VW ID.4 vs. Chevy Equinox Electric Vehicle Comparison

More than ever, when people are in the market for a new car, it's electric vehicles that have their eye. We're seeing growing demand for EVs nationwide — but especially in Seattle and the greater Puget Sound area, where a combination of environmental consciousness, lots of EV charging stations, and frugality at the gas pump makes it an especially appealing (and convenient) prospect.

Of course, a car is a big purchase and it's reasonable to feel the weight of a decision like this. So, when it comes time to replace an old car, it's always important to do your thorough research; one vehicle might be perfect for one driver, while it might be more iffy of a fit for another with different needs.

Here, we're going to take a look at two comparable options, the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Let's start with an overview of each:

The Volkswagen ID.4

The ID.4 is the flagship electric SUV for Volkswagen, purposefully made to be a versatile, practical car for many uses.

Range, battery, and powertrain specs

Like with other VW models — electric or gas-powered — you'll find different trim options for the ID.4, with multiple versions of the standard and pro trims. Depending on the trim and nature of driving, range can be anywhere from 200 to 290 miles.

Rear-wheel drive is the standard offering, but you also have all-wheel drive options as well — we highly recommend the AWD versions for drivers in the Seattle area and throughout the Pacific Northwest, given the conditions you'll be driving in for much of the year.

The rain, hills, and darkness means you're dealing with slick conditions and poor visibility which realistically require AWD drivetrains from a safety standpoint. This is especially true if you plan to drive in the mountains at all.

The interior: design, cargo capacity, and technology features

The first thing you'll notice about the ID.4 interior is its quite minimalist design. Alongside this, it has touch controls and a 12-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto capabilities.

There's also an optional panoramic glass roof — taking the concept of a sunroof to the next level — which provides extra light and a sense of spaciousness.

Behind that, you'll find 64.2 cubic feet of cargo space for carrying gear and whatever else you might need with the back seats down, or just over 30 cubic feet when all seats are up.

Price range

The specific price depends on which trim you buy, but the MSRP is about $39,000 for base trims. For fully-loaded options, that will go up to $54,000.

The Chevrolet Equinox EV

The Equinox EV, meanwhile, is Chevrolet's entry into the affordable electric SUV market. Let's take a look:

Range, battery, and powertrain specs

Just like the ID.4, the Equinox EV also has many trim options, with battery range and drivetrain variations between those.

Generally, the range is between 250 to 319 miles depending on the battery size and trim.

The standard drivetrain is front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive versions — which, again, we should emphasize is the option that will make your drive both more pleasant and safer for drivers in the Seattle area, especially if you plan on venturing elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest as so many of us do.

Interior: design, infotainment, and cargo capacity

The Equinox EV's interior is quite sleek, with a noticeably modern design. The display screen is 11 inches, with a 17-inch option in higher trims. It also has multiple storage compartments, helpful if you want extra ability to organize your car's contents.

As for cargo, you'll get just over 26 cubic feet of space with all the seats up, or 57 cubic feet total with backseats folded down.

Price range

Just like the ID.4, the price of course depends on the trim you go with, but the MSRP for a Chevrolet Equinox EV ranges from around $35,000 for the base trim to around $48,000.

Side-by-side comparison

Comparing the specs side-by-side, you'll find this:

Range, charging, and performance

For the range, the Chevrolet Equinox can usually go between 250 to 319 miles per charge, with the VW ID.4 going around 200 to 290 miles. In practice, this means for both vehicles, their longest-ranged trims both can make it from Seattle to Eugene, Spokane, or northern Vancouver Island on one charge.

When those batteries run low, the two are once again comparable in charging times: the VW ID.4 will go from 10% to 80% charged in about 36 minutes at a DC fast charger, while the Equinox will take about 30 minutes to do the same.

Their power output is pretty similar too, although there's a bit more of a range from lowest to highest horsepower output in the different ID.4 models than the Equinox; the lowest-horsepower version of the ID.4 is a RWD with 201, while their most powerful AWD model comes up with 295 horsepower.

