Reasonably Priced 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 Is a Serious Competitor

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Many consumers have shied away from electric vehicles because of the price. It wasn’t that long ago that the best EV was the Tesla Model X, but it was too expensive and eccentric for most American car shoppers. Though many new EVs continue to carry hefty price tags, some automakers are developing affordable models with mass-market appeal. That includes the Volkswagen ID.4.

The Volkswagen ID.4 is priced to compete

The Volkswagen ID.4 isn’t the German automaker’s first all-electric SUV sold stateside, nor is it VW’s first EV. Remember the e-Golf? But there’s a key difference between the ID.4 and the e-Golf. VW converted the hatchback into an EV, but the carmaker created the ID.4 from scratch as a battery-powered electric SUV.

It’s attractively priced at $39,995 and made the U.S. News list of the cheapest electric SUVs. So, what do you get for that price?

First, you get an impressive 250 miles of electric range with a fully charged battery. Its standard configuration is rear-wheel drive, but you can opt for all-wheel drive. The ID.4  absorbs the road’s blows well and has enough torque to let you easily navigate traffic and accelerate.

It also offers a high-end interior with comfortable seats, plenty of space for adults in both rows, and generous cargo capacity. However, its infotainment system isn’t the most intuitive. If that’s not a dealbreaker for you, the 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 offers great performance and value.

More about the Volkswagen ID.4’s performance

Having debuted in 2021, the Volkswagen ID.4 is a new vehicle. It sees substantial updates for its 2022 model year, which will be available in all 50 states. To be more accessible to consumers, this compact SUV is rumored to have a new base trim. Thanks to a move in production to Chattanooga, Tennessee, VW can offer the new base model and drop the price, MotorTrend reports.

Volkswagen hopes its strategic moves will attract new buyers as the automaker branches out into the affordable EUV arena, along with the Nissan Ariya and Chevy Bolt. The ID.4 is also competing against the Ford Mustang Mach-E and Tesla Model Y.

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 will debut a more potent AWD configuration getting an impressive 302 hp. The base models with RWD will produce 201 hp.

As for charging times: It will take around 12 hours to charge this EUV fully using a 240-volt outlet. If you use a fast DC charger, you can get to 80 percent from rock bottom in about 40 minutes. An eight-year/100,000-mile warranty will cover the battery. 

It’s also loaded with features

The 2022 Volkswagen ID.4 offers an elegant, aerodynamic exterior design using chrome accents and wave relief elements as styling cues. But its interior, with a minimalist presentation and abundant active safety features, is where this EV truly shines. 

This compact EUV boasts a surprisingly spacious cabin. The layout offers seating for four. The adjustable front seats also have heating and ventilation capabilities. The backseats tilt and elongate for greater comfort. And the cargo area behind the second row offers ample space as well.

Another perk: You can activate many of the electronic features using your smartphone. This identification system allows you to choose entertainment, navigation, and interior climate controls.

Overall, the Volkswagen ID.4 is an excellent choice if you’re looking for a stylish, affordably priced EV. The 2022 model will give competitors a serious run for their money.

RELATED: The Interior of the 2021 Volkswagen ID.4 Is Too Much Like a Concept Car

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One Big Option Will Delay the Ford Bronco Indefinitely

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ford just can’t launch a new vehicle without lots of drama. The Bronco is a classic example of Ford’s inability to get a new model off of the ground cleanly. It has announced it will delay the production of the Bronco once again. But the reason may actually delay the Bronco indefinitely.

The Bronco delay comes down to plain old manufacturing hiccups

2021 Ford Bronco | Mark Renders via Getty Images

No, it has nothing to do with microchips. This comes down to plain old manufacturing. Or, the lack thereof. Ford is having trouble with a supplier making the hardtops for the full-size Bronco. That means probably the most popular Bronco option will not be available initially. 

Ford just sent an email from Ford to customers who are patiently waiting for their Broncos. It says that “this launch has scuttled our best intentions and assumptions.” This references the issues it is having with the hardtop. 

Ford says the hardtop is its ”Achilles heel.” Demand for the top has outstripped Ford’s ability to make them fast enough. It goes on to say it has “invested millions of dollars to fix our roof supply issue.” Unfortunately, all of the money and effort hasn’t amounted to much. 

