Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Chevrolet Bolt

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Chevrolet Bolt doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

The ID.4’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Bolt doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Volkswagen ID.4 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Chevrolet Bolt doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the ID.4 and Bolt have child safety locks to prevent children from opening the rear doors. The ID.4 has power child safety locks, allowing the driver to activate and deactivate them from the driver's seat and to know when they're engaged. The Bolt’s child locks have to be individually engaged at each rear door with a manual switch. The driver can’t know the status of the locks without opening the doors and checking them.

The ID.4 has a standard Automatic Post-Collision Braking System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Bolt doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The ID.4 has standard Maneuver Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Bolt doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The ID.4 has all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Bolt doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The ID.4 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. A system to reveal vehicles in the Bolt’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the ID.4 has standard rear cross-path warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Bolt.

The ID.4’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Bolt doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the ID.4 and the Bolt have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras and available around view monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 693 to 1288 pounds more than the Chevrolet Bolt. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Chevrolet Bolt:

	ID.4	Bolt
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	169	250
Neck Injury Risk	18%	24%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	239 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	17 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	137/187 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	118	440
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	5/20 lbs.	26/162 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Volkswagen ID.4 is safer than the Chevrolet Bolt:

	ID.4	Bolt
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	132 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	205
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	59 G’s
Hip Force	527 lbs.	978 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	10 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	50 G’s

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the ID.4 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 29 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Bolt has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Bolt’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

Volkswagen’s powertrain warranty covers the ID.4 3 years and 40,000 miles longer than Chevrolet covers the Bolt. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Bolt ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Bolt’s (7/100,000 vs. 6/100,000).

Volkswagen pays for scheduled maintenance on the ID.4 for 2 years and 20,000 miles. Volkswagen will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Chevrolet only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the Bolt.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the ID.4’s reliability 15 points higher than the Bolt.

Engine

The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 95 more horsepower (295 vs. 200) and 73 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 266) than the Bolt’s electric motor.

As tested in Car and Driver the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors is faster than the Chevrolet Bolt:

	ID.4	Bolt
Zero to 60 MPH	5.4 sec	6.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.1 sec	15.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	99 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The ID.4 can travel longer on a full charge than the Bolt on a full charge:

			Miles
ID.4
	RWD	Electric Motor	275 miles
		S Electric Motor	275 miles
Bolt
	FWD	Electric Motor	259 miles

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the ID.4’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Bolt:

	ID.4	Bolt
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	10.9 inches
Rear Drums	11 inches	10.4 inches

The ID.4 stops shorter than the Bolt:

	ID.4	Bolt
60 to 0 MPH	134 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	145 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Bolt (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 215/50R17).

The ID.4 S’ 255/45R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Bolt’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 17-inch wheels are available on the Bolt. The ID.4 S has standard 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Volkswagen ID.4 has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Chevrolet Bolt has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

The ID.4 has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the ID.4 flat and controlled during cornering. The Bolt’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Bolt (108.7 inches vs. 102.4 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ID.4 is 3.3 inches wider in the front and 2.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Bolt.

The ID.4’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (47% to 53%) than the Bolt’s (56.3% to 43.7%). This gives the ID.4 more stable handling and braking.

The ID.4 handles at .85 G’s, while the Bolt LT pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The ID.4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Bolt (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Bolt’s (31.5 feet vs. 34.8 feet).

Chassis

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the ID.4 is quieter than the Bolt LT:

	ID.4	Bolt
At idle	35 dB	38 dB
Full-Throttle	68 dB	72 dB
70 MPH Cruising	68 dB	70 dB

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has 6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Bolt (99.9 vs. 93.9).

The ID.4 has .5 inches more front headroom, 3.1 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom and 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Bolt.

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Bolt with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 16.6 cubic feet). The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Bolt with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 57 cubic feet).

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus’ power liftgate can be opened or closed just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Bolt doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The ID.4 has a 2200 lbs. towing capacity. The Bolt has no towing capacity.

Standard trailer stability control on the ID.4 uses the Electronic Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Bolt doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

When two different drivers share the ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus, the memory seats and mirrors make it convenient for both. Each setting activates different, customized memories for the driver’s seat position and outside mirror angle. The Bolt doesn’t offer a memory system.

The ID.4 Pro S’ standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Bolt doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ID.4’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Bolt’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

If the windows are left open on the ID.4 the driver can close them all at the outside door handle or from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the Bolt can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The ID.4’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Bolt’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are standard on the ID.4 to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Bolt doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The ID.4’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Bolt’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the ID.4 S/Pro S has standard cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Bolt doesn’t offer cornering lights. The ID.4 S/Pro S also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

When the ID.4 Pro S Plus is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Bolt’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The ID.4 has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Bolt. The ID.4 Pro S Plus also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Bolt.

The ID.4 S/Pro S/Pro S Plus has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Bolt.

The ID.4’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Bolt doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the ID.4 and the Bolt offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the ID.4 has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Bolt doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Volkswagen ID.4 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Bolt.

The ID.4’s Park Assist Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Bolt doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

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