Compare the2024 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Tesla Model Y

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
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 Model Y doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

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 Model Y 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 Model Y 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ID.4’s standard Rear Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engage the brakes. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

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 Model Y doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The ID.4 has standard Car-Net, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Model Y doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the ID.4 and the Model Y 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, blind spot warning systems and rearview cameras.

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 Tesla Model Y:

	ID.4	Model Y
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	25%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	210 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	68 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	298/427 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 Tesla Model Y:

	ID.4	Model Y
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	145 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	358
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	567 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	7 inches

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

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. Tesla doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Model Y.

There are over 4 times as many Volkswagen dealers as there are Tesla dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the ID.4’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are better in initial quality than Tesla vehicles. With 8 fewer problems per 100 vehicles, JD Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Tesla.

Engine

The ID.4 Pro’s optional electric motors produces 14 lbs.-ft. more torque (501 vs. 487) than the Model Y Performance’s optional electric motors.

Suspension and Handling

The ID.4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the ID.4 flat and controlled during cornering. The Model Y’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 8.3 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (31.5 feet vs. 39.8 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the Model Y’s (36.42 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the ID.4 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Model Y (6.8 vs. 6.6 inches), allowing the ID.4 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The ID.4 is 6.5 inches shorter than the Model Y, making the ID.4 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the ID.4 is quieter than the Model Y Long Range (68 vs. 73 dB).

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has .6 inches more front hip room, 1.1 inches more front shoulder room and 1.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Model Y.

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume than the Model Y with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 16.9 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 Model Y doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

Towing

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 Model Y doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

A Service Interval Display is standard on the ID.4 to save the owner time and money by calculating maintenance intervals for vehicle inspections, vehicle inspection based on odometer mileage. This takes the guesswork out of keeping your vehicle in top condition and helps it last longer. Tesla doesn’t offer a maintenance reminder on the Model Y.

Ergonomics

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 Model Y doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the ID.4 has a standard rear wiper. The Model Y doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Consumer Reports rated the ID.4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Model Y’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 Model Y 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’s standard side window demisters help clear frost or condensation from the side windows in the winter. The Model Y doesn’t even offer side window demisters, so the driver may have to wipe the windows from the outside to gain side vision.

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 Model Y 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 Model Y.

Model Availability

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