After the bungled Explorer and F-150 launches, all eyes are on Ford

The 2021 Ford Explorer Timberland in the woods
2021 Ford Explorer Timberland | Ford

Ford knows all eyes are on them after production launch issues with its new 2019 Explorer and F-150. The Explorer was so bad that finished vehicles were hauled to Spring Mountain assembly plant in Michigan, from Chicago. Once there, they were put on a makeshift line to address problems before being sent to dealers. 

With the F-150, it is a microchip supply problem. Trucks stacked up in and around Detroit Metro Airport parking lots waiting for the remedial installation of components containing microchips. In addition, numerous recalls have plagued the new F-150 pickup. 

Ford is hoping to convey its earnest efforts to get Bronco production rolling. It is making available priority access to its Bronco Off-Roadeo events. These are off-road experiences similar to Jeep’s Easter Moab confabs.

Four Off-Roadeo events were planned but without Broncos…

a yellow 2021 Ford Bronco SUV
2021 Ford Bronco | Ford

There will be four different Off-Roadeo events later this year. The question now is if there will be enough Broncos built to attend these events. Dates are a secret but the first one slated for Texas was supposed to be in May. Ah, that was last month. 

And the event set for Vermont was canceled when the state denied the event from taking place. Rumor has it that New Hampshire is the new spot. The bottom line is that with the continued moving target for full-size Broncos getting into customer hands who knows when the events will happen? 

So, between launch issues and their effects on Ford’s Off-Roadeo events, things are sketchy at the moment. Who knew this would be so difficult to pull off? After all, Ford has been doing it for more than 100 years, so one would think it had a handle on cranking out new vehicles.

RELATED: Ford Is Giving Bronco Buyers Money Back: Here’s Why

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The Tesla Model 3 Is One of the Best Selling Cars on Earth

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Global sales data for 2020 is in, and the Tesla Model 3 dominates. The EV is of the 20 best-selling cars on the market. Since its introduction to the market in 2017, the Model 3 has swept sales. This record-breaking EV is one of the best-selling and most satisfying-to-own vehicles in a segment poised to blow up even more. The Model 3 isn’t finished establishing its place in automotive history.

Tesla Model 3 | Joe Raedle via Getty Images

Global sales figures provide industry insights

Automotive market analysis and consulting firm Focus2Move complied all available sales data for 2020. The data paints an interesting image of one of the most volatile sales years in automotive sales. The Toyota Corolla, typically a leader in global sales, fell 10%. The Toyota RAV4 grew in sales by 4.5%, one of three brands in the top 20 to demonstrate growth.

In an interesting upset, the Honda HR-V has overtaken the Honda Civic, which saw a 15% drop in sales. This drop pushed the Honda Civic from its position as the third most popular vehicle to fourth. Nissan and Volkswagen join Toyota and Honda in the top 10.

The Tesla Model 3 is a favorite worldwide

A white Tesla Model 3
Tesla Model 3 | Smith Collection/Gado via Getty Images

RELATED: ‘Otherworldly’ Tesla Model 3 Electrifies Consumer Reports in Top 10 of 2021

The Tesla brand is no stranger to breaking records. In 2017 the brand broke two-speed records on the same day. The EV maker produces the fastest electric vehicles on the market. Sales numbers have blown through expectations even during periods of marked market instability. In the first quarter of 2021, the company reported record profits while other automakers saw losses.

Not all records broken by Tesla have been net positives for the brand. In March 2021, the brand’s stock plummeted 36% in six weeks. Individual shares dropped in value from $883 to $566, costing investors billions. No company had taken a loss of that magnitude in the history of public equity trading.

Globally, the Model 3 is the 16th best-selling vehicle. In 2020 Tesla sold 439,760 Model 3s to earn that rank in the worldwide automotive market. Becoming one of the most popular vehicles on earth is the latest popularity contest the EV has won. Tesla has sold more than 800,000 Model 3s, making it the best-selling EV of all time. The Model Y will hit European markets by 2022. Model Y sales could follow a similar trajectory into the top 20.

