Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2024 Fiat 500e

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

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 500e doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Fiat 500e doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

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 500e 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.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ID.4 has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The 500e doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ID.4 Pro has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The 500e doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 500e 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.

Both the ID.4 and the 500e have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and driver alert monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 1365 to 1925 pounds more than the Fiat 500e. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts. Crosswinds also affect lighter cars more.

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 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The 500e has not been tested, yet.

Warranty

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 4 years and 50,000 miles longer than Fiat covers the 500e. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the 500e ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the 500e’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 tire rotations, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Fiat doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the 500e.

There are over 78 percent more Volkswagen dealers than there are Fiat dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

Engine

The ID.4’s standard electric motor produces 83 more horsepower (201 vs. 118) and 67 lbs.-ft. more torque (229 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The ID.4 Pro’s standard electric motor produces 164 more horsepower (282 vs. 118) and 240 lbs.-ft. more torque (402 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor. The ID.4 Pro’s optional electric motors produces 217 more horsepower (335 vs. 118) and 339 lbs.-ft. more torque (501 vs. 162) than the 500e’s electric motor.

Fuel Economy and Range

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the 500e on a full charge:

			Miles
ID.4
	RWD	Pro Electric Motor	291 miles
		Standard Electric Motor	206 miles
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	263 miles
500e
	FWD	Electric Motor	149 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s brake rotors and drums are larger than those on the 500e:

	ID.4	500e
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	11.06 inches
Rear Drums	11 inches	7.99 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger standard tires than the 500e (235/55R19 vs. 205/45R17). The ID.4 S’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the 500e (F:235/50R20 & R:255/45R20 vs. 205/45R17).

The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 255/40R21 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the 500e’s 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the 500e. The ID.4 Pro S Plus has standard 21-inch wheels.

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 Fiat 500e has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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 500e doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4 AWD’s wheelbase is 17.4 inches longer than on the 500e (108.8 inches vs. 91.4 inches). The ID.4’s wheelbase is 17.5 inches longer than on the 500e (108.9 inches vs. 91.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ID.4 is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 3.9 inches wider in the rear than the track on the 500e.

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the 500e’s (58.9% to 41.1%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

Chassis

The design of the Volkswagen ID.4 amounts to more than styling. The ID.4 has an aerodynamic coefficient of drag of .28 Cd. That is significantly lower than the 500e (.324) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the ID.4 get better fuel mileage.

The front grille of the ID.4 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The 500e doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has standard seating for 5 passengers; the 500e can only carry 4.

The ID.4 has 6.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the 500e (99.9 vs. 93.7).

The ID.4 has 1.3 inches more front headroom, 4.6 inches more front hip room, 6.4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear headroom, 8.1 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room and 8.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the 500e.

Cargo Capacity

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 500e doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its trunk, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The 500e has no towing capacity.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the ID.4 S/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 500e doesn’t offer a memory system.

The ID.4 S/S Plus’ 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 500e doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ID.4’s standard power windows have a locking feature to keep children in the rear seat from operating them, but the driver can still raise and lower all of them with the lock engaged. Fiat does not offer a locking feature on the 500e’s standard power windows.

The ID.4’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The 500e’s power windows’ switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

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 500e doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/S Plus has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The 500e doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/S Plus also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

The ID.4 has standard heated front and second row seats (second row heated seats on Pro S Plus) extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the 500e.

Standard air-conditioned seats in the ID.4 Pro S/Pro S Plus keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The 500e doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the ID.4 S/Plus’ standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The 500e doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The ID.4 S/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 500e doesn’t offer a rear seat center armrest.

The ID.4 S/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 500e.

For greater rear passenger comfort, the ID.4 has standard rear a/c vents to keep rear occupants more comfortable. The 500e doesn’t offer rear vents.

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 500e doesn’t offer an automated parking system.