Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Toyota Rav4 Prime

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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Rav4 Prime 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 Rav4 Prime’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’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ID.4 and the Rav4 Prime 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, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

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 Rav4 Prime:

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 Rav4 Prime is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2023.

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Rav4 Prime’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 Toyota covers the Rav4 Prime. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Rav4 Prime ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Rav4 Prime’s (7 vs. 5 years).

As tested in Consumer Reports the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors is faster than the Toyota Rav4 Prime:

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Rav4 Prime running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Rav4 Prime running its gasoline engine:

The ID.4 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 209 to 275 miles. The Rav4 Prime has to start its internal combustion engine after only 42 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen ID.4 higher (10 out of 10) than the Toyota Rav4 Prime (7). This means the ID.4 produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Rav4 Prime every 15,000 miles.

For better stopping power the ID.4’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Rav4 Prime:

The ID.4 stops shorter than the Rav4 Prime:

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Rav4 Prime (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 225/60R18).

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 Rav4 Prime SE’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 Rav4 Prime XSE’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Rav4 Prime SE. The ID.4 S’ 20-inch wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels on the Rav4 Prime XSE.

The ID.4 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than on the Rav4 Prime (108.7 inches vs. 105.9 inches).

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the Rav4 Prime’s (56% to 44%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the Rav4 Prime XSE pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 4.6 feet tighter than the Rav4 Prime SE’s (31.5 feet vs. 36.1 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 1 feet tighter than the Rav4 Prime XSE’s (36.42 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

The ID.4 has 2.9 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom and .1 inches more front hip room than the Rav4 Prime.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Rav4 Prime is limited to 2500 pounds. The ID.4 AWD offers up to a 2700 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

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 Rav4 Prime’s power window (except driver window), power lock and power mirror 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 Rav4 Prime’s standard 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Rav4 Prime’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Rav4 Prime.

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. Only the Rav4 Prime XSE offers wireless 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 Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

The ID.4 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Rav4 Prime doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.