The Equinox EV's lowest-horsepower trim has more than the corresponding ID.4 trim at 210 compared to the ID.4 sitting at 201, but their highest-horsepower trim has less than the corresponding ID.4 at 290 versus 295.

Performance- and handling-wise, the two have somewhat different focuses: The Equinox is more focused on responsive acceleration and sporty handling, while the ID.4 is tuned more for comfort with a quiet cabin and balanced handling.

Technology and safety features

Just like with all modern vehicles, both these two have lots of modern technology to improve your comfort, convenience, and safety.

The VW ID.4 comes with a standard 12.9-inch touchscreen compared to the Chevrolet Equinox has a 11-inch standard display or optional 17-inch version.

The VW also has wireless smartphone charging and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, while the Chevrolet has wireless charging and Google Built-In infotainment system but no compatibility with Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

When it comes to safety and driving comfort both have features like lane keep assist, blind spot warnings, and rear cross traffic alert. The ID.4 also has an augmented reality head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and lane centering. The Equinox also has available Super Cruise hands-free driving and over-the-air updates.

Both have advanced safety suites too, with the ID.4 having Travel Assist semi-autonomous features and the Equinox offering standard Chevrolet Safety Assist plus optional HD surround vision.

Price and value for cost

Obviously, the prices range quite a bit for both vehicles depending on the trim — with both the ID.4 and Equinox EV, between the least to most expensive trims you'll find about a $15,000 difference.

The base for an ID.4 starts at $39,000, with the AWD Pro at about $47,000 and the loaded AWD Pro S Plus at around $54,000.

The Equinox has a slightly less expensive base at $35,000, with higher trims going up to $48,000.

Like with all EVs, these both have the potential to save a lot of money on gas over the course of the car's life — Edmunds.com vehicle database estimates that, based on energy costs in Washington, the average driver of both an ID.4 and an Equinox EV would save almost $200 a month. Both also have competitive warranties on the battery and powertrain too.

At the same time, certain upfront costs could be minimized with certain federal and state EV incentives: Depending on assembly location, both are likely eligible for up to $7,500 in federal tax credits plus potential state and local rebates.

Lastly, resale value: The ID.4 has a relatively well-established used market while, in comparison, the Equinox EV resale data is still to-be-determined as a newer model.

Which electric vehicle should you choose?

At the end of the day, there isn't one universal right answer, but rather a variety of factors to consider. The ID.4 might be better for one person, while the Equinox EV could be better-suited to their friend across the street.

Here are some factors:

Range and affordability

The Chevrolet Equinox EV just slightly wins out over the ID.4 with a slightly higher range and lower starting price.

Established reliability

While the Equinox EV is quite new, the Volkswagen ID.4 has proven real-world performance, existing owner reviews, and a certain level of reliability that comes with that.

Driver assist

Both options have great driver safety features. That said, the Equinox EV has Super Cruise, which offers a tech advantage for drivers covering long distances.

Lifestyle considerations

Depending on the activities you might be interested in — and driving for — the ID.4 has the advantage in cargo space, which can be important for people who are doing outdoor recreation and need to carry gear and other things.

At the same time, the driveability, comfort, and general focus of the two models diverge a bit: The ID.4 is well-suited to drivers who value comfort and balance in the car's handling and interior, while the Equinox EV appeals more to tech-forward buyers, especially those who want to get an extra dozen or two miles per charge.

Future-proofing

Both offer over-the-air software updates, ensuring your features can be upgraded over time.

Other vehicles to consider

If you're doing your research on other vehicles in a similar family, consider the Rivian Van, Hyundai IONIQ, and Tesla Model 3.

Bottom line

Both the Volkswagen ID.4 and Chevrolet Equinox EV are relatively affordable, accessible options for purchasing an electric vehicle, limiting your carbon footprint, and saving money over the long term. When it's time to replace your current car, we hope you continue researching your electric vehicle options and find the best one for you!

If you do decide that a Volkswagen EV is particularly well-suited to your needs or have any questions to that end, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the team at Carter VW — we'd love to help you out or, if you're interested, let you test drive any of our cars to give you a good sense of which option is your best choice.