Volkswagen ID.4 Pro vs Pro S: What’s the Difference?
Drivers and auto industry experts alike have praised the Volkswagen ID.4 since its debut in the 2021 model year. This EV has been named an Editors’ Choice by Car and Driver two years in a row, won the 2022 MotorWeek Driver’s Choice Award for Best EV, and was named the 2021 World Car of the Year by the World Car Awards—a decision made by over 90 automotive journalists from around the world. You can see what all the buzz is about for yourself by getting behind the wheel of an ID.4 for a test drive here at Bud Clary Auburn Volkswagen.
Once you agree with the experts, the next step is choosing a trim level, of which there are several trims to choose from, including the basic and affordable Standard and the top-tier Pro S Plus. Most people will probably opt for a trim somewhere in the middle that offers a good balance between price and included features. So let’s zoom in and look at the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 Pro and ID.4 Pro S in depth; these trims have a lot in common, but some key differences set them apart.
Powertrains
One thing that the Pro and Pro S have in common is their powertrain options. Both trims are available with either rear-wheel or all-wheel drive. The former is more efficient, giving you an EPA-estimated fuel economy of 107 MPGe for city/highway combined driving and 275 total miles of range. All-wheel drive brings those figures down slightly, with a 99 MPGe city/highway combined rating and a range of 255 miles.
However, AWD does give you more traction, which can come in handy during rainy days, and it’s more powerful, providing up to 295 hp rather than the 201 hp that the RWD powertrain provides; it’ll even get you from zero to sixty in a blazing 5.7 seconds. AWD models also come with a trailer hitch, allowing you to make great use of the ID.4’s 2,700-lb towing capacity.
Affordability
One difference worth considering when shopping for an ID.4 is the price difference between the different trims. The ID.4 Pro has an MSRP of $43,995 for the standard RWD model and $47,795 for the AWD model.[a] The ID.4 Pro S is pricer, with an MSRP of $48,995 for the RWD model and $52,795 for its AWD version.[a] If you’re a budget-conscious shopper, that alone might make the Pro S a dealbreaker. But if you have the flexibility to upgrade, then you shouldn’t rule the Pro S out just yet; that extra money gets you a lot of extra features.
Exteriors
The Pro features LED headlights and daytime running lights that are long-lasting, highly efficient, and quite bright; however, they need to be controlled manually. With the Pro S, you’ll get an adaptive front lighting system that automatically turns your brights on and off based on the lighting conditions around you. You’ll also get brighter LED taillights that cut through fog and make you more noticeable to vehicles behind you.
It’s not just other drivers who need to see your vehicle at night; you, too, must see your car when you’re entering it in the dark. With the Pro, you get illuminated door handle recesses that make your approach more obvious, particularly when there are no street lights. However, the Pro S adds an illuminated front light line and front and rear logos. These features not only make it easy to find your EV in the dark, but they add a futuristic touch to the exterior aesthetic.
Both the Pro and Pro S come with all-season tires that are ready for troublesome weather. The Pro’s tires surround a set of 19-inch machined alloy wheels. While these look perfectly nice, they aren’t quite as eye-catching as the 20-inch wheels on the Pro S, which have a five-spoke design with two-tone alloy for greater contrast. On a more practical note, the Pro S comes standard with a hands-free remote power rear liftgate that makes it easy to access or close the cargo area, even if your hands are full, while the Pro features a manual liftgate.
Interiors
When you step inside, the first difference you’ll probably notice is the materials used for the interior. The ID.4 Pro features comfortable cloth seating surfaces with leatherette bolsters. With the Pro S, you get V-Tex leatherette seating surfaces, which look classier and are easier to wipe clean if you accidentally spill something while en route.
But the differences between the seating options are more than just surface level. The front seats are also more accessible on the Pro S, which has twelve-way power-adjustable front seats, including four-way lumbar support so that you can get your seat just right and stay comfortable on longer rides. By contrast, the front seats on the Pro are six-way adjustable and need to be adjusted manually. The Pro S also features position memory for the driver’s seat, so you can switch drivers often without having to fiddle with the seat settings each time. On top of that, the Pro S’s front seats have a massage feature, which can help mitigate fatigue on long drives.
When the weather gets cold, it’s important to keep everyone in the vehicle comfortable. Both the Pro and Pro S come standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, so you and your passengers can get your temperature just right. Both trims also feature heated front seats to keep you nice and toasty during the winter. However, only the Pro S has a heated steering wheel.
In the back, both trims have a rear bench seat that features a 60/40 split fold; this means you can fold the entire back row flat to accommodate more cargo, or you can split the difference between cargo and passengers by folding down just one or two seats. On top of that flexibility, the Pro S features extra comforts, including a center armrest with built-in cup holders for the backseat passengers and a pass-thru for easy access.
Which Trim Is Right for Me?
Looking at the basics, the ID.4 Pro and ID.4 Pro S are very similar. They have the same powertrain, and you’ll get a similar exterior aesthetic and interior layout. Both are highly efficient EVs that will give you a great ride while helping you reduce your carbon footprint.
The main difference is that the Pro S has more comfort and convenience features. These can make a big difference in some circumstances: heated seats are heavenly on a cold winter day, and a manual liftgate can be a major annoyance when your hands are full. But if you don’t have these extra features, you probably won’t miss them much in your daily driving.
It all comes down to your budget and your priorities. If you don’t have the extra money to spring for the Pro S, don’t worry: the ID.4 Pro is a wonderful EV with plenty of useful features and a comfortable interior that will keep you and your passengers happy even on longer journeys. But if you like a little extra luxury and you can afford to upgrade, then the ID.4 Pro S can help you take your driving experience to the next level.
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