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Toyota bZ4X vs VW ID.4 (2021-2023)
Selected trimIcon FWD 57.7kWhChange trim276 mi · 57.7 kWh · £39,995
Selected trimPure Performance 52kWh · 2021-23Change trim222 mi · 52 kWh · £40,275
At a glance
In this comparison, Toyota bZ4X leads on motorway range, charging speed and running costs, while the VW ID.4 leads on family practicality and city driving.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Toyota bZ4X if...
- you do long motorway journeys - it has the best estimated real-world range at speed
- you need the fastest charging of these options
- you want the lowest running costs - from just 1.8p per mile on off-peak electricity
Choose the VW ID.4 (2021-2023) if...
- you need the most family-friendly option with good safety and space
- you drive in the city - it's compact with an excellent turning circle
How we reached the recommendation
Verdict
Our take
The Toyota bZ4X leads in the most categories, but each car here has its strengths.
Value
Toyota
5.5
VW
5.2
Too close to call
Motorway RangeToyota
Toyota
4.9
VW
3.9
FamilyVW
Toyota
6.9
VW
8.1
ChargingToyota
Toyota
4.4
VW
2.7
Cost Per MileToyota
Toyota
8.8
VW
6.4
City DrivingVW
Toyota
4.2
VW
6.3
What each car does better
See the specification differences behind the verdict, with supporting figures for each advantage.
VW ID.4
Pure Performance 52kWh
- 81 litres more boot space
- 1.0 m tighter turning circle
- 250 kg more towing capacity
Key specifications
Compare the key specifications for your selected trims.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £39,995 (better) | £40,275 |
| Official range | 276 miles (better) | 222 miles |
| Boot space | 452 L | 533 L (better) |
| 10-80% rapid charge | 30 min | Not available |
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec (better) | 9 sec |
Size Comparison
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Toyota bZ4X
VW ID.4
Length
Toyota bZ4X4,690mm
VW ID.44,584mm-106mm
Width
Toyota bZ4X1,860mm
VW ID.41,852mm-8mm
Height
Toyota bZ4X1,650mm
VW ID.41,634mm-16mm
Space, size & parking
Parking & manoeuvring
Compare exterior dimensions to assess how each car fits UK parking spaces.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 4,690 mm | 4,584 mm |
| Width (mirrors folded) | 1,860 mm | 1,852 mm (better) |
| Height | 1,650 mm | 1,634 mm |
| Turning circle | 11.2 m | 10.2 m (better) |
| Clearance in a standard bayA standard UK parking bay is 2,400 mm wide. | 540 mm spare | 548 mm spare (better) |
People & luggage
Compare seating, child-seat mounting points, boot space and towing capacity.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot space (seats up) | 452 L | 533 L (better) |
| Boot space (seats down) | Not available | 1575 L |
| Towing capacity (braked) | 750 kg | 1,000 kg (better) |
Full specifications
| Specification |  Toyota bZ4X Icon FWD 57.7kWh |  VW ID.4 Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4.69m | 4.58m-106mm |
| Width | 1.86m | 1.85m-8mm |
| Height | 1.65m | 1.63m-16mm |
| Wheelbase | 2.85m | 2.77m-79mm |
| Ground Clearance | 177mm | Not available |
| Capacity | ||
| Boot (seats up) | 452L | 533L (better) |
| Boot (seats down) | Not available | 1575L |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Practicality | ||
| Turning Circle | 11.2m | 10.2m (better) |
| Kerb Weight | 1,870kg | Not available |
| Towing Capacity | 750kg | 1,000kg (better) |
| Electric | ||
| Battery | 57.7kWh (better) | 52kWh |
| Range (WLTP) | 276 mi (better) | 222 mi |
| Max DC Charge | 150kW (better) | 110kW |
| Pricing | ||
| UK MSRP | £39,995 (better) | £40,275 |
| Details | ||
| Body Style | SUV | SUV |
| Available | 2026+ | 2021–2023 |
Range & charging
Range, charging & battery
Check official and estimated driving range alongside charging speeds, efficiency and battery technology.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Official range (WLTP) | 276 miles (better) | 222 miles |
| Estimated motorway rangeEVcarsguide estimate at sustained motorway speed. | 230 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 |
| Usable battery capacity | 54 kWh (better) | 52 kWh |
| Battery chemistry | NMC | NMC |
| Heat pump | Not available | Standard |
Driving & everyday use
Performance & drivetrain
Compare acceleration, power and drivetrain specifications for the selected trims.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 0-62 mph | 8.6 sec (better) | 9 sec |
| Power | 125 kW | 125 kW |
| Torque | 269 Nm | Not available |
| Drivetrain | FWD | RWD |
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.
