Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Ford Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

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 Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and the Mustang Mach-E have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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, driver alert monitors 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 Mustang Mach-E:

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 Mustang Mach-E was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2019 but no longer qualifies.

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

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Mustang Mach-E’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. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Mustang Mach-E.

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Mustang Mach-E:

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Mustang Mach-E on a full charge:

The ID.4 has a standard locking charge port which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The Mustang Mach-E doesn’t have a locking charge port. A locking charge port prevents tampering and damage.

The ID.4 stops shorter than the Mustang Mach-E:

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger standard tires than the Mustang Mach-E (235/55R19 vs. 225/60R18).

The ID.4 Standard’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Mustang Mach-E’s standard 60 series tires. The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 255/40R21 rear tires have a lower 40 series profile than the Mustang Mach-E GT’s 45 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 Mustang Mach-E. The ID.4 Pro S Plus’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Mustang Mach-E GT.

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the Mustang Mach-E 4 pulls only .82 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 Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 6.6 feet tighter than the Mustang Mach-E’s (31.5 feet vs. 38.1 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Mustang Mach-E’s (36.42 feet vs. 38.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the ID.4 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Mustang Mach-E (6.8 vs. 5.8 inches), allowing the ID.4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The ID.4 is 5.1 inches shorter than the Mustang Mach-E, making the ID.4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the ID.4 is quieter than the Mustang Mach-E Select 4 (35 vs. 38 dB).

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The Mustang Mach-E 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 Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

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 Mustang Mach-E 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 Mustang Mach-E 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.

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 Mustang Mach-E’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ID.4 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats are only available on the Mustang Mach-E Premium/CA RT 1/GT. 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 Mustang Mach-E.

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 Mustang Mach-E doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

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 Mustang Mach-E.