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Smart #5 vs VW ID.4 (2021-2023)
Selected trimPure Performance 52kWh · 2021-23Change trim222 mi · 52 kWh · £40,275
At a glance
In this comparison, Smart #5 leads on value for money, family practicality and charging speed, while the VW ID.4 leads on motorway range, running costs and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Smart #5 if...
- you want the most for your money - best overall spec per pound
- you have a family - it has the best combination of boot space, safety, and rear legroom
- you need the fastest charging of these options
Choose the VW ID.4 (2021-2023) if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 2p per mile on off-peak electricity
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The VW ID.4 leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
ValueSmart
Smart
6.4
VW
5.2
Motorway RangeVW
Smart
2.7
VW
3.9
FamilySmart
Smart
9
VW
8.1
ChargingSmart
Smart
5
VW
2.7
Cost Per MileVW
Smart
1.6
VW
6.4
City DrivingVW
Smart
3.2
VW
6.3
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
Size Comparison
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Smart #5
VW ID.4
Length
Smart #54,695mm
VW ID.44,584mm-111mm
Width
Smart #51,920mm
VW ID.41,852mm-68mm
Height
Smart #51,705mm
VW ID.41,634mm-71mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,695 mm | 4,584 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,920 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Width with mirrors out | 2,169 mm | Not available |
| Height | 1,705 mm | 1,634 mm |
| Turning circle | Not available | 10.2 m |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 480 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
How each stacks up
Percentile ranks against UK EVs of the same body style.
Smart #5
- Boot space of 630 L is bigger than 90% of SUVs we track.
- One of 33 of 233 UK EVs in our catalogue with V2L (vehicle-to-load) support.
VW ID.4
Not enough peers to make confident percentile claims.
Full specifications
| Specification |  Smart #5 Pro |  VW ID.4 Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.70m | 4.58m-111mm |
| Width | 1.92m | 1.85m-68mm |
| Width (mirrors) | 2.17m | Not available |
| Height | 1.71m | 1.63m-71mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.90m | 2.77m-129mm |
| Ground Clearance | 190mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 630L (better) | 533L |
| Boot (seats down) | 1530L | 1575L (better) |
| Frunk | 47L | Not available |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | Not available | 10.2m |
| Kerb Weight | 2,200kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 1,600kg (better) | 1,000kg |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 76kWh (better) | 52kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 288 mi (better) | 222 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW (better) | 110kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,800 (better) | £40,275 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2025+ | 2021–2023 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Smart #5Pro | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 288 miles (better) | 222 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 202 miles (better) | 185 miles |
| 10-80% rapid charge time | 30 min | Not available |
| Max rapid charge rate | 150 kW (better) | 110 kW |
| Home AC charging | 11 kW | Not available |
| Energy consumption | 185 Wh/km | Not available |
| Usable battery capacity | 76 kWh (better) | 52 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | LFP | NMC |
| Battery architecture | 800V | Not available |
| Heat pump | Not standard | Standard (better) |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
What the critics say
See how UK motoring publications rate each car in their road tests. One car has more review coverage than the other - we show that rather than guessing.
Smart #5
Pro
VW ID.4
Pure Performance 52kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
Watch the reviews
Watch selected video reviews here, or visit each model page for the full collection.
Reviews and videos discuss each model overall; the specifications above apply to your selected trims.
Prices & deals
Calculate your real costs
For a useful running-cost comparison, factor in your mileage, charging access and current petrol or diesel car alongside the EV estimate.
Compare with petrol or diesel
Compare purchase price, energy, road tax and maintenance with a petrol or diesel alternative.
Calculate company-car tax
Work out monthly Benefit-in-Kind using current and future HMRC rates.
Cost per mile
Compare EV charging costs per mile with petrol and diesel using your charging options.
Check a lease quote
Assess the effective monthly cost alongside the list price and expected depreciation.