Toyota bZ4X
Icon FWD 57.7kWh
VW ID.4
Pure Performance 52kWh
No critic reviews gathered yet for this car.
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 - Toyota bZ4X Icon FWD 57.7kWh
Tested 2025
Adult Occupant88%
Child Occupant85%
Vulnerable Road Users80%
Safety Assist79%
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.
| Measure | Toyota bZ4XIcon FWD 57.7kWh | VW ID.4Pure Performance 52kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Battery warranty | 8 years | 8 years |
| Battery warranty distance | 160,934 km | 160,934 km |
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 real-world range. Worth checking on a test drive whichever you choose.
Toyota bZ4X
Icon FWD 57.7kWh
Owners love
- Strong sales performance in key markets (second-best selling EV in UK early 2024, #1 in Norway and Denmark) with excellent lease appeal
- Spacious, comfortable interior with excellent rear legroom and well-designed cabin features like storage and entertainment systems
- Responsive driving dynamics with good handling that belies its weight, plus car-like agility for an SUV
Watch out for
- Real-world range significantly underperforms WLTP claims (150-230 miles on motorways versus 315+ claimed; drops further with air conditioning)
- Poor efficiency compared to competitors; atrocious efficiency-to-battery-size ratio relative to rivals like Ioniq 5 and Model Y
- Rapid charging severely limited by thermal management issues requiring only 3-4 DC charges per 24 hours, and performance degrades significantly in cold weather
Owner tips
- Look for aggressive lease deals and consider salary sacrifice schemes, which offer better value than outright purchase; aim for 24-month terms where pricing appears cheaper
- Install a home charging unit (like Easee One) and plan charging around home charger for daily use; limit long trips to 3-4 rapid charges per 24 hours with proper spacing
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
Toyota bZ4X
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
VW ID.4
Used on AutoTraderLease deals
Live used listings
Active inventory from independent UK dealers.
Toyota bZ4X
No active listings.
VW ID.4
- £16,4512022Car360View
- £18,9872023Car360View
- £18,2942023Car360View
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper to own over 5 years, the Toyota bZ4X or the VW ID.4?
The Toyota bZ4X is £280 cheaper to buy. Running costs are almost identical - about £144 a year either way, at 8,000 miles on an off-peak home tariff. Add 5 years of charging and the Toyota bZ4X comes out roughly £360 cheaper overall. These figures cover list price and home charging only - insurance, servicing, tyres and depreciation will move the real total.
What are the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 like on a long motorway trip?
EVcarsguide estimates a real-world motorway range of about 230 miles for the Toyota bZ4X 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 Toyota bZ4X goes roughly 45 miles further between charging stops.
Which is easier to park and drive in town, the Toyota bZ4X or the VW ID.4?
The two are within 8 mm on width, so neither is meaningfully easier to thread into a tight space. In a standard 2,400 mm bay that leaves about 548 mm of total clearance for the VW ID.4 and about 540 mm of total clearance for the Toyota bZ4X. The VW ID.4 also turns in a 1.0 m tighter circle, which helps with U-turns and multi-storey ramps.
Which battery will hold up better as a used buy, the Toyota bZ4X or the VW ID.4?
Over a 8-year ownership window EVcarsguide's degradation model projects roughly 84% battery health for the Toyota bZ4X and 87% for the VW ID.4. That gives the VW ID.4 a modest edge in retained real-world range. Both use NMC-type cells, so for daily use keep the charge limit near 80% to slow degradation. 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.
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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 Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among the best family EVsWhere the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among the best electric SUVsWhere the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among the best motorway EVsWhere the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among the best city EVsWhere the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among the cheapest EVs to runWhere the Toyota bZ4X and VW ID.4 rank among EVs with the biggest boots
If neither is quite right
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Further reading
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GuideBuying a Used Toyota bZ4X (2022 on): Which Version, Recalls, the 10-Year Warranty & What to Pay
A used Toyota bZ4X buyer’s guide: the 2022-2025 car vs the 2026 update, FWD vs AWD, 6.6 or 11 kW charging, recalls, Toyota’s service-activated warranty, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay and a printable checklist.
GuideBuying a Used VW ID.4 (2021 on): Pure, Pro or GTX, the Recall, Range & What to Check
A used VW ID.4 buyer’s guide: 52, 58, 77 or 79 kWh and the 204PS vs 286PS motors explained, the seat-bolt recall, warranty left, real-world range, what owners report, what to pay, used vs new, and a printable checklist.
Data accuracy
Specs are sourced from manufacturer websites and manually reviewed. These figures were last verified .