The Model 3 isn’t the only EV coming out on top

A red Tesla Model 3 EV on dispaly
Tesla Model 3 | Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

RELATED: Tesla Makes the Most-Loved Luxury Cars

EVs are the fastest growing market segment by a landslide. Overall EV and hybrid registrations in Europe went up by over 147% in 2020. While car sales overall were down 16% for the year, EV sales jumped over 40%. Figures rose 140% in the first quarter of 2020 alone.

These numbers represent colossal amounts of money from consumers and governments alike. Global government spending on EV subsidies has dropped 50% over the last 5 years. In 2015 subsidies totaled around $25 billion. 2020 saw $13 billion in government EV spending.

Globally, consumers spent around $120 billion on EVs in 2020, while governments forked out around $13 billion in subsidies, equivalent to around 10% of total spending, down from 20% of total spending in 2015. Sales will only continue to rise as EV technology improves and prices begin to lower.

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Tesla’s Latest Recall Affects Brakes

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Tesla is recalling some of its vehicles, specifically the Model 3 and Model Y. The electric car company is contacting owners of the Model 3 and Model Y to let them know that they are issuing the voluntary recall in order to inspect the brake calipers. Tesla owners have been posting emails they’re receiving from Tesla about the recall. Vehicles may need to be inspected and possibly repaired.

Tesla Model Y | Tesla

What is Tesla’s most recent recall about?

The cage of a Tesla Model Y. The Tesla Model Y is being recalled for a problem with its brake calipers.
Tesla Model Y cage | Tesla

Although Tesla hasn’t officially stated its latest recall on the website, Tesla owners are getting notices about the recall. On some Tesla Model 3 and Model Ys, the brake calipers are not correctly connected. As you can imagine, this could cause a problem. 

If the brake caliper bolts aren’t connected where they’re supposed to be, they could loosen. A Tesla driver may notice that their car is making an unusual noise, but maybe not. An email about the recall posted on Newsweek says that, “On certain vehicles, the brake caliper bolts may not have been secured to the correct specification. If one or more of these bolts are not secured to the correct specification, the bolt(s) may loosen over time and, in very rare circumstances, may become loose enough or separate such that the brake caliper contacts the inner surface of the wheel rim. In such rare circumstances, abnormal noise may occur, and the wheel may be prevented from freely rotating, which could cause tire pressure loss.”

Which Teslas does the latest recall affect?

A red Tesla Model 3 drives down a highway.
Tesla Model 3 | Tesla

The Tesla brake caliper recall affects the four-door Model 3s built between December 2018 and March 2021. It also impacts the crossover SUV Model Ys built between January 2020 and January 2021. Currently there’s no word on how many Teslas may be affected by the recall. 

In February, Tesla recalled some Model S and Model X vehicles because of a faulty infotainment system. In that recall, an embedded MultiMediaCard could wear down and cause the infotainment system to go blank and not recover. Although this recall didn’t affect the driving of the Tesla Model S and Model X, it could impact some of the safety features like the backup camera. 

News of the recall comes shortly after Tesla has announced that it has scrapped radar in its Model 3 and Model Y vehicles. Tesla has already started shipping both of these vehicles with Tesla Vision instead of the radar sensors it used previously. Tesla Vision is a camera-based system. It monitors the vehicle’s surroundings and uses neural networks to both allow the vehicle to respond accordingly. Additionally, it learns from the data it collects. New Model 3 and Model Y Teslas with Tesla Vision will have some features modified or temporarily suspended while Tesla learns from the data Tesla Vision provides. Tesla has not announced how long this may last.

What should I do if my Tesla is impacted by the recall?

A blue Tesla Model Y drives down a road.
Tesla Model Y | Tesla

So how can a Tesla owner get their car checked out? Those impacted by the Tesla brake caliper recall can set up an appointment in the Tesla mobile app to get their Model 3 or Model Y inspected. If necessary, Tesla will fix the brake calipers. Safety recalls are never fun, but it’s always a good idea to take care of them quickly in the interest of safety. Tesla owners can also monitor the NHTSA site, which stays up to date on recalls.

RELATED: Tesla Scraps Radar, Ships Cars Without It

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