Safety & ownership confidence
Euro NCAP - Smart #5 Pro
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant93%
Vulnerable Road Users84%
Safety Assist92%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Euro NCAP - VW ID.4 Pure Performance 52kWh
Tested 2021
Adult Occupant93%
Child Occupant89%
Vulnerable Road Users76%
Safety Assist85%
Full result on euroncap.com (opens in new tab)
Warranty
Check the published battery warranty cover for each selected trim.
What owners say
Aggregated from UK owner forums and communities - the things you only learn after living with the car.
Shared watch-outs for both cars
Owners of every car here flag infotainment & software, real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Smart #5
Pro
Owners love
- Exceptional interior space with comfortable rear legroom, reclining seats, and 630 litres of boot space
- Outstanding acceleration (3.8 seconds 0-62mph) and impressive 800V fast charging (10-80% in 18 minutes at optimal conditions)
- Advanced infotainment with three screens, superb conversational voice control, and premium materials (Alcantara, vegan leather)
Watch out for
- High energy consumption significantly impacts real-world range compared to competitors despite 335-mile WLTP rating
- Design is polarizing and divisive; frequently compared unfavorably to the Nissan Cube with questionable styling details
- 335-mile WLTP range underwhelming for a 100kWh battery and not class-leading compared to rivals
Owner tips
- Test drive the rear-wheel drive base models which offer better steering feel, more dynamic handling, and additional frunk space compared to all-wheel drive variants
- Visit dealerships in person to confirm driver's seat comfort if over 6 feet tall and test voice assistant behavior to ensure it suits your driving style
VW ID.4
Pure Performance 52kWh
Owners love
- Owners consistently praise the comfortable ride, quiet cabin and generous rear-seat and boot space.
- Running costs on a home tariff are very low, and the 11 kW on-board charger makes home charging easy.
- Rapid charging holds a steady, consistent speed across most of a charge.
Watch out for
- Software is the most common complaint: slow or buggy infotainment, screen reboots, weak navigation and a limited, unreliable phone app on early cars.
- Scheduled and app-controlled charging is unreliable for some owners, stopping short or not starting.
- Some owners report charging faults, including the cable not engaging or releasing properly, that dealers were slow to diagnose.
Owner tips
- Check that the car has had its software updates; many early complaints were fixed by later versions.
- If scheduled charging misbehaves, set the charging times on the home charger or in the car rather than in the app.
Buying options
Get a quote
Smart #5
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Smart #5
No active listings.
VW ID.4
- £16,4512022Car360View
- £18,9872023Car360View
- £18,2942023Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Smart #5 or the VW ID.4?
The Smart #5 is £475 cheaper to buy. The VW ID.4 is cheaper to charge, roughly £160 a year versus £200 for the Smart #5, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the two land within £275 of each other - effectively the same to own. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 202 miles for the Smart #5 and 185 miles for the VW ID.4 - both below their WLTP figures, because sustained high speed is the hardest case for an EV. The Smart #5 goes roughly 17 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Smart #5 or the VW ID.4?
The VW ID.4 is the easier car for tight UK car parks: it is 68 mm narrower than the Smart #5. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.4 and about 480 mm of total clearance for the Smart #5.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Smart #5 or the VW ID.4?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 90% battery health for the Smart #5 and 87% for the VW ID.4. That gives the Smart #5 a modest edge in retained real-world range. The Smart #5's LFP-type pack tolerates daily 100% charging, while the VW ID.4's NMC-type pack lasts longest kept to about 80% for everyday use. Both batteries carry a 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Go deeper on each car
Visit the full model pages for owner feedback, expert reviews, used prices and battery-health information.
Compare against other rivals
Compare similarly sized and priced electric cars before finalising your shortlist.
More Smart #5 comparisons
More VW ID.4 comparisons
See both cars in our rankings
EVcarsguide scores every verified EV on price, range, family use and running costs. Here is where this pair appears.
Where the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Smart #5 and VW ID.4 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
Explore other verified electric cars that may better suit the priorities this pair does not meet.
Further reading
Explore buying and ownership guides to help you choose between these electric cars.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .