Compare the2023 Volkswagen ID.4VS 2023 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

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 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

Both the ID.4 and Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In 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.

Both the ID.4 and the Tucson Plug-In 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, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has not been fully tested, yet.

The ID.4’s optional electric motors produces 34 more horsepower (295 vs. 261) and 81 lbs.-ft. more torque (339 vs. 258) than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid.

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running on electricity:

On the EPA test cycle the ID.4 gets better mileage than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid running its gasoline engine:

The ID.4 can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 209 to 275 miles. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid has to start its internal combustion engine after only 33 miles.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Volkswagen ID.4 higher (10 out of 10) than the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (7). This means the ID.4 produces up to 11.8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid every 15,000 miles.

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

For better traction and acceleration, the ID.4 has larger rear tires than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid (255/50R19 vs. 235/55R19).

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 Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the ID.4 S has standard 20-inch wheels. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For better maneuverability, the ID.4’s turning circle is 7.1 feet tighter than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s (31.5 feet vs. 38.6 feet). The ID.4 AWD’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s (36.42 feet vs. 38.6 feet).

The ID.4’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s (2200 vs. 2000 pounds).

The ID.4 has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

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 Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s standard 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid 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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

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 Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.

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