Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid

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

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 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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.

The ID.4 Pro S Plus has a standard Area View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Crosstrek Hybrid only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the ID.4 and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

The Volkswagen ID.4 weighs 600 to 1160 pounds more than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid. 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 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:

	ID.4	Crosstrek Hybrid
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	18%	36%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	304 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	42 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	39/39 lbs.	252/363 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	118	122
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.7 inches
Neck Stress	150 lbs.	195 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	5/20 lbs.	230/427 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 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:

	ID.4	Crosstrek Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	76	138
Abdominal Force	128 lbs.	196 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	303
Spine Acceleration	35 G’s	58 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	6 inches	13 inches
Spine Acceleration	43 G’s	49 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Volkswagen ID.4 is much safer than the Crosstrek Hybrid:

	ID.4	Crosstrek Hybrid
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	POOR
Structure	GOOD	POOR
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	41	245
Head Peak Forces	no contact	55 G’s
Neck Tension	178 lbs.	290 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.98 in	1.89 in
Shoulder Force	178 lbs.	357 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	2.01 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	10 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Pelvis Force	357 lbs.	1116 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	67 lbs.	89 lbs.
Neck Compression	112 lbs.	178 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Shoulder Deflection	.28 in	2.09 in
Shoulder Force	112 lbs.	424 lbs.
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	1.69 in
Torso Deflection Rate	4 MPH	13 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Pelvis Force	446 lbs.	825 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

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 Crosstrek Hybrid was last a “Top Safety Pick Plus” in 2022 but no longer qualifies.

Warranty

The ID.4 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck. The Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Subaru covers the Crosstrek Hybrid. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 8 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Crosstrek Hybrid ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

The ID.4’s corrosion warranty is 2 years longer than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s (7 vs. 5 years).

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. Subaru doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Crosstrek Hybrid.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Volkswagen vehicles are more reliable than Subaru With 9 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Volkswagen higher than Subaru.

Engine

The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 147 more horsepower (295 vs. 148) than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Volkswagen ID.4 electric motors is faster than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid:

	ID.4	Crosstrek Hybrid
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	3.4 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	5.8 sec	9 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	3.1 sec	5.7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.5 sec	17.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	98 MPH	83 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Crosstrek Hybrid running on electricity:

			MPGe
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy
		Pro S Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy
Crosstrek Hybrid
	AWD	Electric Motor	99 city/80 hwy

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Crosstrek Hybrid running its gasoline engine:

			MPGe
ID.4
	RWD	Standard Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/99 hwy
		Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
		S Electric Motor	115 city/98 hwy
	AWD	Pro Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy
		Pro S Electric Motors	104 city/93 hwy
Crosstrek Hybrid
			MPG
	AWD	2.0 flat-4 Hybrid	36 city/35 hwy

The ID.4 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 209 to 275 miles. The Crosstrek Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 17 miles.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen ID.4 higher (10 out of 10) than the Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid (6 to 7). This means the ID.4 produces up to 12.9 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Crosstrek Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	ID.4	Crosstrek Hybrid
Front Rotors	14.1 inches	11.6 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the ID.4 has larger tires than the Crosstrek Hybrid (F:235/55R19 & R:255/50R19 vs. 225/55R18).

The ID.4’s standard 255/50R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s standard 55 series tires. The ID.4 S’ 235/50R20 front and 255/45R20 rear tires have a lower 50 series front and 45 series rear profile than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 has standard 19-inch wheels. Only 18-inch wheels are available on the Crosstrek Hybrid. The ID.4 S has standard 20-inch wheels.

Suspension and Handling

The ID.4 has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the ID.4’s wheelbase is 3.8 inches longer than on the Crosstrek Hybrid (108.7 inches vs. 104.9 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the ID.4 is 1.4 inches wider in the front and .3 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Crosstrek Hybrid.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 3.9 feet tighter than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s (31.5 feet vs. 35.4 feet).

Passenger Space

The ID.4 has .8 inches more front headroom, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear legroom and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Crosstrek Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat up (30.3 vs. 15.9 cubic feet). The ID.4 has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Crosstrek Hybrid with its rear seat folded (64.2 vs. 43.1 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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a power or hands-free opening liftgate.

Towing

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s (2200 vs. 1000 pounds).

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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The ID.4’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Crosstrek Hybrid has a lever-type parking brake that has to be strenuously raised to engage properly. It has to be lifted up more and a button depressed to release it.

The ID.4’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Crosstrek Hybrid’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid’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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

Consumer Reports rated the ID.4’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the Crosstrek Hybrid’s headlights, which were rated “Poor.”

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 Crosstrek Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

Both the ID.4 and the Crosstrek Hybrid have standard heated front seats. 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 Crosstrek Hybrid.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

Both the ID.4 and the Crosstrek Hybrid 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 Crosstrek Hybrid 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. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

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 Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The ID.4 is available in both rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The Crosstrek Hybrid doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

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