 1 year and 16000 miles longer than Volkswagen pays for maintenance for the ID.4 (3/36,000 vs. 2/20,000).

There are over 29 percent more Hyundai dealers than there are Volkswagen dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Kona Electric’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Kona Electric’s reliability 20 points higher than the ID.4.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are better in initial quality than Volkswagen vehicles. With 45 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Hyundai higher than Volkswagen.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Hyundai third in reliability, above the industry average. With 69 more problems per 100 vehicles, Volkswagen is ranked 21st.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Hyundai vehicles are more reliable than Volkswagen vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Hyundai 18 places higher in reliability than Volkswagen.

The Kona Electric’s electric motor produces 62 lbs.-ft. more torque (291 vs. 229) than the ID.4’s standard electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Hyundai Kona Electric is faster than the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motor:

	Kona Electric	ID.4
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.6 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	86 MPH
Top Speed	108 MPH	100 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Kona Electric gets better mileage than the ID.4:

			MPGe
Kona Electric
	FWD	Electric Motor	134 city/106 hwy
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy
		Pro S Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy

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

			Miles
Kona Electric
	FWD	Electric Motor	258 miles
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	209 miles
		S Electric Motor	209 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	255 miles
		Pro S Electric Motors	255 miles

The Hyundai Kona Electric has standard four-wheel disc brakes for better stopping power and improved directional control in poor weather. Only rear drums come on the ID.4. Drums can heat up and make stops longer, especially with antilock brakes that work much harder than conventional brakes.

The Kona Electric has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The ID.4’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

The Hyundai Kona Electric may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 1050 pounds less than the Volkswagen ID.4.

The Kona Electric is 1 foot, 2.9 inches shorter than the ID.4, making the Kona Electric easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Kona Electric uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The ID.4 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Kona Electric Limited is quieter than the ID.4:

	Kona Electric	ID.4
At idle	31 dB	35 dB
Full-Throttle	68 dB	68 dB
70 MPH Cruising	66 dB	68 dB

The Kona Electric has .4 inches more front legroom and 5.5 inches more rear hip room than the ID.4.

To shield the driver and front passenger’s vision over a larger portion of the windshield and side windows, the Kona Electric has standard extendable sun visors. The ID.4 doesn’t offer extendable visors.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the Kona Electric Limited keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The ID.4 doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Hyundai Kona Electric, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kona was chosen as one of Car and Driver’s “Top Five/10Best Trucks” in 2019. The ID.4 has never been a Car and Driver “Top Five/10Best Truck” pick.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Volkswagen ID.4 by over four to one during the 2022 model year.