Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Subaru Forester

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Model Availability

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 Forester doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Forester 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 Forester’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 Forester 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 Pro S Plus has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Forester only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The ID.4 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Forester’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ID.4 has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Subaru charges extra for rear cross-path warning on the Forester and its not available on the Base.

Both the ID.4 and the Forester 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, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems and rearview cameras.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 697 to 1423 pounds more than the Subaru Forester. 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 Subaru Forester:

	ID.4	Forester
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	169	186
Neck Injury Risk	18%	23%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	326 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	22 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	248/368 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 Subaru Forester:

	ID.4	Forester
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	356 lbs.	389 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	246
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	56 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	670 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	16 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 Forester:

	ID.4	Forester
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	41	107
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	223 lbs.
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	201 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	1.5 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	357 lbs.	1071 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	243	544
Head Peak Forces	no contact	81 G’s
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	2.2 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	469 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.26 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	8 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	625 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	MARGINAL

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the ID.4 is 6% to 6.6% less likely to roll over than the Forester.

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 Forester is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

Warranty

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Forester’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 Subaru covers the Forester. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Forester ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Forester’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. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Forester.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Subaru.

Engine

The ID.4’s standard electric motor produces 19 more horsepower (201 vs. 182) and 53 lbs.-ft. more torque (229 vs. 176) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder. The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 113 more horsepower (295 vs. 182) and 163 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 176) than the Forester’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Volkswagen ID.4 is faster than the Subaru Forester:

	ID.4 electric motor	ID.4 electric motors	Forester
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	n/a	3.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	5.4 sec	9.6 sec
Zero to 80 MPH	13 sec	n/a	15.5 sec
Passing 45 to 65 MPH	3.9 sec	n/a	4.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	14.1 sec	17.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87.2 MPH	99 MPH	82.3 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPGe
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
Forester
			MPG
	AWD	2.5 DOHC flat-4	26 city/33 hwy
		Wilderness 2.5 DOHC flat-4	25 city/28 hwy

The ID.4 can travel with zero emissions for 209 to 275 miles (dependent on model). The Forester can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the ID.4’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Forester doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen ID.4 higher (10 out of 10) than the Subaru Forester (7). This means the ID.4 produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Forester every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	ID.4	Forester Base	Forester
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	11.6 inches	12.4 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Forester (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 225/60R17).

The ID.4’s standard 235/55R19 front and 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series front and 50 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Forester’s standard 60 series tires. The ID.4 S’ 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile than the Forester Sport/Limited/Touring’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Forester. The ID.4 S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 18-inch wheels on the Forester Sport/Limited/Touring.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4’s wheelbase is 3.6 inches longer than on the Forester (108.7 inches vs. 105.1 inches).

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the Forester’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 Forester Wilderness pulls only .77 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The ID.4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Forester Touring (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.1 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Forester’s (31.5 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Chassis

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

	ID.4	Forester
At idle	35 dB	41 dB
Full-Throttle	68 dB	74 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	69 dB

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume than the Forester with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 28.9 cubic feet).

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ID.4’s liftgate can be opened and closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Forester doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Forester’s (2200 vs. 1500 pounds).

Ergonomics

The power windows standard on both the ID.4 and the Forester 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 Forester 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 Forester’s standard passenger windows don’t open or close automatically. With the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring’s power windows, only the front windows 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 Forester can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 Forester’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Forester doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The ID.4’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Subaru only offers heated mirrors on the Forester Premium/Sport/Wilderness/Limited/Touring.

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 Forester.

The ID.4 has a 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. Dual zone air conditioning is only available on the Forester Wilderness/Limited/Touring.

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 Forester 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 Forester doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The ID.4 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Forester doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.